The season-opening football game for Nebraska now has a name and company sponsor.
The Aug. 28 matchup between the Huskers and Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will be called the Kansas City Classic in what event organizers hope will be the first in a series of future college contests at the home of the NFL’s Chiefs.
The franchise is partnering with Omaha-based Battle Sports, a growing football equipment and apparel company founded in 2009.
Chiefs and Arrowhead Events president Mark Donovan said Monday that Nebraska and Cincinnati provide an ideal first installment of what could become an annual — or more than annual — occasion of pairing power-league teams to play in a city that intersects SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten territory.
“It is a really strong start,” Donovan said. “We want to show people we can put 65,000-70,000 people into this building for a college football game. That matters, both to NIL and to the conferences and the teams.”
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The game is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff on ESPN.
Arrowhead Stadium is also preparing to host World Cup soccer matches in 2026. It has been the site of more than 40 college football games in its history beginning with Grambling and Mississippi Valley State in 1972. The run includes multiple Big 12 title games — Nebraska lost to Oklahoma in the 2006 edition — border showdowns between Missouri and Kansas and even some “Farmageddon” contests between Kansas State and Iowa State.
Battle Sports has risen in the industry primarily as a 7-on-7 brand but is expanding its flag-football presence as well.
Nebraska and Cincinnati both bring Chiefs connections into their meeting next month. Kansas City star tight end Travis Kelce is a former Bearcat. The Huskers boast a variety of ties including defensive line coach Terry Bradden (former Chiefs assistant D-line coach), freshman linebacker Dawson Merritt (father, Dave, is K.C.’s defensive backs coach) and quarterback Dylan Raiola (often compared to Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in style and appearance — the two have also trained together).
Donovan said Nebraska’s “extremely loyal” fanbase mixed with a challenging opponent sets up the first Classic game well.
“We felt like that was a really good combination to drive numbers,” Donovan said.
Photos: Get your first glimpse at the 2025 Nebraska football team, April 26, 2025
Husker Games, 4.26
Nebraska's Dane Key (left) greets former player Will Compton during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Midland's Alyssa Butler (left) pressures UNL All Stars' Abby Camps during the Husker Games on April 26 at Memorial Stadium. If Nebraska adds a varsity future in the sport, it could be women's flag football. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
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Midland's Angel Ioane Kaio throws the ball against UNL All Stars during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Midland's NaTaija Blaylock (right) goes after Nebraska's Dylan Raiola during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska special teams assistant Brett Maher kicks a field goal during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Izaac Dickey (left) gets the ball from Luke Longval during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's TJ Lateef runs with the ball during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Young fans Camden Eriksen (from left), 4, Andre Jackson, 6, and Denzel Jackson, 8, all of Dakota Dunes, S.D., cheer during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Hayes Miller (left) holds onto the ball as he is tackled by teammate Derek Wacker during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's TJ Lateef (left) is tackled by teammate Derek Wacker during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Luke Longval runs with the ball during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's DJ Singleton (right) celebrates his touchdown during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola looks to pass during the Husker Games event last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola makes a throw during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Dane Key catches a pass during the Husker Games event on April 26 at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen looks on during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Marcos Davila (left) fakes a handoff to Conor Booth during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska players celebrate after DJ Singleton scored a touchdown during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Elijah Jeudy (from left), Heinrich Haarberg and Malcolm Hartzog compete in a running competition during the Husker Games on Saturday, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule looks on during the Husker Games event on April 26 at Haymarket Park. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney (right) signs autographs for fans before the Husker Games event on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Nebraska's defensive linemen dig into wings, of which they ate 99, during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraka's Dennis Leblanc smiles during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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From left, Nebraska offensive linemen Teddy Prochazka, Gunnar Gottula and Elijah Pritchett share a laugh during the wing eating contest at the Husker Games event Saturday at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Nebraska AD Troy Dannen speaks with Recruiting and personnel analyst Frank Verducci during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney reacts as he wins during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Ashton Murphy is interviewed by media during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Husker fans compete for attention from Nebraska quarterback Dylan Riola (bottom) after the Husker Games event last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
