Monumental to broadcast more HBCU football games, including Truth and Service Classic

By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com

Monumental Sports Network has partnered with HBCU Go to air 16 historically Black college and university (HBCU) football games this season. Notably, Monumental recently added the Truth and Service Classic to their broadcast schedule, an annual clash between archrivals Howard University and Hampton University played at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. 

Monumental originally partnered with Howard, George Washington and Richmond last year in efforts to become the home of D.C., Maryland and Virginia football. In August 2024, the award-winning media platform announced that they were renewing their partnership with HBCU Go and the University of Richmond, while also adding Towson University to the list. 

“Partnering with HBCU Go and other area schools gives us great reach among communities and different universities. It gives us an opportunity to serve the general public in the DMV area while also catering to specific pockets of sports fans,” said Zach Leonsis, Monunental’s president of Media and New Enterprises. 

Other schools that will join the fall broadcast schedule include Morgan State, Grambling, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. 

“While we’re best-known for our outstanding Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics coverage, Monumental Sports Network strives to provide a major league-quality platform for a wide range of local teams and a variety of sports, building a strong sense of community across this region and united in the power of sports,” said Friday Abernethy, general manager of Monumental Sports Network via a press release. “With nearly 20 college football games on our air, it’s going to be an action-packed fall on our network and we are excited for kick off.” 

Fans and alumni with a paid television subscription will have access to all games as long as Monumental Sports Network is a part of their package. Viewers will also have the option of streaming games online at www.monumentalsportsnetwork.com or watching via the Monumental Sports Network app. According to Monumental, more than 3 million households in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area should be able to access all of the local college football action this fall.