The 2025 college football season is on deck, and HBCU play begins with the annual Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff on Saturday featuring North Carolina Central and Southern. The game will be played at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN App).
The NFL has made considerable efforts to generate more exposure and continue a pipeline for players from historically Black colleges and universities. Predraft events such as the HBCU Legacy Bowl and the Reese's Senior Bowl HBCU Combine have helped athletes at those institutions gain professional opportunities.
After zero HBCU players were drafted in 2024, Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft by the Ravens.