HBCU Legacy and Love Return to Lincoln Financial Field

Delaware State and Norfolk State Football Run It Back in the City of Brotherly Love Coach Jackson to showcase new-look Hornet Nation with 50,000 fans in mind Game extends University's Athletic Transformation Campaign

Football | 7/28/2026 12:19:00 PM

DOVER, Del. – Delaware State University will return to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 31, 2026, to face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rival Norfolk State University, the University announced today. The game is a rematch of the inaugural HBCU Battle of the Legends, which drew 47,266 fans to the home of the Philadelphia Eagles last October, was featured on Good Morning America and was broadcast nationally on ESPNU following a raucous campus celebration that hosted Stephen A. Smith's First Take.

Delaware State won that game 27–20 and finished the season 8–4, the program's first winning season in more than a decade, in head coach DeSean Jackson's first year. The Hornets went 4–1 in conference play and were ranked nationally in FCS polls, one season after a 1–11 finish. Jackson was named Boxtorow HBCU Coach of the Year and received the Tubby Raymond Award from the Delaware Sportswriters & Broadcasters Association.

Norfolk State is coached by Michael Vick. Jackson and Vick were teammates with the Philadelphia Eagles and entered NCAA Division I head coaching for the first time in the same season, ten days apart.

This year's game is expected to be part of an expanded slate of HBCU football at Lincoln Financial Field. Programming surrounding the Delaware State game will again extend well beyond football. Last year's event included performances by university marching bands, a step show, a fan engagement zone hosted by the Delaware Office of Tourism, and a student opportunity fair that brought thousands of Philadelphia-area young people into the stadium for college access and career readiness programming. Comparable programming is planned for this year, with expanded student and youth access.

Delaware State University President Tony Allen commented, "Last October, we wanted to prove one thing: the moment is ours. A faithful community of people representing generations of fourth-and-long, miracle plays, and living to learn to fight another day, for ourselves, our communities, and each other." He continued, "That is the story of HBCUs, and it is as relevant today as it was when we first began."

"I am a proud graduate of Lincoln University, the first person in my family to earn a college degree, and a product of Philadelphia public schools," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "I know firsthand what it means for a young person to walk into a room and see excellence that looks like them. That's why this event is so important. Last year's Delaware State–Norfolk State game brought 47,266 fans together and celebrated the excellence, pride, and tradition of HBCU athletics.

The Mayor continued, "With Philadelphia legends Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson joining us, it became more than a football game. It became a powerful source of inspiration. We were honored to partner with Delaware State University, Norfolk State University, and the Philadelphia Eagles to make that day such a tremendous success, and we are excited to build on that momentum through One Philly HBCU Week 2026. On Halloween Weekend, tens of thousands of fans will once again fill our stadium, including thousands of young people who may be seeing a Historically Black College or University up close for the very first time. That's bigger than football. That's creating hope, expanding opportunity, and inspiring the next generation to dream bigger. Philadelphia is proud to host this celebration, and we intend to make it a lasting tradition. One Philly. A United City."

Allen commented on Mayor Parker's leadership, "From the very beginning, what Mayor Parker understood is that millions of our alumni and our families live in this corridor and love their HBCUs. Instead of waiting for someone else to build something special for them, she marked Philadelphia home to HBCU football in the Northeast, fitting for the place that started us all."

That story began in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The nation's two oldest HBCUs were founded in the Philadelphia region: Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 1837 and Lincoln University in 1854, the first HBCU in the country to grant college degrees. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is a Lincoln University alumna, Class of 1994.

"Lincoln Financial Field is thrilled to serve as the host site for two highly anticipated HBCU matchups this season," said Frank Gumienny, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Philadelphia Eagles. "We are honored to welcome back Delaware State and Norfolk State on Saturday, October 31 – two historic programs led by Eagles Legends DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick. Preceding this celebrated rivalry will be Virginia Union and Lincoln on Friday, October 30. In partnership with the City of Philadelphia, we look forward to hosting the programs, families, alumni, and fans for what will be a memorable One Philly HBCU Week at Lincoln Financial Field."

As for the game, the Hornets enter the year with a substantially new roster of nearly 20 transfers, a high-impact offense, and an enhanced defense, with a conference championship in view. Jackson's focus for the season is clear: enter with intensity, win with pride and enthusiasm, leave with respect and grace.

"We are not putting any limits on our potential. And we are not resting on that potential either," Jackson said. "There is no replacement for hard work. That's the standard. The game at the Linc just gives our scholar-athletes a bigger stage to do what they do every day."

Delaware State's recent success on the gridiron has been a catalyst for its ongoing athletic transformation campaign, the first phase of which is a new athletic field house and significant upgrades to Alumni Stadium. The University has secured $40 million toward the project, initially seeded with a gift from football alumnus and automotive executive Steve Ewing, Class of 1983. The new facility is expected to open in Fall 2028. Contributions in support of the project are welcome.

Delaware State's 2026 schedule includes 12 games, six of them at home, with six MEAC matchups. The Hornets open August 27 against Stony Brook at Alumni Stadium and travel to the University of South Florida on September 19. Homecoming is October 10 against Franklin Pierce.

Ticket information, kickoff time, and broadcast details will be announced at a later date. Group pricing will be available for alumni chapters, community organizations, congregations, and high school programs. Delaware State students will have dedicated access; details to follow.

About Delaware State University
Delaware State University is the nation's most diverse contemporary Historically Black College or University. A comprehensive R2 land-grant research institution based in Dover, Delaware, the University enrolls a record 6,623 students, a 31.7 percent increase since 2020, from 44 states and more than 30 countries. They choose from nearly 100 academic programs, ranging from nursing and forensic biology to artificial intelligence and aviation, studying on three Delaware campuses, online across the Caribbean, and at partner universities in Asia. Students conduct research within an enterprise that has grown 88 percent to approximately $50 million. The University is also the lead institution for eHBCU.edu, the first national online HBCU learning consortium.

Print Friendly Version