Home - The Circle City Classic

Save The Date

September 27th, 2025

We are the home of this year’s 41st Annual Midwest HBCU Football Game and so much more! Join us for a showcase of historically black colleges and universities, including a variety of events leading up to the game. From the Circle City Classic® Coronation to the Education Day Party, to the Talent Day Career Fair, it’s going to be another great year!

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Countdown to Circle City Classic® Sponsored by:

The Big Game

North Carolina Central
vs. Norfolk State

The Circle City Classic® is one of the oldest HBCU games in the country. The 2024 match up featured the North Carolina Central University Eagles against the Norfolk State University Spartans. It was another great game in a long list of classic HBCU football battles where NCCU took the win with a score of 37 to 10. Join us in 2025 for the pep rallies, parade, and pageantry leading up to the big game!

Circle City Classic® Events

40 Years of Impact
and So Much More

The Circle City Classic® Celebration is about so much more than football. As part of IBE’s mission to serve and empower Indiana communities, each year, Circle City Classic® includes education, career, and cultural-focused events that complement the HBCU football matchup.

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The Circle City Classic® Coronation

Showcasing area high school females and promoting academic achievement, community service, and leadership development.

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Talent Day

A platform for student-athletes, recent college graduates, and aspiring professionals to network with multiple workforce industry sectors.

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The Circle City Classic® Parade

Pageantry, celebrities, floats, and marching bands make this one of top parades in the country.

Show Your Support

Become a Sponsor

Since 1984, Indiana Black Expo has hosted Circle City Classic®, a unique showcase of HBCUs, academic excellence, culture, music, and tradition. Circle City Classic® is a scholarship fundraiser that has helped IBE award over $5 million in scholarships to deserving youth attending colleges and universities nationwide. Over this same span, Circle City Classic® has contributed more than $340 million dollars to the Indianapolis economy.

Join our community and become a sponsor of Circle City Classic®.

Download Our Sponsor Booklet

The Future is Bright

Classic Scholarships

IBE is committed to assisting Indiana students in their pursuit of higher education. Every year, thanks to proceeds from Circle City Classic® Scholarships are awarded to current high school seniors and students currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution who exhibit outstanding leadership, scholarship, and community service. To date, we have awarded over $5 million in scholarships to Indiana students.

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