BOSTON, MA | Harvard Stadium becomes the stage for a milestone: the first HBCU-vs-HBCU football game played in Boston, Massachusetts since 1971,the first time in more than five decades. For Morehouse, it's a showcase opportunity in the 125th season of Maroon Tiger football.
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WHO - Morehoue vs. Johnson C. Smith
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WHAT - Essence HBCU Classic
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WHEN - Saturday, August 30, 2025, 4PM
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WHERE - Harvard Stadium, Boston, MA
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Why this game matters
- 125 seasons, new stage. Year Two under head coach Terance Mathis arrives with a national spotlight and a pro-stadium stage. The timing is perfect for a statement performance to kick off the anniversary campaign.
- A historic opponent. Johnson C. Smith (formerly Biddle University) played in the first HBCU football game in 1892, giving the Golden Bulls a widely recognized claim as the sport's birthplace and one of its oldest programs. That history gives Saturday an added edge.
The matchup at a glance
- Last meeting: Johnson C. Smith 37, Morehouse 13 (Sept. 7, 2024 at B.T. Harvey Stadium). The Golden Bulls controlled the middle quarters; the Tigers answered late but couldn't close the gap. Expect that film to fuel Morehouse's adjustments.
- All-Time: Morehouse owns an 8-3-1 record against Johnson C. Smith (Biddle College) all-time. The series dates back to 1921 when Morehouse defeated Biddle College, 41-0. Morehouse was victorious over Johnson C. Smith in 1928, 17-13 before the Golden Bulls finally won in 1929, 20-8.
- Coaches:
- Morehouse — Terance Mathis (Year 2). The former NFL Pro Bowler took over in 2024 and now leads his second campaign.
- Johnson C. Smith — Maurice Flowers (Year 4). A JCSU alum appointed in January 2022, Flowers steered an 8–2 breakthrough in 2024; his rebuild has been one of Division II's better stories.
Morehouse storylines to watch
- Defensive backbone. Preseason honorees headline the unit: LB Sean Johnson (77 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks in 2024), DB Tyler Davis (79 tackles), and DB Carlos Dunovant Jr. (team-best 3 INT). That core sets the tone while special teams remains a weapon in the field-position battle.
- Year-2 leap on offense. Cleaning up third-down and red-zone efficiency is the emphasis; a steadier run game to control tempo will help keep the defense fresh deep into the fourth quarter.
- Boston stage, HBCU spotlight. Beyond the 60 minutes, this Classic plants HBCU football in a new Northeast market with a full weekend of events leading into kickoff (4 p.m., ESPN+). The game will be played at Harvard Stadium, which is the oldest football stadium in America.
Scouting Johnson C. Smith
- Identity: Physical defense and timely explosives on offense—traits that powered the 8–2 season last fall and the win in Atlanta. For Morehouse, tackling in space and limiting chunk plays will be paramount.
- Tradition: As the birthplace program of HBCU football (Biddle vs. Livingstone, 1892), JCSU arrives with deep historical gravitas—an energy this Classic is designed to celebrate.
Keys for the Maroon Tigers
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Win early downs: Force 2nd/3rd-and-long to unleash the pass rush and let the secondary drive on routes.
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Protect the ball, finish drives: Morehouse's momentum will swing on red-zone execution; cash sevens, not threes.
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Flip the field: Lean on coverage units and the punt game to create long fields for JCSU.
Notes on the history in Boston
This is the first HBCU-vs-HBCU football game in Massachusetts since 1971, making Saturday a generational moment for the city and region. The last time two HBCU football teams faced off in Boston was when Howard University played University of Maryland Eastern Shore at Harvard Stadium. That matchup marked a rare moment in Massachusetts sports history, as HBCU football games have traditionally been concentrated in the South and Mid-Atlantic.
Bottom line
In a landmark setting for HBCU football, Morehouse's Year-2 stride under Mathis, a fortified defense, and cleaner situational offense give the Maroon Tigers a real shot at flipping last year's script and writing a winning chapter in Season No. 125.
