The Virginia Union University football team, the defending CIAA champions, will kick off the 2025 season with an ap- pearance in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday, Aug. 31, in Canton, Ohio.

The Panthers will face SIAC champions Miles College in the nationally televised game on the NFL Network at 4 p.m.

VUU will then travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to play Edward Waters University on Saturday, Sept. 13, before returning to Richmond to host Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Hovey Stadium.

The Panthers’ 2025 schedule includes four more home games: Lincoln (Pa.) University on Oct. 18, Bowie State University on Oct. 25, and archrival Virginia State University on Nov. 8.

“We are excited about the 2025 schedule,” said VUU Coach Alvin Parker. “We face two new opponents, both from the SIAC, with one being the league champion. This will be followed by eight tough CIAA opponents. We are in preparation and look forward to what will be a challenging 2025 season.”

Game times for the remaining matchups are to be determined.