The Red Lobster Band of the Year competition has named its committee leadership ahead of the 2026 championship, bringing prominent figures from several prominent HBCU bands to key roles. ESPN Events announced Friday that Professor Dowell Taylor will return as a committee co-chair. Taylor is the director of bands emeritus at Jackson State University.Dr. Kenneth Ruff, director of bands emeritus at North Carolina A&T State University, will join Taylor as co-chair.The 2026 Red Lobster Band of the Year National Championship will take place Friday, Dec. 11, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The event falls one day before the Cricket Celebration Bowl and forms part of the game’s championship weekend.
