How to watch HBCU Band of the Year championship today: Channel, live stream, time, TV schedule for 2024 competition

Ashlee Woods

How to watch HBCU Band of the Year championship today: Channel, live stream, time, TV schedule for 2024 competition image

Joshua L. Jones (USA Today Network)

Four of the country's best HBCU marching bands will take the field in Atlanta Friday in the second HBCU Band of the Year competition. 

The North Carolina A&T Blue and Gold Marching Machine will look to defend their crown as the Division I Band of the Year, as they go head-to-head with FAMU's Marching 100. 

Last year's Division II champion, the Florida Memorial Marching Roar, will not defend their title, however. This year's D2 championship will feature the Virginia State Trojan Explosion and the Purple Marching Machine from Miles College. 

The four bands were selected by a committee and fan-based ranking system that was released weekly throughout the 2024 football season. The top two bands from each division in the final weekly ranking earned the honor of performing in Atlanta

Which two bands will be crowned the 2024 Band of the Year? The Sporting News has all of the details for the 2024 ESPN Band of the Year competition.

How to watch HBCU Band of the Year championship: TV channel, live stream

  • TV channel: N/A
  • Live stream: ESPN+ 

The 2024 Band of the Year championship will not air on a national TV channel. Friday's event will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+

For a limited time get 12 months of ESPN+ for the price of 9 with the purchase of an annual plan. Stream your favorite teams live and enjoy more sports anywhere with an ESPN+ subscription.

Band of the Year championship start time 

  • Date: Friday, Dec. 13
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. CT

The 2024 HBCU Band of the Year will start at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Band of the Year championship performers 2024

Here is the full list of bands performing at the Band of the Year competition: 

School Name Hometown
North Carolina A&T Blue and Gold Marching Machine*Greensboro, North Carolina
FAMU's Marching 100Tallahassee, Florida
Virginia State Trojan ExplosionPetersburg, Virginia
The Miles College Purple Marching MachineFairfield, Alabama

*Defending Division I champion

Related Links

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >

Ashlee Woods

Ashlee Woods Photo

Ashlee Woods is a freelance writer for The Sporting News 'Watch' team, covering all major North American sports carried on streaming services such as Fubo, Sling, Paramount+, DAZN, Apple+ and more.