Yes, it’s Sunday and we have still more North Carolina college football! Winston-Salem State kicks off its 2025 football season under the lights Sunday night in one of the most meaningful HBCU showcases on the calendar.
The Rams take on Tuskegee in the fifth annual Red Tails Classic, which honors the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen from World War II. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at the Cramton Bowl, and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
🏈 Game Information: WSSU Season Opener
- Opponent: Tuskegee University (0-0, SIAC)
- Date/Time: Sunday, Aug. 31 | 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.)
- TV: ESPNU
📊 Series History
- All-time: tied 3-3 (since 1946)
- Last Meeting: WSSU 23, Tuskegee 20 (2019)
- Largest WSSU win: 35-13 (2013)
- Largest Tuskegee win: 36-15 (2002)
The Rams were picked fifth in the CIAA preseason poll and will be led by preseason all-conference quarterback Daylin Lee, as well as tight end Devin Cunningham and offensive lineman Elijah Gordan. Tuskegee, meanwhile, is looking to rebound after losing last year’s Red Tails Classic to Johnson C. Smith, 21-13.
Tuskegee is led by defensive back Mikael King Jr., a hometown product who was named to the 2025 BOXTOROW HBCU All-American Team and the D2Football.com Preseason Elite 100 Watch List for the second year. King has recorded eight interceptions in his career and will be counted on heavily by second-year head coach Aaron James.
✈️ About the Red Tails Classic
Launched in 2021, the Red Tails Classic was created to celebrate HBCU football while honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation’s first Black military aviators. More than 16,000 men and women were part of the program, which included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, instructors, and support staff. The Airmen trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field beginning in 1941 and played a crucial role in breaking barriers during World War II.
Tracking the Rams: View Winston-Salem State’s full 2025 schedule
