The Morgan State Bears and Miles College Golden Bears will meet in the 2025 Circle City Classic, according to the official athletics website of Morgan State.
Morgan State and Miles College will square off on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, has a seating capacity of 63,000.
The Circle City Classic is an annual college football game that debuted in 1984 and features two historically black colleges/universities (HBCUs). In last seasons matchup, North Carolina Central defeated Norfolk State, 37-10.
Morgan State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), while Miles College competes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in Division II. The 2025 matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
Morgan State is slated to kickoff the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30 on the road against the South Alabama Jaguars. In other non-conference action, Morgan State will host Towson and Virginia-Lynchburg and will travel to play Toledo and Georgetown.
In MEAC play this fall, Morgan State will host Delaware State and North Carolina Central and will visit Howard, South Carolina State, and Norfolk State.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
There are now only 4 FCS schools that need at least 1 more non-conference game for 2025.
Needs 1: Harvard (Opening: 10/18)
Needs 1-2: Butler (Openings: 9/6, 9/13, 10/25), Presbyterian (9/13, 9/20, 10/4)
Needs 2-3: Merrimack (Openings: 9/6, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8)
Additionally, 18 more FCS schools could schedule an extra game if they wish:
Tennessee Tech, Albany, Villanova, Morgan State, SIU, Duquesne, LIU, St. Francis, Dayton, Drake, Marist, Morehead State, St. Thomas, UTRGV, Grambling, Jackson State, Texas Southern, and West Georgia
12 of those 18 schools you said have the option, have actually announced their schedules as complete and are moving forward with just eleven games. Doesn’t mean someone couldn’t talk or pay them into another, but don’t expect it. Those schools are Albany, Morgan State, Duquesne, Long Island, St. Francis, Dayton, Drake, Marist, Jackson State, Grambling, Texas Southern and West Georgia.
I’m still guessing…
= Merrimack and Harvard for October 18.
= Merrimack and Butler could be a possibility for September 6 or October 25.
= Tennessee Tech and Southern Illinois for August 30.
= Presbyterian will likely schedule a lower division opponent September 13 or 20.
There’s a smaller chance that Villanova could slip into that August 30 date with Tennessee Tech or Southern Illinois, but I would guess they just run an eleven game schedule. Anything not filled above by Merrimack or Butler will be filled with a lower division opponent. St. Thomas and UTRGV could schedule against one another on September 13, but that’s probably a long shot. St. Thomas will fill a date September 13 or 20, but it’s probably lower division. UTRGV and Morehead State will likely stay at eleven games.
I agree with most of that. Morgan State is the only MEAC school that doesn’t have 12 games yet. I’m thinking they either schedule Presbyterian/Jackson State/Texas Southern on 9/20, or St. Francis/Merrimack/Harvard on 10/18
Looking at this a little closer…
Villanova and Southern Illinois might be the August 30 date. I say this because Tennessee Tech could pair with Morehead State on September 20. Both of these would be better match-ups competitively speaking. Not to mention a closer fit by proximity for Tennessee Tech(and Morehead State).
Butler and Merrimack have common open dates on September 6 and October 25. I’d be shocked if one of those dates are not in the works. Merrimack is still the only viable option for Harvard on October 18.
I really can’t see Presbyterian or St. Thomas playing UTRGV on September 13. The game would mean nothing to any involved. The Pioneer teams are in a stacked deck situation towards at-large playoff consideration and UTRGV isn’t eligible because of transition. It’s a lotta travel for no money and less purpose.
I’ve got to agree that it seems very unlikely that UTRGV schedules a 12th game (to replace the game that was lost when North American U folded its program). But recall ……
….. UTRGV is supposed to play one of its games at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.I don’t think any FCS team with an opening us likely to make the trek to Brownsville. Maybe they could get a lower division team from Texas or possibly a club team. Or possibly a college team from Mexico could fill an open date (San Diego did this about ten years ago). My high school often schedules games with Mexican teams.
UTRGV has an eager football-hungry fan base. I think that the inaugural year of the program will be a success if UTRGV can get the 12rh game, get excellent attendance at home games in Edinburg and Brownsville, get 3 wins and maybe one win in the conference, and a season’s experience for the roster and the staff.
Lucas Oil Stadium Fantastic Football Facility.