ALABAMA A&M [4-3, 2-2 SWAC] vs. ALABAMA STATE [3-3, 2-2 SWAC]
Date / Time	Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 2:30 p.m. | Gameday
Location / Stadium	Birmingham, Alabama | Legion Field
Event	82nd Annual McDonad's Magic City Classic, Presented by Coca-Cola
Tickets	Purchase Tickets Here
TV / Streaming	ESPN+
Radio	90.9 FM [WJAB]
Live Stats	aamusports.com or click here
Alabama A&M	Game Notes
Alabama State	Game Notes
All-Time Series	Alabama A&M leads series, 43-35-3
First Meeting	Alabama State 24, Alabama A&M 6 [1940]
Last Meeting	Alabama State 24, Alabama A&M 17 [2022]
Largest Margin of Victory	Alabama A&M 54, Alabama State 6 [1962]
Social Media	Twitter-X // Facebook // Instagram

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University football team returns from a week off as the Bulldogs face off against their biggest rivals, Alabama State, in the 82^nd McDonald's Magic City Classic, presented by Coca-Cola, on Saturday at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Both teams enter off Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victories and both played the role of spoiler in homecoming games.
 
Alabama A&M (4-3 overall, 2-2 SWAC) went on the road two weeks ago (Oct. 14) and put up more than 450 total yards of offense against a Grambling State team. The Bulldogs got 320 total yards, including 193 on the ground from quarterback Xavier Lankford as Alabama A&M used a strong second to defeat Grambling State, 45-24. The victory over the Tigers marked just the second time in school history the Bulldogs had earned a road win over Grambling State. In fact, it was also the first time GSU dropped a homecoming game since 2006.  
 
Meanwhile, Alabama State went on the road and delivered the same knockout punch the Bulldogs did. The Hornets jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter, stunning the more than 30,000 fans that visited Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. However, the Tigers answered with 10 second-quarter points as the teams entered the break tied at 10. A field goal by JSU was the lone points in the third quarter as the Tigers took a 13-10 advantage into the final period. But Alabama State struck with a pair of touchdown runs by Damon Stewart and Marcus Harris II as the Hornets held off a late rally to earn a 24-19 victory.
 
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ as Santaria Black and Ken Moore will have the call. Fans can listen to the broadcast on WJAB 90.9 FM as Ted Dixie will have the call. 
 
Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor expects the team to be ready and focused ahead of Saturday's Magic City Classic, but also stressed that neither team entering this matchup expects to lose.
 
"These are two great football teams and neither team wants to lose," Maynor said. "We are both coming off wins and are both hungry. It's a shame somebody will have to lose, but that's the way it is. It's probably going to come down to the fourth quarter like it did last year."


 
LAST MEETING 
The 81^st installment of the rivalry proved to be a back-and-forth affair as Alabama State scored the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes remaining to claim a 24-17 victory.
 
The Hornets opened the scoring on a 49-yard field goal by Jayden John with 47 seconds left in the first quarter.
 
Alabama A&M answered as Isiah Cox caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Quincy Casey as the Bulldogs took a 7-3 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the half.
 
AAMU's defense accounted for the next score as Jamal Irby picked off Alabama State's Dematrius Davis for the 6-yard interception return as the Bulldogs extended the advantage to 14-3 with 9:50 remaining in the second.
 
Alabama State closed the gap to 14-10 with less than five minutes to play in the third as Kisean Johnson hauled in a 9-yard pass from Davis.
 
The Hornets grabbed a 17-14 lead with just under 14 minutes remaining as Jacory Merritt scored on a 4-yard touchdown run.
 
The Bulldogs got a 37-yard field goal by Victor Barbosa with just over six minutes to play, but Jeremiah Hixon caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Davis, which gave Alabama State the 24-17 lead with two minutes remaining. 
 
Alabama A&M marched the ball to the ASU 4 as time expired, giving the Hornets the victory. 
 
SERIES HISTORY  

• Alabama A&M and Alabama State will be meeting for the 82^nd time
• The Bulldogs hold a 43-35-3 all-time series lead
• Alabama A&M also owns the longest winning streak in the series at seven games (1960-1966)
• The Hornets won the inaugural contest, 24-6, in 1940
• Alabama State won the 2022 contest, 24-17
• Alabama A&M's largest margin of victory came in 1962, a 54-6 win
• The Bulldogs are 6-4 in their last 10 meetings against their biggest rival

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME 

• Alabama A&M must protect the quarterback 
• AAMU needs to win the turnover battle 
• The Bulldogs must avoid committing a ton of penalties  

ALABAMA A&M NATIONAL STATISTICS 

• The Bulldogs ranks third nationally in punt returns and fourth down conversion percentage defense
• Alabama A&M is eighth in the FCS in blocked kicks
• The Bulldogs are ranked 11^th in blocked punts and red zone defense
• Terrell Gardner is third nationally in punt returns and punt return touchdowns
• Gardner also is 11^th in combined kick returns
• Jamarion Ellis is fourth in the FCS in fumbles recovered
• Emari Pait ranks ninth nationally in interceptions per game
• Kenechukwu Eziomume is 11^th in the FCS in passes defended

ALABAMA STATE NATIONAL STATISTICS 

• The Hornets are tops in the FCS in blocked punts allowed and eighth in blocked kicks
• Alabama State ranks second nationally in punt return defense
• ASU is 10^th in scoring defense and third in the conference
• Mikey Victor leads the nation in passes defended
• Colton Adams ranks fifth in the FCS in total tackles
• Robert McMinn is 11^th nationally in punt returns

LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT 

• The Bulldogs will play host to Florida A&M on Nov. 4
• The matchup with the Rattlers could play a factor in the East Division standings and the race for the top divisional spot
• The Nov. 4 game will be Hall of Fame, Military Appreciation and Senior Day
• Florida A&M will have its homecoming this weekend and play host to Prairie View A&M
• The Bulldogs are currently third in the SWAC East Division standings
• FAMU is ranked 14^th nationally and has not dropped a SWAC game since Sept. 4, 2021 against Jackson State
• The Rattlers are currently riding a 12-game conference win streak 

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