Johnson C. Smith football will begin the 2024 season in an HBCU classic in Montgomery, Ala. over Labor Day weekend.
The Golden Bulls, who finished 2023 in the new Florida Beach Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, will face Tuskegee on Sunday, Sept. 1 in the Boeing Red Tails Classic. This special HBCU showdown, in its fourth year, honors the Tuskegee Airman who fought in World War II. The game will be played at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.
Both Johnson C. Smith and Tuskegee finished 7-4 a year ago. Tuskegee, which competes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, beat Fort Valley State 37-31 in last year’s Boeing Red Tails Classic. Johnson C. Smith lost to Fort Valley State 23-10 in the Florida Beach Bowl. Tuskegee and Johnson C. Smith last met in 2012, with the Golden Tigers from Alabama prevailing over the Golden Bulls 35-17.
The game will be broadcast on one of the ESPN networks.
“The Red Tails Classic has so much tradition — playing against Tuskegee University, one of the most storied championship football programs there is,” said JCSU coach Maurice Flowers. “We are excited. This is great for our football program, to be playing in a national televised game.”
Johnson C. Smith will face two SIAC teams this coming season. The Golden Bulls will travel to Atlanta on Sept. 7 to face Morehouse College.
After a bye week, JCSU jumps into the eight-game CIAA grind. The Golden Bulls will face Virginia Union, Bluefield State and Virginia State in its three crossover games with Northern Division rivals. From there, the Bulls face familiar Southern Division foes: Shaw and Fayetteville State at home, and St. Augustine’s, Winston-Salem State and Livingstone on the road.
Homecoming will be Oct. 19 when Shaw visits the Irwin Belk complex.
This year’s CIAA championship game will be Nov. 16 in Salem, Va. After having one of its best seasons in a decade, Johnson C. Smith coaches and players have circled that date on their calendars. The Bulls haven’t finished atop the CIAA in several decades. But the ingredients seem to be in place for a run at a title game appearance in 2024. Flowers will begin his third season at the helm of his alma mater.
–> READ MORE: NCAA.com charts the 2024 HBCU homecoming and classic calendar
Johnson C. Smith Football Schedule 2024
- Sept. 1: vs. Tuskegee (at Montgomery, Ala.)
- Sept. 7: at Morehouse College
- Sept. 14: Bye
- Sept. 21: VIRGINIA UNION*
- Sept. 28: at Bluefield State*
- Oct. 5: VIRGINIA STATE*
- Oct. 12: at St. Augustine’s*
- Oct. 19: SHAW*
- Oct. 26: at Winston-Salem State*
- Nov. 2: FAYETTEVILLE STATE*
- Nov. 9: at Livingstone*
- * denotes CIAA game
