CHAMPIONS & HISTORY

A LEGACY EARNED ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME.

Celebrating the champions, participating institutions, and defining moments that have shaped the Battle since 2017.

THE CHAMPIONS ARCHIVE

The schools that rose to the challenge.

Every championship reflects focused preparation, teamwork, and the courage to present an idea under pressure. The following winners are drawn from HBCU BOTB’s published historical results. Years without a verified entry are left open for future archive updates.

The 2026 championship award group celebrates with the first-place check at HBCU Battle of the Brains.

First-place celebration at HBCU BOTB 2026.

2026 CHAMPION

Tuskegee University

Celebrating the team at the top of the 2026 HBCU Battle of the Brains competition.

The second-place award group celebrates with its check at HBCU Battle of the Brains in 2026.

2026 RUNNER-UP

Fisk University

Second-place award celebration 2026.

The third-place award group poses with its check at HBCU Battle of the Brains in 2026.

2026 THIRD PLACE

North Carolina A&T State University

Third-place award celebration 2026.

2025 | MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

Runner-up: Huston-Tillotson University. Third place: Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.

2024 | FISK UNIVERSITY

Runner-up: Talladega College. Third place: Morehouse College.

2023 | ALABAMA STATE

Runner-up: Fisk University. Third place: Norfolk State University.

EXPLORE THE 2023 NFL NEWS MOMENT

2022 | FISK UNIVERSITY

Runner-up: Huston-Tillotson University. Third place: Morehouse College.

READ FISK’S CHAMPIONSHIP STORY ↓

2020 | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M

Runner-up: Howard University. Joint third place: Alabama A&M University and Hampton University.

2019 | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M

Runner-up: Howard University. Third place: Paul Quinn College.

2018 | FLORIDA A&M

Runner-up: Morgan State University. Third place: Grambling State University.

2017 | PAUL QUINN

Runner-up: Prairie View A&M University. Third place: Morgan State University.

A LEGACY OF RATTLER EXCELLENCE

INSTITUTIONAL LEGACY SPOTLIGHT

Every Battle. Every Era.

Florida A&M University holds a singular distinction in HBCU Battle of the Brains history: it is the only institution to register for every competition held since the inaugural Battle in 2017. The Rattlers also claimed the 2018 championship. This recognition celebrates the generations of FAMU students who have stepped forward throughout the Battle’s evolution.

9 OF 9 COMPETITIONS REGISTERED2018 CHAMPION

FROM THE ARCHIVE

A look back at 2017.

Early moments of connection, confidence, and competition from the HBCU Battle of the Brains archive.

HBCU Battle of the Brains participants and guests pose together outdoors in front of a mural in 2017.

The HBCU Battle of the Brains community gathers in 2017.

A participant presents beside a lectern with a healthcare innovation slide behind her at HBCU Battle of the Brains in 2017.

A presentation at HBCU Battle of the Brains 2017. Photography: HADEWUMI.

FOUNDER’S PERSPECTIVE | MARCH 22, 2017

The inaugural Battle, in our founder’s words.

Founder Gregory Gibson Jr. chronicled the inaugural HBCU Battle of the Brains for ESPN’s The Undefeated, now Andscape. His firsthand account follows the idea’s beginnings, the seven teams that competed at SXSW, and Paul Quinn College’s victory as the program’s first champion.

READ THE ARTICLE ON ANDSCAPE

Adebobola Vincent Owoseni, center, with fellow HBCU Battle of the Brains participants in 2017 — Paul Quinn College team captain Adebobola Vincent Owoseni (center), 2017.

CHAMPION’S PERSPECTIVE | 2017

The first champion remembers the first Battle.

Adebobola Vincent Owoseni led Paul Quinn College’s inaugural championship team. His firsthand reflection captures the 24-hour case, a virtual reality concept, a presentation at Google Austin, and the teamwork behind that first win.

EXPLORE THE REFLECTION READ THE ORIGINAL ACCOUNT

FROM THE ARCHIVE

A look back at 2018.

Focused collaboration and shared achievement from HBCU Battle of the Brains in 2018.

Two HBCU Battle of the Brains participants work through ideas at a whiteboard in 2018, with one writing on the board.

Working through ideas at HBCU Battle of the Brains 2018.

A group celebrates onstage with the 2018 HBCU Battle of the Brains championship check and ceremonial boarding passes.

An awards celebration at HBCU Battle of the Brains 2018.

A group posing onstage with the 2019 HBCU Battle of the Brains championship award check.

A championship moment from the 2019 HBCU Battle of the Brains.

FROM THE 2019 ARCHIVE

The moments behind the milestones.

Every competition adds another chapter to the Battle. These moments of achievement belong to the students, teams, and institutions who bring it to life.

FROM THE 2022 ARCHIVE

Big moments. Lasting connections.

Shared achievement and candid conversations from HBCU Battle of the Brains in 2022.

Participants embrace and celebrate onstage beside an award check at the 2022 HBCU Battle of the Brains.

Celebrating achievement together at the 2022 HBCU Battle of the Brains. © MOYO-OYELOLA.

Two speakers share a lighthearted moment during an onstage conversation, with attendees in the foreground and HBCU Battle of the Brains branding behind them.

Ideas, perspective, and connection onstage at the 2022 HBCU Battle of the Brains.

