HOUSTON – The top two programs in the country. A battle of undefeated teams. ESPN’s industry-leading college football production reaches its pinnacle as the College Football Playoff meets the moment here in Space City, USA. The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) kicks off Monday from NRG Stadium, with No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington facing off to write the final chapter of the season in the greatest story ever played.
Here’s what you need to know about ESPN’s multi-platform presentation of the sport’s greatest night.
The Stirring Score of John Williams Returns to CFP National Championship
For the second straight year, John Williams provides the soundtrack to the National Championship open, produced by ESPN’s Creative Content Unit. “Of Grit And Glory” gives life to the vision of co-director and producer Martin Khodabakhshian, producer Jacob Roen and co-director and editor Mike Sciallis of Victory Pictures. Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, located within Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, sets the scene for a tease that mixes the passion and pageantry of college football with the boldness and beauty of space exploration.
“What better theme to incorporate into this year’s title game, that once again showcases an original score composed by the legendary John Williams,” said Khodabakhshian. “We collaborated with NASA to help take the audience to another world, a place where only elite astronauts working with mission control can come together to reach unfathomable feats beyond our wildest dreams.
“Now these two teams, Michigan and Washington, will try to do the same,” Khodabakhshian continued, “and reach their goal of winning a championship. Pairing the past, present, and future of space exploration with the legends, history, and images of the greatest college title games ever, this tease will launch you into tonight’s incredible matchup with a feeling that nothing is impossible.”
ESPN’s Creative Content Unit (CCU) gave a sneak peek at their otherworldly open here.
ESPN’s Operations Team Takes Over H-Town
It takes significant teamwork to make a stadium both National Championship and MegaCast-ready, and ESPN’s operations team is always up for the challenge. To prepare NRG Stadium for the sport’s grandest stage, ESPN installed 18.5 miles of supplemental fiber to support Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship. Working with the shortest turnaround between the semifinals and championship in the history of the CFP, staffers built ESPN’s TV compound, mounted more than 100 cameras and microphones throughout the stadium to enhance both live game and studio programming, established nearly 400 discreet audio channels leaving site, and so much more. The result? Monday’s innovative and industry-defining MegaCast presentation.
ESPN Social Reaches New Heights with Instagram Live
Playing off the Houston theme, ESPN Social is co-producing an Instagram Live from space that incorporates the @ESPN, @ISS, and @NASA accounts, with commentator Jen Lada joining from ESPN as host ahead of the National Championship. The live feed will feature two astronauts from inside the International Space Station, Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli. They’ll join Lada to talk college football, give fans a look inside their daily lives, how they train like athletes, and how they keep up with things like sports from space. Join in on the Instagram live on Championship today at 11:30 a.m.
ESPN Features Beyoncé’s ‘MY HOUSE’ Track in New College Football Playoff National Championship Creative
ESPN released its College Football Playoff National Championship promotional creative featuring world-renowned superstar – and Houston native – Beyoncé and her newly-released track, “MY HOUSE.” The spots debuted Wednesday and run up until kickoff on Championship Monday. More details.
ESPN and Marvel Collaborate for Premier Poster Promotion
ESPN and Marvel continued their decade-long collaboration by teaming up to create one-of-a-kind College Football Playoff National Championship artwork that pays homage to classic Marvel comics. In Year 10 of the CFP, the Michigan wolverine and Washington husky mascots became Marvel-inspired as part of a special ESPN Marketing activation at Playoff Fan Central in Houston. Seven thousand posters featuring the 2024 National Championship matchup and other past CFP games were distributed to fans. A Wall of CFP Champions area also gave fans the opportunity to pose for photos with the Marvel-inspired mascots of past champions. National Championship Marvel artwork will be incorporated into ESPN’s on-site productions and social posts.
ESPN Marketing & Social Set for Post-Showdown Sparkle
In addition to covering the full post-game celebration as the confetti falls at NRG Stadium, ESPN will bring a bit of bling to the CFP festivities. Fans on the ground in Houston have had the opportunity to see this special surprise for the winning team, but the national champs themselves will have to wait until the final whistle on Championship Monday.
Allstate Party at the Playoff Posts Up at POST Houston
Known as the most anticipated VIP event of the weekend, the 10th annual Allstate Party at the Playoff played host to hundreds of attendees looking to celebrate the culmination of the 2023-24 college football campaign. The evening featured star-studded guests, athletes, celebrities, ESPN personalities and more as they gathered at POST Houston. The night was highlighted by a musical performance by multi-platinum-selling recording artists The All-American Rejects and featured DJ for the Houston Texans, DJ Vanilla Trill.
