MONTGOMERY - The kickoff times and network designations have been finalized for the FCS Kickoff and Red Tails Classic at the Cramton Bowl in historic downtown Montgomery.

UC Davis and Mercer will kick off the season at the 11th FCS Kickoff during Week 0 on Saturday, August 23, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Winston-Salem State and Tuskegee will play in the 5th Red Tails Classic on Sunday, August 31, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

"We're thrilled to help launch another season of college football in Montgomery, Alabama, in back-to-back weekend games," said FCS executive director Clay Norrell. "We are excited to have both Mercer and Tuskegee return to the historic Cramton Bowl and look forward to welcoming new opponents to these matchups."

Mercer is making its second appearance, having used a swarming defense to knock off North Alabama, 17-7, in a lightning-altered game that opened the 2023 season. UC Davis is the first California-based school to play in the FCS Kickoff.

Both teams wrapped up historic 2024 campaigns as national seeds in the FCS Playoffs. The fifth-seeded Aggies (11-3) dropped a tough 35-21 to fourth-seeded South Dakota State, while seventh-seeded Mercer (11-3) fell 31-7 to second-seed and eventual national champion North Dakota State.

Tuskegee will be making its fifth consecutive appearance at the Red Tails Classic. The Golden Tigers finished 5-6 last season, including a 21-13 loss to Johnson C. Smith in the Red Tails Classic. 

Winston-Salem State posted a 7-3 record in 2024. The Rams will be the third different opponent to face Tuskegee in the Red Tails Classic, joining Fort Valley State (2021-23) and Johnson C. Smith (2024).