SWAC showdowns, rivalry renewals highlight FAMU 12-game football season

FAMU football fans are 66-days away from the start of the 2025 football season and  two marquee dates featuring a blend of HBCU tradition and ambitious non-conference tests. Headlining the 12-game slate are a high-stakes Orange Blossom Classic clash against Howard and a rare showdown with in-state FBS foe Florida Atlantic University (FAU).

Orange Blossom Classic showdown sets tone
FAMU will kick off its season in Miami’s marquee HBCU event, the Orange Blossom Classic, facing Howard University on Saturday, August 30, at 4 p.m. EST (ESPNU). The game marks FAMU’s return to the OBC after a one-year hiatus, reigniting a rivalry where the Rattlers hold a commanding 30-11 series lead. Their last meeting—a 30-26 FAMU victory in the 2023 Celebration Bowl—secured the program’s first Black College Football National Championship since 1998.

FAU rematch: Two decades in the making
The Rattlers’ Week 2 matchup at FAU on Saturday, September 6 (6 p.m. EST, ESPN+) carries historic weight. It marks just the second meeting between the schools; FAU claimed a 38-8 win in their 2004 Bragg Stadium matchup. The game offers FAMU a chance to gauge its progress against an FBS opponent and level the all-time series.

Home games start times set
FAMU’s five home contests at Ken Riley Field include key SWAC battles and regional rivalries:

• Sept. 13 vs. Albany State (7 p.m.)

• Sept. 27 vs. Alabama State (3 p.m.)

• Oct. 11 vs. North Carolina Central (3 p.m.)

• Oct. 18 vs. Alcorn State (4 p.m.)

• Nov. 1 vs. Jackson State (7 p.m.)

Road tests define SWAC title push
The Rattlers’ eight conference matchups include pivotal road trips:

• Aug. 30 at Howard/Orange Blossom Classic  (Miami)

  Sept. 6 at FAU

  Oct. 4 at Mississippi Valley State (Atlanta)

• Oct. 25 at Southern

• Nov. 8 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

• Nov. 15 at Alabama A&M
  The regular season concludes with the Florida Classic against Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 22 in Orlando.

Season outlook
The Rattlers’ schedule balances tradition and ambition, with the OBC anchoring a robust non-conference lineup and SWAC play driving the teams postseason aspirations. FAMU’s return to Miami’s marquee event underscores its prominence in HBCU football, while the FAU matchup offers a chance to showcase progress against a in-state FBS opponent.

“This schedule excites our fans and tests our team in meaningful ways,” said FAMU Head Coach James Colzie III, who is now in his second-year. “Every game is an opportunity to build on our legacy.”

As the Rattlers prepare for fall camp, anticipation builds for a season blending historic rivalries, conference battles, and a quest for another championship run.