The National Football League (NFL), in partnership with Cxmmunity Media, Rally Cry, and the NFLPA, is bringing gaming and sports to the forefront with the 5th Annual Madden 25 NFL HBCU Tournament. Tailored for HBCU students, this high-stakes competition not only showcases talent but also builds a bridge to professional opportunities within gaming and sports entertainment.
Cxmmunity Media, tasked by the NFL to coordinate student registration, also brings its expertise in storytelling to the tournament, documenting players’ journeys to victory. These stories capture the resilience, creativity, and passion of HBCU students, adding depth to the competition while creating engaging content for fans and brands alike.
This partnership is a natural fit. The NFL’s commitment to empowering HBCUs has been a major achievement since 2016. Through initiatives like Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948, the league celebrates the historical impact of HBCUs and their players on the game while providing invaluable career opportunities for HBCU students and alumni in football and beyond. This dedication aligns seamlessly with Cxmmunity Media’s mission. Since its founding in 2021, Cxmmunity Media has help drive awareness and notoriety of HBCUs, most notably as the founders of the HBCU Esports League—the first esports league exclusively dedicated to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As well, through their foundation, Cxmmunity Foundation, Cxmmunity Media has established over 30 esports programs and built 12 technology labs at HBCUs. This unparalleled passion to support HBCUs uniquely positions Cxmmunity Media to execute the NFL’s vision of empowering the next generation of diverse talent.
With qualifiers beginning in December and the tournament launching on January 3, 2025, students will battle for the ultimate prize: an all-expenses-paid trip to the Pro Bowl in Orlando.
This collaboration shows a powerful avenue to connect with diverse, Gen Z audiences while championing inclusivity and innovation. Through this partnership, Cxmmunity Media and the NFL are not just hosting a competition—they're fostering a pipeline of talent for the future of gaming and sports entertainment.
It’s been four years since Battlefield 2042. That game built hype with massive maps, immersive gameplay, and the promise of dynamic weather — ambitious, to say the least. But what we got was a buggy mess with busted servers and missing staple features, even non-negotiables like in-squad voice chat. The backlash was immediate: negative reviews poured in, and some players demanded refunds. With 2042 widely seen as a failure, EA went back to the drawing board, bringing together four of its most talented teams to create a game that could both redeem and revive the franchise.
I come from this culture. I marched in Morehouse College’s “House of Funk” Marching Band. My father marched in Southern University’s “Human Jukebox”. For us, marching bands weren’t a halftime distraction, they were the show. They’re the heartbeat of HBCU sports, and our unique approach to musical performance has been influencing broader marching culture for decades.
Known for their chart-topping hits and genre-defining impact, Ne-Yo and T-Pain have taken their friendly competition out of the studio and into the virtual ring.