The football community of Tennessee is in a frenzy. The TSSAA high school champions have been crowned. The FBS college national championship playoffs begin soon. The FCS division playoffs are underway. The NFL playoff picture is shaping up. And, the champions of football and marching band programs from HBCUs will be decided this Saturday.
The 2024 Celebration Bowl airs at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, on ABC, featuring conference champions South Carolina State (MEAC) and Jackson State (SWAC), played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The second annual Band of the Year National Championship is Friday, Dec. 13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with Bands from the top two Division I HBCUs, North Carolina A&T University’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine and Florida A&M University’s Marching 100; and the top two Division II HBCUs, Virginia State University’s Trojan Explosion and the Miles College Purple Marching Machine.
Congratulations state high school winners; results from last weekend’s games in Chattanooga: Division II-AA: CPA 38, BGA 26; Division II-A, Nashville Christian 49, Columbia Academy 21; Division II-AAA: McCallie 27, Baylor 21; Class 3A: Alcoa 40, Westview 21; Class 1A: MASE 36, South Pittsburg 14; Class 5A: Sevier Co. 27, Page 20; Class 4A: Macon Co. 45, Melrose 14; Class 2A: Marion Co. 17, Milan 7; and Class 6A: Oakland 42, Houston 20.
The new 12-team playoff to decide the national champions of the highest level of collegiate football begin Friday, December 20, ending with the championship game Monday, January 20. First round: Friday, Dec. 20: No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame (7 p.m. ABC/ESPN); Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State (11 a.m. TNT/MAX); Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas (3 p.m. TNT/MAX); Saturday, Dec, 21: No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State (7 p.m. ABC/ESPN). Yes, you can watch the UT Vols take on The Ohio State Buckeyes on FREE TV/ ABC!
Quarterfinals: New Year’s Eve and Day, Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Tuesday, Dec. 31: Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State/No. 11 SMU winner, 6:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN. Wednesday, Jan. 1: Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas/No. 12 Clemson winner, Noon, ABC/ESPN. Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State/No. 9 Tennessee winner, 4 p.m. ABC/ESPN. Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame/No. 10 Indiana winner, 7:45 p.m., ABC/ESPN.
Semifinals (matchups TBA) are: Orange Bowl, Thursday Jan. 9 and Cotton Bowl, Friday, Jan. 10, at 6:30 p.m. each night. The CFP National Championship is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20 in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. All on ESPN.
Of local interest, Vanderbilt plays Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, Friday, Dec. 27 at 2:30 p.m.; The Music City Bowl features Missouri and Iowa on Monday, Dec. 30 at 1:30 p.m.; and Alabama and Michigan are in the Reliaquest Bowl at 11 a.m. on Dec. 31; all on ESPN. Colorado plays BYU in the Alamo Bowl at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 on ABC; and Louisville plays Washington in the Sun Bowl on CBS at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
The TSU Tigers ended a great season (9-4, 6-2) in the FCS playoffs, losing in the first round With their 10-6 home loss to the Jaguars, the Tennessee Titans (3-10) are eliminated from the NFL playoffs.
