Saraland will begin its quest for a second straight Class 6A state title on national television on Aug. 25.

The Spartans’ home game against Tennessee power Lipscomb Academy will kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN, the network announced Wednesday.

“We’ve played several games over the years on ESPN, but this will be the first opportunity we’ve had to bring ESPN to Saraland,” head coach Jeff Kelly said. “It’s huge for our community. It’s a chance to put a spotlight on all the great things happening at Saraland High School and in our city. I think it will be a tremendous showcase, and we will work hard to be prepared to play well.”

The Spartans went 14-1 in 2022 to win the school’s first state football title. Then-sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams became just the second underclassmen in 41 years to claim the state’s coveted Mr. Football award.

Lipscomb is coming off a 13-0 season under former coach Trent Dilfer, now the head coach at UAB. That season included a 24-14 victory over four-time 7A state champion Thompson in Alabaster in Week 2. Dilfer was replaced at Lipscomb by NFL Hall of Famer Kevin Mawae.

“We’ll be facing a great team,” Kelly said. “Lipscomb is one of the best teams in the country. As far as our kids and how they will handle the attention, they will be fine. They don’t care about the big stage or anything like that. They just want to play ball.

“We know it will be a tremendous opponent. It’s a team that has had a ton of success in the past few years and won the state title two years in a row. This game will give our guys and our coaches a tremendous measuring stick for the rest of the season.”

ESPN traditionally is attracted to high school games with high-profile college prospects. This game will have a bunch on both sides.

Kelly confirmed this week that Williams, the junior Alabama commit and No. 3-ranked player in the nation, is back in action now after a mild hamstring injury forced him to withdraw from the Class 6A state track meet in May.

“He’s been back for a couple of weeks now,” Kelly said. “He’s doing well.”

Other Saraland prospects include junior QB and Texas commit KJ Lacey, senior Troy LB commit Jamison Curtis, uncommitted DL Antonio Coleman, uncommitted WR Myron Dunklin and recent WR transfer Dillon Alfred.

Lipscomb’s roster includes the top two rising senior prospects in the state of Tennessee, according to the Top 247 rankings, in defensive back Kaleb Beasley and linebacker Edwin Spillman, both Tennessee commits. Beasley is currently ranked as the top prospect in Tennessee.

The team also includes a pair of highly ranked juniors in OL Chauncey Gooden (6-4, 320) and DB CJ Jimcoily. Both are uncommitted.

It will be the first out-of-state opponent Saraland has played since defeating Heard County, Ga., 17-14 to open the 2017 season.