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Red Team's Marcos Davila (16) throws a pass during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Conor Connealy (center) celebrates his teams win in the wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Red Team's Marcos Davila (16) runs the ball as he looks to pass under pressure form the White team during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska director of Football relations Ed Foley is seen on the field during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications Keith Mann walks the sidelines during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska football chief of staff Dr. Sudan Elza helps to set up the tractor pull during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska Defensive linemen David Borchers, Sua Lefotu , and Conor Connealy participate in a wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Gunnar Gottula (from left), Justin Evans, and Rocco Spindler dig in to a tub of wings in a wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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The Red Team reacts as a 50 yard is made by Tristan Alvano (30) during the Husker Games event on April. 26 at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Nebraska Defensive linemen David Borchers digs into wings during a wing eating contest to cap the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Teddy Prochazka (from left) Gunnar Gottula, Justin Evans, and Rocco Spindler dig in to a tub of wings in a wing eating contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Conor Connealy reacts toward his teammates after taking a whiff of smelling salts before a wing eatting contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Conor Connealy reacts toward his teammates after taking a whiff of smelling salts before a wing eatting contest during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola celebrates with Jacory Barney after Barney wins a race among teammates during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Nebraska Strength and Conditioning coach Corey Campbell (left) and player cheer on Special Teams coordinator Mike Ekeler as he benches during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Former Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook ropes a mechanical calf while riding a mechanical horse during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Former Nebraska head coach John Cook (left) and and player Heinrich Haarberg warm up before the roping contest during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska Strength and Conditioning coach Corey Campbell (left) and player cheer on Special Teams coordinator Mike Ekeler as he benches during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Former Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook ropes a mechanical calf while riding a mechanical horse during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Elijah Jeudy tries to rope a mechanical calf while riding a mechanical horse during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg ropes a mechanical calf during the Husker Games event on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Husker players and staff react after Nebraska quarterback Dylan Riola (center) celebrates after scoring a football into a basketball net in the endzone during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Husker players and staff react after Nebraska quarterback Dylan Riola (left) scores a football into a basketball net in the endzone during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Red Team's Jaidyn Doss (12) is tackled by White Team's Caden VerMaas (48) during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Red Team's TJ Lateef (14) tries to recover a fumble against White Team's Michael Booker (43) during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Ashton Murphy helps his teammate pull a tractor as Sylan Riola cheer them on during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Players from the Nebraska football team are led out of the tunnel by Strength and Conditioning coach Corey Campbell (center) during the Husker Games event on Saturday, April. 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
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Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule cheers as Will Compton (not pictured) bench presses during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola looks at a play calling sheet during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's Jaidyn Doss runs to a touchdown during the Husker Games on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN,Journal Star
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Nebraska's TJ Lateef (right) is pressured by Landen Davidson during the Husker Games on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Husker equipment sale, 4.26
While sitting in chairs for sale, Cora, 8 and Delilah Hardy, 11 watch videos on their phone while their grandmother Cindy LaPole holds their brother, Theo, 2, as he sleeps during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics. Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
Husker equipment sale, 4.26
JoJo Runde (from left) and Jamie Crane of La Vista try on shoes during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics. Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
Husker equipment sale, 4.26
Fans peruse items for sale during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics. Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
Husker equipment sale, 4.26
Brian Bierschenk uses an Aquafina water cooler to transport his haul of Husker memorabilia as he checks out during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics. Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Husker equipment sale, 4.26
Fans wait in line for checkout during the Husker equipment sale at the Hawks Championship Center on Saturday in Lincoln. The equipment sale is a bit of a "garage sale," where fans can buy clearance and discounted team merchandise from Nebraska Athletics. Items for sale include jerseys, helmets, apparel, memorabilia, collectibles, promotional items and more. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Husker equipment sale, 4.26
Tyson Carlson (center) pays for some Kona Ice at their food truck during the Food Truck rally outside Memorial Stadium on Saturday in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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