HBCU Athletic Conferences Unite to Form Historic HBCU4Us Association
Historic Alliance Aims to Elevate and Protect the Future of Black College Athletics
Washington, D.C. – The landscape of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) athletics took a transformative step forward on July 30, 2025, with the official formation of the HBCU4Us Association. This groundbreaking collaboration unites the four major HBCU athletic conferences — the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) — under one shared mission: to protect, elevate, and secure the future of HBCU sports programs.
In an unprecedented move, the commissioners of these conferences—Sonja O. Stills (MEAC), Charles McClelland (SWAC), Jacqie McWilliams Parker (CIAA), and Anthony Holloman (SIAC)—came together in Washington, D.C., to establish the HBCU4Us Association. This alliance represents a unified voice and strategic leadership committed to safeguarding the integrity, legacy, cultural value, and competitiveness of Black college athletics nationwide.
“The formation of the HBCU4Us Association marks a new era of collaboration,” said the commissioners in a joint statement. “As stewards of our storied athletic programs, we are committed to honoring our legacy while creating opportunities that ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of HBCU athletics for generations to come.”
The mission focuses on six critical pillars designed to create a holistic support system for HBCU athletics: student-athlete leadership and development, preservation of cultural heritage, competitive excellence, financial sustainability and partnerships, unified advocacy, and holistic student-athlete welfare. These goals aim to foster not only athletic achievement but also mentorship, mental health, academic performance, and career readiness beyond the playing field.
This strategic partnership arrives at a pivotal time in collegiate athletics, where shifts in NCAA policies, name-image-likeness (NIL) rights, conference realignments, and media rights deals are reshaping the competitive landscape. For HBCUs, which have historically operated with fewer resources but a rich cultural and athletic tradition, having a coordinated front promises greater influence in national conversations and better access to sponsorships and media exposure.
Beyond governance, the alliance will emphasize showcasing the unique cultural significance of HBCU sports. This includes the dynamic pageantry and fanfare that surrounds classic rivalries, marching band performances, and homecoming traditions that have long set HBCU athletics apart. By amplifying these elements, the HBCU4Us Association aims to draw broader national recognition and elevate recruitment and alumni engagement.
On the field, anticipation is already building for the 2025 HBCU football season, which starts August 23, 2025, and will culminate with the Celebration Bowl on December 13, 2025. The recently released schedule and preseason rankings spark excitement across the four conferences, spotlighting standout returning players named to the 2025 Division II HBCU Football Preseason All-American teams, particularly from CIAA and SIAC schools.
Coaches and players alike have expressed enthusiasm for the potential of this alliance to boost competitive equity and spotlight HBCU talent on a larger stage. “This partnership gives us a platform to push our programs further and provide our student-athletes with opportunities they richly deserve,” said one coach familiar with the alliance’s goals.
For fans and followers of Black college sports, specialized media outlets such as Inside the HBCU Sports Lab, HBCU Gameday, and the NCAA’s own HBCU football section will continue to provide essential coverage, analysis, and stories that capture both on-field action and the deeper cultural narratives at play.
Looking ahead, the HBCU4Us Association stands as a defining initiative to unify the strength of four storied conferences, ensuring the legacy of Black college athletics is honored, its cultural roots celebrated, and its future firmly secured through collective ambition and strategic collaboration.
Upcoming developments include expanded advocacy efforts around NIL education, increased resource sharing among member schools, and coordinated marketing campaigns to heighten national visibility. The 2025 football season will serve as the first full testing ground for these initiatives, with fans eager to see the impact of a truly unified HBCU sports movement.
This historic alliance embodies much more than sports administration—it represents a renewed commitment to the empowerment and success of HBCU athletes and institutions, weaving together a rich past with an ambitious future poised to redefine Black college athletics for decades to come.