FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 22nd, 2021

NBC SPORTS & SPORTS ELEVEN05 TO PRESENT INAUGURAL HBCU NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLASSIC FEATURING MOREHOUSE COLLEGE & HOWARD UNIVERSITY SEPT. 17, 2022 ON CNBC

Halftime Features Drum Line Spectacular and Battle of the Bands Between Morehouse and Howard Marching Bands

Debut of HBCU New York City Football Classic to Take Place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game Joins NBC Sports’ College Football HBCU Programming Roster, Which Include Bayou Classic and Truth and Service Classic

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 22, 2021 – NBC Sports and event organizers Sports Eleven05 will present the inaugural HBCU New York City Football Classic next season, featuring Morehouse College and Howard University on September 17, 2022, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey live at 3 p.m. ET on CNBC.

The first edition of the HBCU New York City Football Classic renews the historic rivalry between two premier institutions rich in heritage and tradition, both on and off the field. Howard and Morehouse have faced each other on the football field 37 times dating back to 1923, with Howard holding the all-time series advantage, 25-10-2. The teams last met in 2015 as Howard claimed a 25-17 victory at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Celebrating the tradition and pageantry of the HBCU gameday experience, the game’s halftime show will feature spectacular drum line performances and the battle of the bands between Morehouse’s “House of Funk” and Howard’s “Showtime” marching bands.

Sports Eleven05 has teamed up with HBCU Tools For School Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide educational resources to students attending HBCUs regardless of social or economic status.  The HBCU Tools for School Foundation will pay tribute to all 105 HBCU schools during the game by giving each student book scholarships and laptops.

Through NBCU Academy – an innovative, multiplatform journalism training and development program designed to prepare college-level students for a career in the media industry – NBC Sports will present select journalism students from both Morehouse and Howard the opportunity to cover the event for NBCSports.com.

“We’re pleased to present the debut of the HBCU NYC Football Classic, continuing NBC Sports’ commitment to diversity and inclusion while highlighting the extraordinary HBCU gameday experience,” said Gary Quinn, VP, Programming, NBC Sports.

“Football fans, alumni and students along the east coast can reunite each year in the New York City area to enjoy the pageantry, excitement and camaraderie associated with the HBCU football experience,” said Albert Williams, CEO, Sports Eleven05.

The HBCU NYC Football Classic adds to NBC Sports’ robust programming roster and complements HBCU events including the tentpole Bayou Classic partnership and this past September’s inaugural Truth and Service Classic.

For ticket information contact Ticketmaster, for suite information email MetLife Stadium at suites@metlife.com and for event information call 833-NYC-HBCU (692-4228).

— NBC Sports —