MONTGOMERY, Ala. — One of the oldest and most storied rivalries in HBCU football takes center stage Saturday night as Morehouse College and Tuskegee University meet in the annual Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic at Cramton Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT, with the game streaming live on ESPN+. The matchup marks the second consecutive year the Classic will be played in Montgomery. Morehouse enters the game 1-4 overall and 1-3 in SIAC play, while Tuskegee comes into the Classic at 2-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
The Granddaddy of All Classics
Morehouse and Tuskegee first met on the football field in 1902, with the neutral-site Classic tradition beginning in 1936. The game spent much of its history in Columbus, Georgia, moved to Birmingham from 2021-23, returned to Columbus in 2024 and began its Montgomery chapter at Cramton Bowl last season. The Classic is HBCU's oldest neutral site football classic and is the 4th oldest neutral site football game among all football games on all levels. Tuskegee leads the all-time series 73-31-8. The teams have played 112 times entering Saturday, making the 2026 matchup the 113th recorded meeting between the two programs. Morehouse enters Saturday as the defending Classic champion.
Last season, the Maroon Tigers erased a 17-0 deficit to defeat Tuskegee 27-20 in the first edition of the Classic played at Cramton Bowl. Quarterback Miles Scott delivered one of the signature performances of his Morehouse career, completing 22 of 35 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Morehouse scored 21 of the game's final 24 points and shut out Tuskegee in the fourth quarter.
Morehouse Looking to Build on Late Surge
The Maroon Tigers enter the Classic after nearly completing a dramatic comeback against Edward Waters last Saturday at B.T. Harvey Stadium. Morehouse trailed 46-10 late in the third quarter before scoring the final 28 points of the game. The Maroon Tigers outscored Edward Waters 22-0 in the fourth quarter and pulled within one possession before the comeback ended in a 46-38 loss. Chase DeVaughn sparked the rally with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Savion Red added a 7-yard rushing touchdown, while Joshua Houston returned an interception 61 yards for a score. Scott then connected with Dylan Brooks on a 29-yard touchdown with 3:09 remaining to bring Morehouse within eight.
Despite the loss, Morehouse enters Saturday having scored 82 points over its last two games, following a 44-0 road victory over Lane and the 38-point performance against Edward Waters. The Maroon Tigers' ground game continues to be led by DeVaughn, who has 346 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Red has rushed for 195 yards and a team-high six touchdowns through five games.
Scott Closing in on Morehouse History
One of the biggest individual storylines Saturday night will center on Scott.
The senior quarterback enters the Classic with 5,495 career passing yards, placing him second on Morehouse's all-time list behind Jimmie Davis, who threw for 5,662 yards from 1986-89. Scott needs 168 yards to become Morehouse's all-time career passing leader. Scott has thrown for 853 yards through five games this season after entering 2026 with 4,642 career yards.
That puts the record within reach Saturday against the same opponent that produced one of his best performances a year ago. Scott threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns against Tuskegee in 2025. A repeat of that yardage total would push his career mark to 5,821 yards. Scott already owns Morehouse single-season records for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions and attempts after throwing for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns during the 2025 season.
Tuskegee Enters Off Signature Win
Tuskegee comes to Montgomery with momentum after defeating then-No. 15 Benedict 20-17 on Sept. 24. The Golden Tigers took the lead for good in the fourth quarter when quarterback Khalib Johnson, who entered after an injury to starter Bryson McGrew, connected with Preston Parker for a 31-yard touchdown with 5:53 remaining. The win moved Tuskegee to 2-0 in SIAC play.
The Golden Tigers produced one of their strongest rushing performances of the season against Benedict, with Ja'Khael Rowser rushing for 124 yards. For the season, McGrew has been the primary quarterback, while Rowser leads Tuskegee's rushing attack. Ean Nation has emerged as one of the Golden Tigers' top receiving threats. Tuskegee enters the Classic averaging approximately 293 yards of total offense per game.
What to Watch
Morehouse's ability to carry its late-game offensive momentum from the Edward Waters matchup into Saturday could be critical. The Maroon Tigers have shown an ability to produce explosive stretches, scoring 27 fourth-quarter points at Lane before putting up 22 more in the final period against Edward Waters. The Morehouse defense will also look to create opportunities. The Maroon Tigers have consistently produced takeaways this season, and Houston's pick-six against Edward Waters provided another example of the defense's ability to directly impact the scoreboard.
Tuskegee, meanwhile, showed against Benedict that it can lean on the running game and win a close fourth-quarter contest. The Golden Tigers rushed for 195 yards in that victory while controlling the ball for more than 33 minutes.
For Morehouse, establishing DeVaughn and Red on the ground could open opportunities for Scott and the passing game. For Tuskegee, limiting explosive plays and avoiding the kind of second-half momentum swing that decided last year's Classic will be important. And with only 168 passing yards separating Scott from the Morehouse career record, every completion could carry a little more history with it Saturday night.
Game Information
Matchup: Morehouse College vs. Tuskegee University
Event: Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT
Location: Cramton Bowl — Montgomery, Alabama
Morehouse Record: 1-4 overall, 1-3 SIAC
Tuskegee Record: 2-2 overall, 2-0 SIAC
Series: Tuskegee leads, 73-31-8
Meeting: 113th all-time
Last Meeting: Morehouse 27, Tuskegee 20 — Oct. 4, 2025
Watch: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
Following the Classic, Morehouse returns to Atlanta for Homecoming against Savannah State on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. at B.T. Harvey Stadium. 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.
