Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University will renew one of college football’s oldest rivalries on November 21 at Camping World Stadium, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. as the 2026 Florida Classic heads into its 81st overall meeting between the two schools. Tickets and parking are already available, and organizers have lined up a full weekend of events around the game.
The matchup carries extra weight this year because the modern era of the rivalry is dead even. According to WESH, the game will again be staged at Camping World Stadium, continuing a tradition that began when the Florida Classic moved permanently to Orlando in 1997. Since that relocation, the series between FAMU and Bethune-Cookman is locked at 14-14, according to the Seminole County Chamber, with more than 1.6 million total fans having attended games in that span.
FAMU still holds the commanding lead in the all-time series, which dates back to October 10, 1925, when FAMU won the first meeting 27-17, per the Seminole County Chamber. Across all 80 meetings, FAMU leads the rivalry 54-25-1, though Bethune-Cookman won last year’s contest 38-34, setting up an even more anticipated rematch this fall.
A Century-Old Rivalry With Record-Setting History
The Florida Classic brand itself traces back to 1978, when the game was first played under that name in Tampa. FAMU overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit to win 27-17 that day, according to Wikipedia, en route to winning the inaugural Division I-AA national championship, a level of competition later renamed the FCS…