MACON, Ga. — Since 2016, the Macon Touchdown Club has held its annual Kickoff Classic at Mercer University's Five Star Stadium.
On Saturday afternoon, the club shared with its members that the event will not be returning for the 2024 or 2025 seasons.
In October, the club met with Mercer officials to discuss plans for the 2024 and 2025 events. The university expressed a desire to change the timing of the games, due to heat concerns during the month of August, as well as the dates historically coinciding with the university's move-in period for students.
According to a Macon Touchdown Club representative, the club requested a response from Mercer University by November, but did not receive an answer regarding the status of the 2024 event.
In response, Mercer Athletics provided 13WMAZ with the following statement:
"Mercer University Athletics has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the Touchdown Club and the Central Georgia high school football community. We had every intention of continuing these football games and were just as surprised as everyone else to read this announcement."
The Macon Touchdown Club has not ruled out the event potentially returning in 2026.