The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) and its Annual HBCU Football and Recruitment Tour program expresses profound disappointment following the announcement that the Circle City Classic will no longer feature HBCU football matchups, but instead transition to a high school-centered event format, and later an HBCU basketball invitational.

For more than four decades, the Circle City Classic has stood as a cornerstone of HBCU culture in the heart of Indianapolis —uniting alumni, students, bands, and communities in a celebration that extended far beyond the game itself. Established in 1984, the Classic has long served as a national stage for HBCU football and a cultural gathering that amplified the visibility, pride, and legacy of Black college institutions.

The decision to remove HBCU football from this year’s Classic marks a significant departure from that legacy. The Classic has been a part of our Annual HBCU Football and Recruitment Tour since 2018 and through the tour, HCF has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that classics like the Circle City Classic have on student access, institutional exposure, and community engagement. These events are not simply games — they are pipelines to higher education, engines of economic impact, and affirmations of HBCU excellence.

Due to this decision, HCF has made the difficult determination to withdraw our planned return to the Circle City Classic as part of this year’s Annual HBCU Football and Recruitment Tour, following our absence from the event last year. In its place, the organization will redirect its efforts to the State Fair Classic in Dallas, ensuring continued engagement.

While we are disappointed in this decision by IBE, we we remain steadfast in our mission. HCF will continue to uplift and advocate for HBCUs through the Annual HBCU Football and Recruitment Tour, ensuring that students are still connected to life-changing opportunities and that the legacy of Black College Football remains visible and valued.

We must reaffirm our commitment to preserving and investing in the traditions that have long supported HBCUs. The legacy of these classics must not be diminished, but be strengthened.

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About the HBCU Campaign Fund
The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) was founded in 2012 and is a non-profit educational organization that remains a strong advocate for students and higher education. The mission of HCF is to support the significance and raise funds for scholarships, programs, and for private and public HBCUs and MSIs. For more information, visit www.hbcucampaignfund.org.