DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – November 20, 2025 — It’s a huge week for Bethune-Cookman University. The campus is buzzing with major news. The Wildcats volleyball team is set to fight for a title. Plus, ESPN’s famous morning show, First Take, is coming to town! This makes for a big week of sports excitement and national attention for the historically Black college and university (HBCU).
Bethune-Cookman Volleyball Eyes the SWAC Championship
The Wildcats’ Path to the Tournament
The Bethune-Cookman (B-CU) women’s volleyball team is heading into the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament with a winning record. They earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament. This follows a strong regular-season performance. The team finished with an overall record of 14 wins and 14 losses. More importantly, they were very good in conference play, with an 11-5 record against SWAC opponents. This shows the Wildcats know how to win when it matters most in their own conference.
Can They Win the Whole Thing?
Winning a tournament is never easy. It means you must beat some of the best teams in a row. For B-CU, the road to the title will be tough. They are the 4th seed, so they are not the expected winners. The top seed is Prairie View A&M, which had an impressive 15-1 SWAC record. Jackson State and Alabama State are also strong, tied for the second seed with 12-4 records.
The Wildcats will start the tournament with a quarterfinal match. Their first opponent will be the No. 5 seed, Alabama A&M (Source: SWAC.org). This first game is very important. If they win, they will likely play the top-ranked Prairie View A&M in the semi-finals. B-CU has shown great strength, especially as the season went on. They were picked to finish third in the preseason poll. They have lived up to that promise and have a good chance to surprise the field.
Key Factors for B-CU’s Success
The team has shown they can handle pressure. They have a mix of experienced players and new, talented newcomers. This has helped them build depth. An important part of their game is a solid attack percentage of about .195. They also play good defense, averaging around 2.3 blocks per set. Consistency will be their biggest key to winning the tournament. They need to keep their focus in tough, long matches. If B-CU’s star players perform well and the whole team plays together, they could definitely make a deep run and maybe even win the championship (Source: Bethune-Cookman University Athletics).
How to Watch ESPN’s ‘First Take’ at Bethune-Cookman
The Show is Coming Live to Campus
Bethune-Cookman is also getting a big boost in national media attention. ESPN’s popular debate show, First Take, is coming to the university! This is a big deal. It puts B-CU on the national stage. The show is known for its lively sports discussions with hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe. The live broadcast will happen right on the B-CU campus.
Time, Date, and Channel Details
The live broadcast of ESPN’s First Take will take place today, Thursday, November 20, 2025. The show will be live from inside the Richard V. Moore Gymnasium.
- Time: The show airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern Time (ET).
- Channel: You can watch First Take live on ESPN.
This visit is part of ESPN’s commitment to highlight HBCUs. The show will be on campus right before the football game between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, which is scheduled for Saturday, November 22. This is a great way to showcase B-CU to a huge national audience (Source: SWAC.org). This kind of media spotlight is great for the university, its students, and its sports programs. It shows the growing interest in HBCU athletics and culture.
SWAC Volleyball Tournament Schedule
For fans wanting to follow the Wildcats’ journey, here is the basic schedule for the tournament, which will be held at Florida A&M University’s Al Lawson Center in Tallahassee. The tournament is single-elimination.
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Broadcast |
| Friday, Nov. 21 | 1:30 p.m. | Quarterfinal: No. 4 B-CU vs. No. 5 Alabama A&M | SWAC TV |
| Saturday, Nov. 22 | 3:00 p.m. | Semifinal (If B-CU Wins) | SWAC TV |
| Sunday, Nov. 23 | 3:30 p.m. | Championship Match | SWAC TV |
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Note: All tournament times are listed in Eastern Time (ET). The SWAC website originally listed times in CST, so make sure to double-check.
Opinion and Methodology
Opinion
Opinion: High Hopes for the Wildcats
The Bethune-Cookman volleyball team is going into the tournament as a true underdog contender. They are the No. 4 seed, but they have the potential to beat anyone on a good day. The team’s momentum is strong right now. If they can get past Alabama A&M in the first round, the energy and confidence will be sky-high. That could be enough to push them past the top seeds. The combination of strong play and the national hype from the First Take visit creates a special feeling around the campus. This energy could power the team to an unforgettable championship win.
Methodology
This article was written by combining and checking several news reports from official sports sources. We used information from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) website and the Bethune-Cookman University Athletics website.
First Take Visit Details: The date (Nov. 20), time (10 a.m. – Noon ET), location (Richard V. Moore Gymnasium), and channel (ESPN) were found using official university and SWAC announcements about the ESPN visit.
SWAC Tournament Seedings and Matchups: The official tournament bracket and seedings were used to find B-CU’s opponent (Alabama A&M) and their seeding (No. 4). This also helped set the overall path and key opponents.
B-CU Season Performance: Team records, conference records (11-5 SWAC), and overall records (14-14) were used to show their strength. Player statistics, like attack percentage and blocks per set, were added to explain why they are a strong team.
All this information was put together to give a full picture of the excitement and challenges facing Bethune-Cookman this week.
