Jake Gaither Classic to be 2017 season’s first game

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – An extra spotlight is going to shine on the inaugural Jake Gaither Classic.

Florida A&M announced Wednesday its Aug. 26 home matchup against Texas Southern in Tallahassee has been moved to a noon ET kickoff on ESPNU, which would make it the first Division I game of the 2017 season.

Florida A&M announced the non-conference FCS game in January, and only last month set a 6 p.m. kickoff for a classic that is named after its late College Football Hall of Fame coach. Since the game is occurring in “Week Zero” of the season – held the weekend prior to the traditional Thursday opening night that leads into Labor Day Weekend – NCAA by-laws require a national TV broadcast.

A source involved with the game told STATS it was given a noon kickoff on ESPNU. Later Wednesday, the Florida A&M sports information department confirmed the information.

Both teams had 4-7 records last season. Florida A&M is a member of the MEAC and Texas Southern plays in the SWAC – the two Division I conferences composed of historically black colleges and universities.

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