Circle City Classic

Circle City Classic
Circle City Classic
StadiumLucas Oil Stadium
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana
Previous stadiumsRCA Dome
Operated1984–present
2017 matchup
Kentucky State vs. Central State (34–21)
2018 matchup
Bethune–Cookman vs. Howard (September 22, 2018)

The Circle City Classic is an annual American football game featuring two historically black colleges/universities (HBCUs) and played in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event was established in 1984 by Indiana Black Expo and has been played every year except 2020, when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] No game was played for the 2022 Circle City Classic. The game was held from 1984 to 2007 in the RCA Dome and was moved to the new Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008. In addition to the weekend game, there is also a parade, The Classic Coronation, and concert related to the Classic.

Game results

Year Winning team Losing team Source
1984 Mississippi Valley State 48 Grambling State 36 [2]
1985 Mississippi Valley State 28 Tennessee State 13 [3]
1986 Central State (OH) 41 Florida A&M 3 [4]
1987 Central State (OH) 31 Tennessee State 28 [5]
1988* Florida A&M 10* Jackson State 10* [6]
1989 Jackson State 27 Bethune–Cookman 7 [7]
1990 Grambling State 27 Alabama A&M 20 [8]
1991 Alcorn State 46 Howard 27 [9]
1992 Central State (OH) 34 Alabama State 13 [10]
1993 South Carolina State 34 Jackson State 33 [11]
1994 North Carolina A&T 22 Southern 21
1995 Alcorn State 46 Howard 27
1996 Florida A&M 59 Hampton 58
1997 North Carolina A&T 49 Tennessee State 37
1998 Howard 32 Bethune–Cookman 25
1999 Southern 21 Hampton 6 [12]
2000 Grambling State 12 Florida A&M 10 [13]
2001 Tennessee State 45 Howard 0
2002 Alabama A&M 27 Southern 11
2003 Florida A&M 28 Jackson State 14 [14]
2004 South Carolina State 30 Tennessee State 13
2005 North Carolina A&T 16 Tennessee State 3
2006 Central State (OH) 42 Hampton 3
2007 Winston-Salem State 27 Florida A&M 23
2008 Tuskegee 34 Alabama A&M 24
2009 Alabama A&M 35 Tuskegee 15
2010 Tennessee State 37 North Carolina A&T 7
2011 Albany State 57 Kentucky State 31
2012 North Carolina Central 40 South Carolina State 10
2013 Alcorn State 48 Grambling State 0
2014 Kentucky State 31 Central State (OH) 24
2015 Kentucky State 21 Central State (OH) 17
2016 Kentucky State 17 Central State (OH) 14
2017 Kentucky State 34 Central State (OH) 22
2018 Howard 41 Bethune–Cookman 35
2019 Kentucky State 33 Jackson State 25
2020 Game canceled due to Pandemic
2021 Kentucky State 34 Benedict 28
2022 No game
2023 North Carolina Central 45 Mississippi Valley State 3
2024 North Carolina Central 37 Norfolk State 10


* Denotes a tie [15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Indiana Black Expo 50th Anniversary events and Circle City Classic canceled, WRTV Indianapolis, April 23, 2020, accessed January 31, 2021
  2. ^ "QB Totten tosses for 4 TDs as Devils roll". The Indianapolis Star. October 14, 1984. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Mississippi Valley State triumphs". The Indianapolis Star. October 6, 1985. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Running duo sparks 5–0 Central State". The Indianapolis Star. October 12, 1986. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Central St. nips Tennessee St". The Indianapolis Star. October 4, 1987. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Jackson St. ties Florida A&M". The Indianapolis Star. October 2, 1988. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Jackson St. takes Circle City Classic". The Indianapolis Star. October 1, 1989. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Grambling captures Circle City". The Indianapolis Star. October 7, 1990. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Alcorn State duo sparks victory". The Indianapolis Star. October 6, 1991. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Central State strikes with big plays in Classic". The Indianapolis Star. October 4, 1992. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "S. Carolina State wins close Classic". The Indianapolis Star. October 3, 1993. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Southern stops Hampton in battle of I-AA unbeatens". The Indianapolis Star. October 3, 1999. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Grambling State delivers classic effort". The Indianapolis Star. October 8, 2000. Retrieved March 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Rattlers' QB offers classic performance". The Indianapolis Star. October 5, 2003. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "History | Circle City Classic". www.circlecityclassic.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014.


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