Third-Annual Baldwin Richardson Foods HBCU Classic Football Game

Rochester, NY - Tickets are selling fast for the 2026 Baldwin Richardson Foods Frederick Douglass HBCU Classic Football Game, now in its third year. Community members are encouraged to secure their tickets now to join in the fun on game day, which honors the culture, history, and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and connects Rochester students with higher education opportunities. 

Game day is Saturday, Oct. 3 at the City’s Rochester Community Sports Complex, 460 Oak St., where the Lincoln University Lions of Lower Oxford Township, Penn., will take on the Virginia State University Trojans of Ettrick, Va.  

The game’s 1 p.m. kickoff will be preceded by a full morning of pre-game tailgating in the Sports Complex parking lot, featuring food trucks, DJs, and vendors. After the game, fans will be treated to an incomparable battle of the bands between the Orange Crush Roaring Lions Marching Band and the VSU Trojan Explosion Marching Band. 

Tickets for game day include access to the tailgate, game, and battle of the bands and are available starting at $25 at www.FDhbcuClassic.com.  

“The HBCU Classic continues to be an unparalleled opportunity for Rochester students and families to be introduced to the outstanding educational opportunities, rich traditions, and lasting impact of historically Black colleges and universities,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “I sincerely thank Baldwin Richardson Foods and our other sponsors for their continued commitment to bringing this exciting event to Rochester.”