The Circle City Classic, in its 41st year, is a celebration of Black culture, sports and entertainment.
Two HBCU powerhouses, Morgan State University Bears and Miles College Golden Bears, will battle it out this month.
President of Indiana Black Expo Alice Watson said they are excited to host Morgan State and Miles College for the first time in the classic.
“Now more than ever, our mission and platform are necessary to bring HBCU talent and exposure to the Midwest,” Watson said. “We hope that alumni and new fans alike will come out to Lucas Oil Stadium to support not only the tradition of the HBCU football game but also celebrate the talented bands.”
Morgan State, designated as the home team, had a successful 2024 season, finishing third in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The team accompanies Morgan State University’s ‘Magnificent Marching Machine,’ the first marching band from an HBCU to perform at the 80th commemorative D-Day anniversary in Normandy, France.
The visitors, Miles College, also sustained a historic 2024 season, going 10-3, securing the Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and pushing their way into the second round of the Division II college playoffs.
Head coach of Miles College Chris Goode was drafted to the NFL in 1987 and played his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts.
The 2024 season was the first time in the school’s history that its football team finished the season in the national rankings.
Similar to Morgan State University, Miles College has an award-winning band, the Miles College ‘Purple Marching Machine,’ making the halftime show at this year’s Circle City Classic even more worthwhile.
The weekend is about much more than the action on the gridiron. The Classic celebration extends throughout Indianapolis with a series of community events. The Circle City Classic® Coaches Luncheon at Lucas Oil Stadium will offer fans a chance to hear from the teams’ leaders on Sept. 26, while the free Talent Day career fair will connect professionals with opportunities.
The festivities continue Sept. 27 with a free parade through downtown Indianapolis, followed by an Education Day and College Fair inside the stadium, providing students with resources and information before the 3:00 p.m. kickoff.
Tickets will be available on April 21. For more information, visit circlecityclassic.com
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follo w him on Facebook and TikTok @HorsemenSportsMedia. for more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
