Coco Jones to Perform National Anthem at College Football Championship

ATLANTA, Ga. — The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 7 Notre Dame will feature Grammy-winning R&B singer Coco Jones performing the national anthem. The highly anticipated matchup takes place Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, marking the culmination of a five-month season.

Jones, 27, is no stranger to the spotlight. The singer, who won a Grammy in 2024 for her hit song “ICU,” will take the stage ahead of the championship game. She is the daughter of former NFL defensive end Mike Jones and gained early fame as a Disney Channel star. Jones is signed to Def Jam Recordings and currently stars in Peacock’s reboot of “Bel-Air.”

“America the Beautiful” will be performed by the Spelman College Glee Club, the oldest collegiate choir of African American women in the U.S. Additionally, 14-year-old Johrgia Peaches and 20-year-old Alexander Charlot, both students at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, will perform the songs in American Sign Language.

The game, broadcast by ESPN, will feature an extensive production setup, including over 100 cameras and 100 microphones. Among the highlights are eight end-zone PylonCams, two Skycams, and a drone for aerial shots. Three officials will wear MindFly BodyCams, providing live video feeds and audio during the game.

“It has been like seeing an old friend,” said Jarrett Baker, ESPN’s senior manager of remote production operations, about returning to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “The expanded playoff has been incredible, and the team we work with is top-notch. This is why we do what we do.”

ESPN’s production team of over 850 staff members has prepared for weeks to deliver the broadcast, which includes a 4K viewing option for select subscribers. The game will also feature a unique roof camera angle, providing dramatic overhead views of the action.

The championship game caps off an expanded 12-team playoff format, adding eight games to ESPN’s College Football Playoff coverage. The matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame is expected to draw millions of viewers, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.