Notre Dame will face Ohio State on Monday night, January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
ATLANTA — College football fans, it’s almost time! The College Football Playoff National Championship will take place Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
Notre Dame will face Ohio State for the national title. But before the football showdown begins, the pre-match entertainment will be a spectacle not to be missed. There will be musical guests and more, including performances from some with ties to metro Atlanta.
Pre-match activities will begin at 7:30 p.m., with kickoff set for 7:45 p.m. Here’s a look at some of the festivities that will take place before and during the game.
Who sings the national anthem?
Coco Jones will perform Star-Spangled Banner. The R&B singer is known for her hits “ICU” and “Here We Go.”
And Alexander Charlot, 20, a 12th grader from Monroe, Ga., will perform “Star-Spangled Banner” in American Sign Language. Charlot attends the Atlanta area school for the deaf.
Who will perform “America the Beautiful?” »
Georgia, get ready! You’re in for a treat when the Spelman College Glee Club performs “America the Beautiful.” The Glee Club celebrates its centenary this yearaccording to the school’s website. It is considered the oldest African-American women’s college choir in the country. The Glee Club will be under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Johnson.
And while the Glee Club sings, Johrgia Peaches, 14, an 8th grader from Newnan, Ga., will perform “America the Beautiful” in ASL. Like Charlot, Peaches also attends the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.
Honor MLK
The championship game is being played in Atlanta, the birthplace of the civil rights movement, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. His daughter, Dr. Bernice King, who is also CEO of the King Center, will participate in the drawing on the land.
Recognition to Retired Navy Medal of Honor Recipient
The PSC will recognize the recipient of the Medal of Honor, retired Cpl de la Marne. Kyle Carpenter received the nation’s highest military award in 2014 for his heroic actions in Afghanistan in 2010.. Carpenter and his fellow Marine Cpl. Nicolas Eufrazio were standing guard on a rooftop in Helmand province when a hand grenade was thrown at their location. Carpenter jumped on the enemy aircraft, saving Eufrazio’s life.
Six drummers from Clark Atlanta University Drumline will perform
DR Mal-Ski will have the opportunity to energize the crowd and will be joined by six drummers from the Clark Atlanta University Drumline. Their collaboration is certainly one to watch! The CAU Battery is known for its precision and pageantry.