‘The Orange Blossom Classic is here to stay’ despite the loss of FAMU in 2024

Florida A&M turning down the Orange Blossom Classic’s three-year $1.475 million offer in early July raised questions regarding the future of the historic game.

With the Rattlers no longer in the picture after the 2023 matchup against Jackson State on Sep. 3, it left the organization having to search for new possibilities.

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, OBC executive director Kendra Bulluck-Major, revealed that the OBC has actively been in contact with other institutions, and have already made a decision on the two teams that will compete in 2024.

“We’re moving forward,” Bulluck-Major said. “ The Orange Blossom Classic is here to stay, and we’re excited about what the future holds… There will be schools they’re going to be pleased with. Schools that we know travel well and have a good following. I believe we’ll be good.”

Although the opponents have been finalized for next season, Bulluck-Major told the Herald that the OBC is not yet ready to say publicly who they will be.

Florida A&M was an opponent in the classic for 45 consecutive years during the 1933-78 seasons. For the past two seasons after its reestablishment, the game, held in Hard Rock Stadium, featured Florida A&M and Jackson State.

But, there have been a number of other HBCUs that have participated in the classic, leaving many to speculate who would likely replace FAMU next season.

The most plausible schools to have been in talks with the OBC are the teams that have competed in the classic the most outside of FAMU — Grambling State (six), Kentucky State (four), and Prairie View A&M (four).

Other schools who have been featured in the classic include Central State (three), Hampton (three), Howard (two) and Alabama A&M (one).

The classic has been a fan favorite since its return two seasons ago. One of the most-watched HBCU football games last season included Jackson State’s 59-3 victory over Florida A&M, which averaged 958,000 viewers on Sep. 4, according to ShowBuzzDaily. This was an increase of 700,000 viewers from the season before.

Bulluck-Major, however, is unconcerned about viewership and ratings after the 2023 season despite FAMU’s departure.

“We’re looking at teams that have a really good following,” Bulluck-Major told the Herald. “So I do think that we’ll be fine as it relates to attendance and viewership.”

Discussions regarding a potential rebranding of the classic were also had.

Bulluck-Major informed the Herald that it is still “trying to get through 2023,” and that there have been no discussions regarding the OBC’s appearance or potential rebranding. She also said that the game will continue to be held in Hard Rock Stadium.

The possibility of there being no game next year was generally ruled out after Bulluck-Major told the Herald last month that the organization planned to “continue with the game,” as their goal has always been to provide more exposure to HBCUs across the country.

However, it is still possible that the Rattlers could appear in the classic after 2026. Sykes had left the idea of returning to the game open, according to Bulluck-Major.

The Rattlers would have been paid $450,000 in 2024, $500,000 in 2025, and $525,000 in 2026 as a result of signing the renewal contract.

FAMU vice president and director of athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes revealed the reasoning for declining to extend the relationship in an interview with HBCU Gameday in July, stating that FAMU has “a responsibility to their season-ticket holders, Investing in Champions members, and local partners to bring a minimum of five to six home games to Tallahassee annually.”

“Our local government invested $10 million dollars for us to renovate our stadium, which was on the brink of being condemned,” Sykes said. “As good stewards of that investment and any possible future investments from them, we must be diligent in showing that we are good partners. For our season ticket holders to buy season tickets and parking and other amenities and not be able to use any of them until week six, is not fair to our current investors and makes it difficult to cultivate new investors.”