Wilberforce Is Bringing Football Back After Nearly 80 Years

One of the oldest names in Black higher education is heading back to the field. Wilberforce University has officially announced plans to revive its football program in 2027, ending an absence of nearly 80 years.

Wilberforce, founded in 1856 in Ohio, last played football in 1947 after a 25 year run. The end of the program marked the beginning of football at neighboring Central State, the university that shares Wilberforce's roots. The finest season in school history came in 1931, when the team finished a perfect 8 and 0 and claimed its only Black College Football National Championship.

Now a new foundation is being laid. The university says it is actively recruiting student athletes who will become the foundation of the revived program, a rare chance for young players to write the first chapter of a new story at a historic institution.

Leading the effort is head coach Earnest Wilson, who brings about 35 years of college coaching experience. Most recently, Wilson served as special teams coordinator and running backs coach at Edward Waters in 2025. He has also been head coach at Savannah State from 2013 through 2015 and at Elizabeth City State from 2016 through 2017, and an offensive coordinator at Benedict, Jackson State and Hampton. His HBCU roots run deep, and that familiarity with the culture of Black college football will matter as he builds from the ground up.

Building a program from scratch is a serious undertaking, and Wilberforce is being clear about what it needs. The university has asked corporate sponsors and major donors to help fund a new stadium and facilities, uniforms and equipment, scholarships and sports medicine. Supporters interested in major gifts or sponsorship can contact Dr. Grant L. Winrow, the university's vice president for institutional advancement.

The announcement lands during a strong moment for HBCUs overall. Enrollment records are falling across the country this fall, and U.S. News released its latest HBCU rankings this week. Athletics are often the front porch of a university, the first thing many families see. For a small school, a football program can bring students, alumni and neighbors back to campus every fall Saturday.

There is also something powerful about reclaiming history. The players who went unbeaten in 1931 did it in an era when Black athletes were shut out of most of the nation's biggest programs. HBCU football gave them a stage, and Wilberforce is choosing to rebuild that stage for a new generation.

We will be watching the recruiting trail and the fundraising progress closely. Welcome back to the gridiron, Wilberforce.