What will the Orange Blossom Classic look like without FAMU or a Deion Sanders-led Jackson State?

The Orange Blossom Classic has never had a problem drawing crowds since its renewal in 2021.

During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the star power of Deion Sanders at Jackson State helped bring in roughly 36,000 and 40,000 fans respectively to the Classic, making them among the highest-attended Historically Black College and University games in the nation. The Deion Sanders effect was demonstrated last season, as attendance dropped from 40,000 in 2022 to roughly 24,000 in 2023.

Florida A&M University, one of the highest-attended HBCUs in the nation, was also a driving force for attendance. But FAMU declined a three-year, $1.475 million contract last season in order to bring more home games to its season-ticket holders.

Since Sanders’ departure from Jackson State and Florida A&M’s decision to not continue playing in the game, the event’s viability moving forward has been put into question.

This season, two new teams will play at Hard Rock Stadium — North Carolina Central and Alabama State.

“What I do know about these two teams is because it is a new game, this is now an opportunity for this fan base to get excited and come to Miami for something new and different that they haven’t experienced before,” said OBC committee executive director Kendra Bulluck-Major.

Both teams are likely to be very good, with both seen as favorites to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Moreover, both programs are relishing the opportunity to play at an NFL stadium and have the game televised on ESPN on Sunday at 3 p.m.

“When you recruit kids, they talk about how they want to play at the highest level. To me, this is high-level, big-time football. I don’t see many PWIs [Predominantly White Institutions] and Group of 5s playing in this type of game,” said North Carolina Central coach Trei Oliver in May.

“I think the opportunity everyone talked about [when playing] in Miami is the opportunity to expand the brand,” Alabama State athletic director Jason Cable said. “Also there’s a rich talent here in Miami, both academically and athletically. We have the opportunity to get in front of young people as they make their decision, and we hope they come to North Carolina Central or Alabama State. We get to share the HBCU culture and experience.”

But the key question is whether Alabama State and North Carolina Central can be the draw that FAMU once was. The future of the OBC could hinge on this answer. Is the OBC bigger than FAMU, or does it rely on FAMU to be viable?

“I’m a proud graduate of Florida A&M university, but I also understand that the extraordinary alumni at [North Carolina Central and Alabama State] will be here in our town,” said OBC chairman Oliver Gilbert III. “We’re gonna get together and have fun like we haven’t had fun before.”

This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 4:32 PM.