NC-FAQ — HCASC

National Championship Tournament FAQ

There are three steps leading up to the naming of the teams for the NCT:

Participating institutions complete the NCT Part 1 Qualification materials by December 5, 2025.
NCT Part 2 Qualification materials are submitted by January 23, 2026.
HBCU teams must attend the HCASC Qualifying Tournaments. There will be six NQTs which will be seeded according to HCASC headquarters to optimize competition and allow for match-ups across the HBCU map.

After NQT play, teams will be seeded for participation in the National Championship Tournament.

Yes, please consult the Player Eligibility page.

The safety and well-being of HCASC Site attendees, bands, fans, and the local community remain our top priority. We recognize the impact of the ongoing California wildfires on Southern California and stand in solidarity with all those who have been displaced or otherwise affected by these tragic wildfires. HBOB is still scheduled to take place on February 1st at SoFi Stadium as planned. The venue, located in Inglewood, is currently not impacted by the wildfires. SoFi Stadium is approximately 20 miles southeast of the affected areas and we believe that the ambient air quality will be safe for our event on February 1st. We are committed to delivering a safe, unforgettable experience that celebrates the power, passion, and precision of HBCU marching bands.

On behalf of the Honda family of companies, Honda is donating $1 million in needed disaster relief funds to the American Red Cross to support the tens of thousands of residents impacted by this disaster.

Individual players receive a variety of items such as t-shirts, hats & medallions. The participating HBCUs share in grants from Honda of up to $404,000 each year:

The tournament format is a modified round robin where the schools play in divisions. The top 16 teams advance as NQT qualifiers to a single-elimination playoff. The final two teams battle it out for the National title in a best 2-out-of-3 finals.