Why is Travis Scott performing during halftime at Ohio State vs. Notre Dame national championship game?

The 2025 CFP national championship will be held on Monday, January 20. Ohio State will take on Notre Dame to determine which team is the best-of-the-best in the final game of the 2024-2025 season. 

With such a big event happening, it was surprising that no act had been announced for the halftime show. Usually, in college football, the home team’s marching band performs a set. With big games that are at a neutral site, like the national championship, both teams’ marching bands are often given a chance to shine. 

ESPN announced a few days before the game that there would be a “special guest” performer but only alluded to it being a star and to wait to see the reveal. Monday morning, it was announced that rapper Travis Scott would be the headliner for the halftime show. Each school’s marching bands could still get time to shine, but Scott will be the main attraction.

Here is why Scott is performing during the 2025 national championship halftime show. 

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Travis Scott halftime show: Why is he performing during Ohio State vs. Notre Dame?

Scott last released a new studio album in 2023. He dropped ‘Utopia’ in July 2023 and followed it up with a first edition version of the album in August. Scott hasn’t confirmed that a new album is coming, but the halftime show will feature a new song. When the rapper posted the announcement on his Instagram, he said that he has a new song called ‘4×4’ that he will debut on Monday night. 

What time is Ohio State vs. Notre Dame halftime show?

Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. There is no set time for the halftime show to start. Given the typical run time of college football first halves, it likely won’t begin until at or after 9 p.m. ET. 

To be safe, though, if you just want to watch the halftime show, it would be wise to turn the game on around 8:45 p.m. ET to ensure you don’t miss anything. 

How to watch the Travis Scott halftime show

The national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame will air on ESPN. You’re in luck if you don’t have access to this channel! ESPN is included in Fubo‘s channel offering and is currently running a free trial. 

MORE: 5 worst Super Bowl halftime shows of all time

Who is Travis Scott?

Scott was born Jacques Bermon Webster II in 1991 in Houston, Texas. He signed his first major label deal with Epic Records when he was 21 years old. Scott also joined a venture with Kanye West as well as T.I. He has 10 Grammy nominations but is still looking for his first win. 

Scott is best known for his songs ‘Oh My/Dis Side’ and ‘Sicko Mode.’ He has also performed under the monikers “La Flame,” “Cactus Jack,” “Trav,” and “Travi$ Scott.” 

Travis Scott new song

Scott is expected to release a new album soon. His last album was ‘Utopia’ in July 2023. Anticipation of a new album has grown as the rapper was not only announced as the halftime headliner for the national championship game but also that he would be so by debuting a new song. Scott’s new song is titled ‘4×4’. 

Travis Scott albums history

Scott has released 19 albums, but not all have been originals. Some have been expansions or re-masters of his earlier work. Here are the albums Scott has released from earliest to most recent.

• Owl Pharaoh (2013)
• Days Before Rodeo (2014)
• Rodeo (2015)
• Rodeo, Expanded Edition (2015)
• .WAV RADIO Tracklists (2016)
• Birds in the Rap Sing McKnight (2016)
• Know No Better, Remixes (2017)
• ASTROWORLD (2018)
• JACKBOYS (2019)
• ESCAPE PLAN/MAFIA (2021)
• K-POP (Chopped & Screwed) (2023)
• UTOPIA (2023)
• UTOPIA, First edition (2023)
• DAYS BEFORE RODEO (Vault 1-4 Deluxes, chopped & screwed, and live from Atlanta (2024)

There was speculation that Scott would release a new album at the end of 2024, and as time passed, that speculation turned into excitement that maybe this new song means a new album will be released early in 2025. 

Travis Scott Fortnite concert

The video game Fortnite has evolved dramatically over the seven and a half years since its release. Initially a first-person shooter battle royale game, it has now become an umbrella that includes live concerts, a racing game and a Lego mode. 

Live events in Fortnite were a must-see when they started. Whenever the video game enters a new chapter of its lore, there is an in-game event that players can hop into and witness something significant happen that would alter the game and its direction for a new season. One of the events put in the game was the first-ever Fortnite concert. Scott and Fortnite collaborated as he was put into the game, and players could tune in to see him perform part of his ‘Astroworld’ album.