Canton again will play host to the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic and connected activities.
The Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls, from Charlotte, North Carolina, will face the Albany State Golden Rams, from Georgia, on Sept. 6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
They are the defending champions, respectively, of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The conferences primarily consist of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
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Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. NFL Network will televise the game.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is proud to move into Year 7 of playing the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic game in Canton on Labor Day Weekend,” said Jim Porter, president & CEO of the Hall of Fame. “We are excited that this partnership is bringing two newcomers from the CIAA and SIAC to the region for the weekend.”
Johnson C. Smith posted a 10-2 record in 2025 under head coach Maurice Flowers, who enters his fifth season. Albany State, coming off a 12-2 year, is led by a new head coach, David Bowser, who was on Flowers’ staff in 2025. Both teams competed in the NCAA Division II playoffs in ’25.
Game day will feature performances by the Johnson C. Smith International Institution of Sound and the Albany State Marching Rams Show Band.
Black College Football Hall of Fame tickets
Tickets, starting at $40, can be purchased at a website of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For premium ticket packages and group ticket sales, contact Rob Sine at Rob.Sine@ProFootballHOF.com.
Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
The Pro Football Hall of Fame houses the Black College Football Hall of Fame, whose Class of 2026 includes Nick Collins (Bethune-Cookman), Rudy Hubbard (Florida A&M), Tyrone Poole (Fort Valley State), Eddie Robinson, Jr. (Alabama State), Jimmy Smith (Jackson State) and Steve Wyche (Howard). Plaques will be unveiled the weekend of the game.
When is the Black College Football Hall of Fame Weekend?
The Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic Weekend of Sept. 3-6 will include the Classic Kickoff 6K, college and career fairs, a Habitat for Humanity Day of Service, the Clearview Golf Classic at Historic Clearview Golf Club, the Classic Battle of the Bands and other events.
The Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at sports@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Johnson C. Smith, Albany State playing in Black College Hall of Fame Classic
Reporting by Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository / The Repository
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