MONTGOMERY, AL |  Which ever name you put first when describing this classic: Morehouse-Tuskegee or Tuskegee-Morehouse, this classic, without a doubt, is the oldest classic among all of the classic football games played by HBCUs.  Putting this game in historical context, there are only three other neutral site footballs that have been played longer.  Except for the Covid year of 2020, this game has run continuous, as a neutral site classic, since 1936.  Only the Rose Bowl (1902, annual since 1916), the Orange Bowl (1935), and the Sugar Bowl (1935) have had a longer streak.  The game is the longest running NCAA Division II classic in the nation.  No wonder this game is dubbed "The Granddaddy of All Classics".

Here's a quick history of the Morehouse–Tuskegee Football Classic:

Origins

Morehouse and Tuskegee first met in football in 1902. The annual "Classic" itself was later formalized in 1936 as a neutral-site event in Columbus, Georgia, quickly becoming a showcase weekend with parades, dances, and alumni gatherings—earning the nickname the "Granddaddy of all HBCU Classics."  The rivalry has continued annually, except for 1903, 1905, 1906, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1929, 1934, and 1935.

Columbus Era (1936–2019)

The matchup was formalized as a neutral-site "Classic" in 1936 and was traditionally played at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, GA, for more than eight decades. (The annual series paused in 2020 due to COVID-19.) Columbus represented a midway between the two campuses. The Classic was created as an entertainment event for the African-American civilian community and U.S. Army soldiers in the Columbus-Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), GA and Phenix City, AL area.  The purpose, today, is to help raise funds for scholarships to help young men and women attend college.

Pandemic Pause (2020)

The Classic's long run paused during 2020 for COVID-19, then resumed. 

Birmingham Interlude (2021–2023)

The Classic moved to Legion Field under a three-year agreement backed by city incentives.

Return to Columbus (2024)

After the Birmingham stint, the 2024 matchup returned to Columbus. 

Montgomery Chapter (2025– )

Beginning in 2025, the Classic relocated to Montgomery's historic Cramton Bowl, aligning the game with the city's HBCU Classic Weekend and adding a fresh backdrop for the rivalry. 

Series Snapshot

Across the long rivalry, Tuskegee leads the all-time series, 73-30-8. In short: a century-old rivalry, a Classic founded in 1936 in Columbus, a three-year stop in Birmingham, a 2024 homecoming to Columbus, and—starting 2025—a new home in Montgomery.

Notable Coaches in the Series

Morehouse:  

B.T. Harvey (1916 - 1929)
Frank Forbes (1932 - 1933, 1935 - 1949)
Henry Darlinton (1967 - 1971)
Maurice "Mo" Hunt (1979 - 1989, 1995 - 1996)
Rich Freeman (2007 - 2022)
Terence Mathis (1924 - )

Tuskegee:

Cleve Abbott (1923 - 1954)
Whitney Van Cleve (1955 - 1963)
LeRoy Smith (1964 - 1969)
Haywood Scissum (1970 - 1980)
Rick Comegy (1996 - 2005)
Willie Slater (2006 - 2021)
Reginald Ruffin (2022)
Aaron James (2023 - )

Morehouse will face Tuskegee University in the annual Morehouse–Tuskegee Classic on October 4 at 7:00 PM ET, at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com or Maroon Tiger football on instagram @morehousefootball.