The return of college football is just around the corner and, once again, HBCU football will be hanging with the big boys on ESPN in Week Zero.
ESPN has revealed its early-season schedule featuring two HBCU teams – one from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the other from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
As announced in December, ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will kick off the 2024 college football season in Dublin, Ireland when ACC rivals Florida State and Georgia Tech play in the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 24. College GameDay’s trip overseas marks the first time that college football’s premier pregame show is originating from outside the United States. The showdown between the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets is set for noon on ESPN.
The HBCU football season officially kicks off a few hours later when reigning HBCU national champion Florida A&M will take on Norfolk State University. The Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be broadcast live from Atlanta, GA at 7:30 PM.
ESPN’s industry-leading presentation of college football kicks off Week 1 with a pair of two-time College Football Playoff champions clashing at the home of the 2025 CFP National Championship on Saturday, Aug. 31. Clemson will take on Georgia in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, with the Tigers and Bulldogs matching up at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at noon ET on ABC.
At 3:30 p.m., the debut of the SEC on ABC franchise will commence as the Florida Gators play host to Sunshine State foe Miami (FL) in The Swamp. This state of Florida feature will be the reveal of the SEC on ABC brand across all SEC home games, including a new graphics package, theme music and more. A sneak peek at this new brand will be unveiled at Tuesday’s Disney Upfront.
In primetime, ABC Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One will finish out the first full Saturday of the season with Notre Dame taking on Texas A&M and new head coach Mike Elko at 7:30 p.m. The Fighting Irish at Aggies matchup will be in the national spotlight throughout the day with College GameDay Built by The Home Depot live from College Station on ESPN and ESPNU that morning. The premier pre-game show welcomes coaching legend Nick Saban to the cast alongside host Rece Davis, analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee, as well as college football insider Pete Thamel, reporters Jen Lada and Jess Sims, and college football betting analyst ‘Stanford Steve’ Coughlin. More details on the show’s presence in the Lone Star State will be announced later this summer.
Labor Day Sunday spotlights a stunner from Sin City, as USC and LSU clash in ESPN Events’ Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. Labor Day Monday on ESPN showcases all-ACC action, as Florida State hosts Boston College in Tallahassee at 7:30 p.m.