2022 | A MOMENT OF GENEROSITY

An extra $10,000 for HBCU brilliance.

At the 2022 HBCU Battle of the Brains, Marshawn Lynch announced that he, Josh Johnson, and Marcus Peters would contribute an additional $10,000 from their foundation toward the scholarships.

Original post: NFL and Inspire Change.
Published March 13, 2022.
Video credit: @_ericespino_.

WATCH ON INSTAGRAM

If the embedded video is unavailable, use the Instagram link to watch the original post.

Watch the original announcement shared by NFL on Instagram.

UNIVERSITY PERSPECTIVE | APRIL 6, 2022

Fisk’s account of its 2022 championship.

Fisk University’s account of its 2022 championship celebrates a student-designed app connecting HBCU talent with opportunities in sports. The university reports a $50,000 grand prize and an additional $10,000 contribution from Marshawn Lynch. Its account also credits Devale Ellis, Marcus Allen, Marcus Peters, and Kelvin Beachum with additional $5,000 contributions each. The story captures the team’s interdisciplinary collaboration and the opportunities following the win, including an NFL Draft Experienceship and a trip to the Black Sports Business Symposium.

READ FISK UNIVERSITY’S CHAMPIONSHIP STORY

2023 | THE BATTLE IN THE HEADLINES

When NFL news broke at the Battle.

On March 12, 2023, HBCU Battle of the Brains became the setting for Jalen Ramsey’s immediate reaction to news of his trade from the Los Angeles Rams to the Miami Dolphins. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe interviewed Ramsey at the event moments after the trade was reported, a moment documented in the Dolphins’ own coverage.

The interview captured a major career move as it unfolded, connecting the Battle’s community to the business of professional sports in real time.

Source: Five Things: Jalen Ramsey, Travis Wingfield, MiamiDolphins.com, March 15, 2023.
Video: Cameron Wolfe’s interview with Jalen Ramsey, NFL Network.

READ THE DOLPHINS’ COVERAGE WATCH CAMERON WOLFE’S INTERVIEW

OUR PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

The schools that built the Battle.

65 institutions. One shared legacy.

Since 2017, students from these institutions have helped shape HBCU Battle of the Brains. Each school represents a community that has contributed its talent, ideas, and energy to the competition. The years reflect documented registrations, competition participation, and partner engagement across each edition.

Alabama A&M University

2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024

Alabama State University

2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025

Albany State University

2022 · 2023 · 2024

Alcorn State University

2018 · 2019 · 2020

Allen University

2024

Benedict College

2022 · 2023

Bethune-Cookman University

2023

Bluefield State University

2018

Bowie State University

2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

2019 · 2020 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Claflin University

2019 · 2023

Clark Atlanta University

2022 · 2023 · 2025

Delaware State University

2023

Dillard University

2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Edward Waters University

2022 · 2023

Elizabeth City State University

2022 · 2023

Fayetteville State University

2018 · 2019 · 2020

Fisk University

2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Florida A&M University

2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Florida Memorial University

2024 · 2025

Grambling State University

2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Hampton University

2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022

Harris-Stowe State University

2020

Howard University

2019 · 2020 · 2023 · 2024

Huston-Tillotson University

2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Jackson State University

2018 · 2019 · 2020

Johnson C. Smith University

2018 · 2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Kentucky State University

2018

Lane College

2018 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Langston University

2023

LeMoyne-Owen College

2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Lincoln University of Missouri

2018

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

2025 · 2026

Livingstone College

2018 · 2026

Medgar Evers College

2020

Miles College

2022

Morehouse College

2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Morgan State University

2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2023 · 2026

Morris Brown College

2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Norfolk State University

2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

North Carolina A&T State University

2017 · 2018 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

North Carolina Central University

2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Paul Quinn College

2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020

Philander Smith University

2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Prairie View A&M University

2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025

Shaw University

2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2023 · 2024

Simmons College of Kentucky

2025 · 2026

South Carolina State University

2020

Southern University and A&M College

2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Southern University at New Orleans

2020

Southern University at Shreveport

2020

Spelman College

2022 · 2023

Saint Augustine’s University

2023

St. Philip’s College

2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Stillman College

2020 · 2023

Talladega College

2024 · 2025

Texas Southern University

2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2026

Tuskegee University

2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

2018 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

University of the Virgin Islands

2023

Virginia State University

2022 · 2023 · 2024

Virginia Union University

2023

Winston-Salem State University

2020 · 2022 · 2023

Xavier University of Louisiana

2020 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

This directory recognizes institutions connected to the Battle through competition registrations, student participation, and partner experiences. Championship placements are documented separately in the results archive. The 2021 competition was not held so the Battle could return in person in 2022. This archive will be expanded as additional records are verified.

Logo Credits

Southern University at Shreveport logo: SUSLA Marketing, CC BY 4.0. Adapted in size for this directory. Southern University at New Orleans logo: Eddie Francis / Augustus06, CC BY-SA 3.0.

LOOKING FORWARD

The next chapter is being written.

In 2027, HBCU Battle of the Brains celebrates its 10th annual competition. A new generation of HBCU students will bring its thinking and talent to Austin.

The 2026 results have been added to the champions archive. Additional historical records will be included as they are confirmed.

THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION.

Join us in celebrating HBCU talent and preparing for the 10th annual event in Austin.

SEE THE 2027 EVENT ↗

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