By B-CU ATHLETICS
(Source Daytona Beach)
Bethune-Cookman Football is set to begin its third season of the Raymon NNPA NEWSWIRE d Woodie Jr. era with a challeng- ing 2025 schedule that includes five home contests at Daytona Stadium, six away games, concluding with the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic matchup against Florida A&M.
The Wildcats will open the 2025 slate Aug. 30 at Pitbull Stadium against Florida International. The last match-up between the Wildcats and the Panthers occurred in 2014, when B-CU claimed a 14-12 win over the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent – the second of its kind in as many years against the Panthers.
The Panthers are looking for a fresh start under new head coach Willie Simmons.
Before spending the 2024 season as an assistant coach at Duke, Simmons spent six years (2018-23) at the helm of Florida A&M where he owned a record of 45-13 overall, cul- minating with a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and Cricket Celebration Bowl title in 2023.
Week two sees the Wildcats return to Miami for the second time in as many weeks taking on the University of Miami in what will be the eighth install- ment of the series against the Hurricanes since 2011. The last time the Wildcats played the Hurricanes was in 2023.
Bethune-Cookman stays on the road week three for a trip to the “Palmetto State” – facing an old foe in the form of South Carolina State for the first time since 2022.
B-CU has a storied history with former conference mate South Carolina State, dat- ing back to their time in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
The teams have played a total of 58 times since 1959, with SCSU owning a 34- 24 edge all-time.
Home opener: Sept. 20
The 2025 home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, against the Tigers of Edward Waters. The last time the Wildcats faced off against EWU was back in 2010, ending in a 70-10 win for the Wildcats at home.
The Cats open SWAC play the following week hosting the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M. Bethune-Cookman laid claim to a 31-14 win over AAMU in the Bulldogs last trip to Daytona Stadium in 2023.
After a bye week, B-CU plays seven consecutive weekends to close the campaign, beginning with a visit to Alabama State (October 4).
On Oct. 11, Southern (La.) comes to Daytona Beach for the first time since 1988, when the Jaguars descend upon Daytona Stadium. Last season, the two teams participated in the second-longest game in Wildcats history – a five-overtime thriller that saw the Cats fall 25-23 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Homecoming: Oct. 25
Homecoming 2025 features Bethune-Cookman hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Oct. 25) to Daytona Beach for the first time as a member of the SWAC, and the first time since 2005, when the Cats downed the Golden Lions, 31-17.
B-CU opens the month of November with a visit from Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 1) and new head coach Terrell Buckley.
The Wildcats have won three consecutive contests against the Delta Devils, with a pair of victories coming on the road in Itta Bena, Mississippi, including last year’s 20-10 triumph on an MVSU Homecoming weekend.
The season concludes with trips to Grambling State (Nov. 8) and defending SWAC and Cricket Celebration Bowl champion Jackson State (Nov. 15).
The Florida Blue Florida Classic against FAMU is scheduled for Nov. 22, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Ticket information will be released in the coming weeks.
