FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 12, 2025) – Fayetteville State University (FSU) is excited to announce its 2025 football schedule, featuring a mix of four home and six away games that promise an exhilarating season for the Broncos and their fans.

"We are thrilled about the upcoming season and the opportunities it presents for our Broncos," said Head Coach Richard Hayes. "We didn't achieve our goal of making it to the conference championship last season, but this year's schedule will have us competing at a high level and getting us back on track to being champions."

• Aug. 30: at Benedict
• Sept. 6: at UNC Pembroke
• Sept. 13: at North Carolina Central
• Sept. 20: at Elizabeth City State
• Sept. 27: vs. Virginia State
• Oct. 4: at Bowie State
• Oct. 11: vs. Livingstone (Homecoming)
• Oct. 18: BYE Week
• Oct. 25: at Shaw
• Nov. 1: vs. Johnson C. Smith
• Nov. 8: vs. Winston-Salem State

The Broncos are set to face the Benedict College Tigers in their season opener on August 30, 2025, in Columbia, SC. This non-conference game will be part of the Labor Day Classic, kicking off at 5 p.m. at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. FSU, coming off a 4-5 record last season, will look to start strong against Benedict, who finished their 2024 season with a 4-6. The Broncos and Tigers have a competitive history, with their last matchup dating back to September 7, 2019.

The team will then travel to Pembroke, NC, to face UNC Pembroke on September 6^th. This matchup is part of the ongoing rivalry between the two teams, known for its competitive and thrilling games. Last season, the Broncos secured a dramatic 35-31 victory over the Braves, with Demari Daniels scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.

Fayetteville State will face the North Carolina Central Eagles on September 13, at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, NC. This game marks the 29th meeting between the two teams. NCCU, a strong contender in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), has had a successful run in recent years, including a Celebration Bowl victory in 2022. The Eagles will look to continue their dominance against FSU, leveraging their home-field advantage. FSU, on the other hand, will aim to upset the Eagles and improve their record in this historic rivalry.

The Broncos are set to face the Elizabeth City State Vikings on September 20, 2025, in Elizabeth City, NC. In their last encounter on September 21, 2024, the Broncos delivered a dominant performance, securing a 31-7 victory over the Vikings. FSU's defense was particularly impressive, holding ECSU to just 154 total yards. Quarterback Joe Owens, Jr. led the Broncos' offense with 116 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Julian Milligan contributed significantly on the ground with 117 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The Broncos first home game of the 2025 season will be against the Virginia State Trojans on September 27 in Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. This game is highly anticipated, as the Broncos seek to avenge their 35-18 loss to the Trojans from last season.
October will see the Broncos on the road again, taking on Bowie State in Bowie, MD, on October 4th. In their last encounter on October 5, 2024, the Broncos secured a thrilling 27-24 victory over the Bulldogs. This win was a significant turnaround for FSU, as they had previously lost several consecutive CIAA Championship games to BSU.

Historically, the rivalry has been intense, with BSU often having the upper hand. Notable past matchups include FSU's 17-7 loss in the 2021 CIAA Championship game and a 23-7 defeat in the 2019 CIAA Championship. However, FSU has also had its moments of triumph, such as their 27-7 win in 2010 and a 21-10 victory in 2009.

They will then return to Fayetteville to play Livingstone on October 11th before taking a break during their BYE week on October 18th. This is a highly anticipated matchup, as the Broncos look to avenge their narrow 24-19 loss to the Blue Bears from last season.

The Broncos will be eager to turn the tables this year, leveraging the energy and support of their homecoming crowd.  Fans can expect an exciting and competitive game as the Broncos aim to secure a victory and make their homecoming celebration even more memorable.

FSU will resume action on October 25th with an away game against Shaw in Durham, NC. This matchup follows a thrilling game last season, where Shaw narrowly defeated FSU 38-35. In their previous encounter in 2024, the game was a back-and-forth battle. FSU started strong, leading 14-0 in the first quarter, but Shaw rallied back with a strong second quarter to tie the game at halftime. The game remained close throughout, with Shaw ultimately securing the win with a late touchdown.

The final stretch of the season includes two home games: Johnson C. Smith on November 1st, and Winston-Salem State on November 8th.

In their last encounter on November 2, the Broncos delivered a dominant performance, shutting out the undefeated Golden Bulls 27-0. The victory marked FSU's eighth consecutive win over JCSU, dating back to 2016.

The final game of the regular season is a matchup following a thrilling double-overtime game last season, where WSSU narrowly defeated FSU 37-31. In the previous encounter on November 9, 2024, the game was a back-and-forth battle. FSU's quarterback Joe Owens led the offensive effort, throwing for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the Broncos' strong performance, WSSU managed to secure the victory with a decisive touchdown in the second overtime.

For more information on the 2025 football schedule and ticket sales, please visit www.fsubroncos.com.