Montgomery – The Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls and Tuskegee Golden Tigers will meet in the fourth annual Red Tails Classic at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Sunday, Sept. 1. The game time, ESPN platform designation and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The game was created in 2021 by ESPN Events to honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
“We are grateful to ESPN Events for showcasing this event on Labor Day weekend,” Johnny Williams, Executive Director of the Boeing Red Tails Classic and Camellia Bowl, said. “We have tremendous support the last three years from not on the Tuskegee community by the City of Montgomery. We are excited to host such a prestigious event again.”
Tuskegee is playing the Red Tails Classic for the fourth straight year. The previous three meetings came against conference rival Fort Valley State. The Golden Tigers posted a 7-4 record last season, including a thrilling 37-31 win over Fort Valley State in the Boeing Red Tails Classic.
“We are excited to once again open our upcoming football season with a nationally televised game in the Red Tails Classic,” 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.”
Johnson C. Smith is making its Red Tails Classic debut in 2024. The Golden Bulls posted a 7-4 record last season and played in three separate HBCU Classics. Johnson C. Smith, located in Charlotte, NC, plays in the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
“The Red Tails Classic has so much tradition and playing against Tuskegee University, one of the most storied championships football programs makes it meaningful,” JCSU 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.”
ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2024, the 34-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, the premier regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN Events on Facebook, Twitter/X and YouTube
