Bethune-Cookman tops Florida A&M 38-34 in 2025 Florida Blue Florida Classic
By: Caitlin Russo
Florida Citrus Sports
Bethune-Cookman won a 38–34 shootout with in-state rival Florida A&M Saturday night at Camping World Stadium, claiming a wild Florida Blue Florida Classic that featured four fourth-quarter lead changes and a game-winning fourth-down touchdown in the final seconds.
The victory marked the Wildcats’ first Florida Classic win over the Rattlers since 2019 and evened the series at 14-14 since the game relocated to Orlando in 1997.
“It’s all about finishing,” B-CU head coach Raymond Woodie, Jr. said. “We tell them all the time, ‘Don’t blink — you’re going to get an opportunity to make that lasting play,’ and they did that.”
That moment came with 20 seconds left in the game, when redshirt senior quarterback Timmy McClain dropped back on 4th-and-8 and found redshirt freshman Josh Evans with a 41-yard touchdown strike that put B-CU ahead for good.
The connection between former Central Florida high school stars — McClain graduated from Seminole and Evans attended nearby Olympia — capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive and completed one of the most dramatic endings in recent Classic history.
“I would say it was kind of an out-of-body experience, to be honest with you,” said McClain, who finished 22-of-33 passing for 274 yards and threw four touchdowns to four different receivers, earning game MVP honors. “(It was) so crazy and so many emotions going on. This team has been through a lot … but we fought through it. I’m just glad we were able to pull out the win.”
The victory also gave Woodie, a B-CU graduate, his first Florida Classic victory since taking over as his alma mater’s head coach in 2023.
“It’s great, especially for the school, the community, the fans, obviously bragging rights and then Thanksgiving,” Woodie said. “I was telling the guys, I had a couple of cold turkeys. Now, I can have some hot turkey.”
Woodie’s Wildcats led 24-9 after two quarters behind 242 yards of first-half offense, but Florida A&M mounted a surge of its own after the break and cut the lead to 24-19 on a 17-yard third-quarter touchdown pass from RJ Johnson III to Armand Burris and a fourth-quarter Daniel Porto field goal.
The Rattlers outgained the Wildcats 299-243 in the second half and took the lead twice in the final eight minutes, but the Wildcats had an answer each time.
A 72-yard touchdown run by Jamal Hailey initially gave FAMU a 27-24 lead with 7:47 to play, but that advantage was quickly wiped out by a 67-yard TD pass from McClain to Javon Ross just 44 seconds later. The Rattlers then regained a 34-31 edge on a 19-yard rushing TD by Thad Franklin, Jr., with 2:19 left. But McClain’s final touchdown strike of the night proved to be the difference.
“It’s the Classic — what do you expect?” B-CU senior defensive tackle Adrian Hall, Jr., said of the result. “It’s supposed to be a good game. So, when we got down, I was going around to the guys, especially the defense, knowing we had some moments that we got down on ourselves, and just encouraged the guys to stay up. You have to live for moments like this.”
With the victory, the Wildcats finish the regular season 6–6, including a 5-3 record in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The Rattlers (5–6, 4-3 SWAC) visit Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Nov. 29, and FAMU head coach James Colzie III said the message remains the same as his team prepares for its season finale.
“It’s just that mentality of finishing,” Colzie said. “On two occasions, we took the lead, and on two occasions, we gave up the lead. We’ve just got to keep that foot on the gas.”