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 100 | Tallahassee, Florida |
| Virginia State Trojan Explosion | Petersburg, Virginia |
| The Miles College Purple Marching Machine | Fairfield, Alabama |
*Defending Division I champion
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