Courtesy of Tuskegee Athletics
TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ The time for the 2024 Boeing Red Tails Classic was announced on Thursday afternoon, with television and kickoff set for Tuskegee University’s season-opening trip down 85 South to face fellow HBCU Johnson C Smith (JCSU) at the historic Cramton Bowl. The Golden Tigers and Golden Bulls will play Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6:00 p.m. CT in a nationally televised game on ESPNU, the fifth consecutive year the game will make an appearance on the ESPN family of networks since the game’s creation. Tuskegee is currently 1-3 in the classic, including a win last season over Fort Valley State.
The two programs last played in the inaugural Inner City Classic in Atlanta, Ga. on Sept. 8, 2012, with Tuskegee earning a 35-17 victory. Tuskegee leads the all-time series by a 12-5-1 count, with eight of the games being decided by 10 points or less. The series has had several streaks, with Tuskegee having won the last eight meetings dating back to 1970.
Both HBCU programs are coming off 7-4 records in 2023, while also finishing 6-2 in their respective conference standings.
“We are excited to once again open our upcoming football season with a nationally televised game in the Red Tails Classic,” Tuskegee head coach Aaron James said. “Our program has enjoyed tremendous support over the past few seasons with Montgomery being one of our surrounding areas, while we also look to bring home a win again like we did in 2023.”
“The Red Tails Classic has so much tradition and playing against Tuskegee University, one of the most storied championships football programs makes it meaningful,” Johnson C Smith head coach Maurice Flowers said. “It is an honor to be able to play in the Red Tails Classic. We are excited, this is great for our football program to be playing in a nationally televised game.”
Ticket and tailgate information for the 2024 Boeing Red Tails Classic airing on the ESPN family of networks can be found on the Montgomery Kickoff Games website, or by clicking here.