Just a two-hour drive away from Ohio State’s campus, two teams with significant University of Michigan connections will clash in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame game.
The Detroit Lions and star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson will face off against the Los Angeles Chargers, led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, in the first head-to-head NFL competition since Super Bowl 59. Neither team has played in the annual exhibition game – which kicks off preseason competition every year – in the last 30 years.
In addition to kicking off this year’s preseason slate – with three more weeks of exhibition action to follow ahead of the regular season – the game also represents the start of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Enshrinement Week.
Here’s what you need to know:
When is the Hall of Fame game?
- Date: Thursday, July 31
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “Enshrinement Week” festivities kick off with the Hall of Fame game on the final day of July. Fans can watch the game via local NBC affiliates or stream it with a Peacock subscription.
Who is playing in the Hall of Fame game?
- Matchup: Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Two teams with University of Michigan football connections (Detroit star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh) are headed to Canton, Ohio for this year’s Hall of Fame game. According to the Hall of Fame’s website, neither team has played in the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game since 1994.
Two days after the game, former Chargers tight end Antonio Gates will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2025. Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe are joining him as part of this year’s class.
When does the NFL regular season start?
- Week 1: Thursday, Sept. 4 – Monday, Sept. 8
The NFL regular season begins when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles kick off in Philadelphia on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Week 1 continues with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers clashing in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday, Sept. 5. The remainder of the opening week’s slate continues Sunday and concludes Monday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL preseason: When is the NFL Hall of Fame game?