NFL and Nike to Host Third Annual Nike Football Kickoff Classic

The NFL announced the third annual Football Kickoff Classic in partnership with Nike to begin the 2024 high school football season. Hosted at Nike World Headquarters (WHQ) in Beaverton, Oregon, the Nike Football Kickoff Classic will feature two high school football games – a girl's flag football game and a boy's tackle football game – on Thursday, Aug. 22.

This year's girls flag football game will pair high-powered teams from De La Salle High School (Louisiana) and South Anchorage High School (Alaska).

Played by over 20 million people across 100 countries, women and girls drive some of flag football's fastest growth. In partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the NFL is investing in the development and growth of flag football at grassroots and elite levels around the world ahead of the sport's official debut in the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

This year's boys' game will feature teams from Massillon High School (Ohio) and The NFL Academy (United Kingdom).

“The Nike Football Kickoff Classic brings fresh excitement to the start of the high school football season. For the third consecutive year, Nike has given us something to look forward to as the season begins," said Roman Oben, Vice President of NFL Football Development. "This year, we're adding an international twist with the NFL Academy facing off against Massillon. The experience these teams will share will be unforgettable. Congratulations to all the high school football players this year."

The collaboration between Nike and the NFL continues to amplify the kickoff of the high school football season and allows each of the participating boys and girls’ high school teams to play in one of the most unique experiences in the country.

The experience at Nike also allows student athletes to learn about the history of Nike and its relationship with the NFL. Student athletes will get an opportunity to hear from former Nike/NFL Ambassadors about why they love football and learn about professional development from some of the best in sports, touring one of the most robust campuses in the world.

This year, the Nike Kickoff Classic will livestream on the NFL YouTube channel on Thursday, August 22 with NFL Network airing the Classic on Saturday, August 31. The schools participating in the Nike Kickoff Classic will also be sponsored by the NFL team in their home markets.

Nike Football Kickoff Classic at Nike World Headquarters (Beaverton, OR):

What: Girls Flag Football - De La Salle High School (LA) vs. South Anchorage High School (AK)

When: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m. PT

Where: Ronaldo Field

What: Boys Tackle Football - Massillon High School (OH) vs. NFL Academy (UK)

When: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 3:30 p.m. PT

Where: Ronaldo Field

NFL Team                    High School Team

Seattle Seahawks          South Anchorage High School (Girls Flag)

New Orleans Saints       De La Salle High School (Girls Flag)

NFL                                NFL Academy (Boys Tackle)

Cleveland Browns          Massillon High School (Boys Tackle)

Ahead of the Nike Football Kickoff Classic, Edgewater High School (Florida) will head to NFL Academy's Loughborough Headquarters to play a game on August 15. In the lead up to the NFL's 2024 slate of international games, De La Salle (California) will also travel to the U.K. to face the NFL Academy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8. Additionally, IMG Academy (Florida) will travel to Munich to face the NFL Academy on November 8. For more details, visit: https://www.nflacademy.com/