THE HILL | The final Saturday of October is finally here… better know as Magic City Classic weekend. The Alabama A&M University football team returns to action on Saturday with its rivalry game against Alabama State in the 83^rdedition of the McDonald's Magic City Classic presented by Cola-Cola. Kickoff in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game is set for 2:30 p.m. from Legion Field.
 
Alabama A&M (3-3 overall, 1-1 SWAC) is coming off its open week and halted a two-game losing streak on Oct. 12 with a 56-12 rout of Bethune-Cookman. The Bulldogs exploded for 21 second-quarter points, the most in any quarter for AAMU this season in cruising to the Homecoming win. Alabama A&M rolled up 701 total yards, which marked the fourth time this season the Bulldogs had more than 450 total yards in a game.
 
Alabama State (3-3, 2-1) also enters Saturday's game off a bye week as the Hornets rolled past Mississippi Valley State, 54-17, on Oct. 12. The Hornets overcame an early 14-point deficit and scored the Delta Devils, 54-3, over the final three quarters. The 54 points were the most points scored under head coach Eddie Robinson Jr., and the most since scoring 53 against Miles in the Turkey Day Classic in 2016.
 
The game will be aired on ESPNU as Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Jay Walker (analyst) will have the call. In addition, fans can tune into WJAB 90.9 FM as Ted Dixie (play-by-play) and Reggie Benson (analyst) will call all the action. 
 
Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor said he expects Saturday's game is one of the biggest this season between the two programs.
 
"It's the biggest game of the season," Maynor said. "We always say the next game is the biggest game, but this is the biggest game, because it is the Magic City Classic. It doesn't get any bigger than this in HBCU and FCS football. It's probably going to be 70,000 in the stadium and another 70,000 outside of it. It's just a huge game for both schools, the community, HBCUs and we're just glad to be a part of it. 
 
"We expect this will be another great game. Two years ago, they won on the last play. Last year it was close up until halftime, where they got a Hail Mary right before halftime and got a blocked field goal in the third quarter. Three years ago, the game went into overtime so we expect another great game. They got a great defense and we're looking forward to the challenge."
 

A LOOK INSIDE THE GAME ALABAMA A&M [3-3, 1-1 SWAC] vs. ALABAMA STATE [3-3, 2-1 SWAC]
Date / Time	Saturday, October 26 | 2:30 p.m. | Gameday
Location / Stadium	Birmingham, Alabama | Legion FIeld
Event	83rd Annual McDonald's Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola
Tickets	Purchase Tickets Here
Gameday Flipcard	Flipcard
TV / Streaming	ESPNU
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, 44-41-3
First Meeting	Alabama State 30, Alabama A&M 0 [1924]
Last Meeting	Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 16 [10.28.23]
Social Media	Twitter-X // Facebook // Instagram

 
LAST MEETING
In the 82^nd Annual Magic City Classic, it was a Hail Mary at the end of the first half that sparked Alabama State to its second consecutive victory as the Hornets pulled away in the second half for a 31-16 victory.
 
Both teams traded scores in the first quarter as ASU struck first with a 48-yard punt return by Robert McMinn, but the Bulldogs answered late in the period as Xavier Lankford scored on a 1-yard run, tying the game at 7.
A 26-yard field goal by Jayden John gave the Hornets a 10-7 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the half, but Alabama A&M responded with an 8-play, 70-yard drive as Terrell Gardner scored on a 39-yard touchdown pass, giving the Bulldogs the 14-10 lead with just 19 seconds left.
 
However, that would be the last lead AAMU would have as Kisean Johnson hauled in a 47-yard touchdown pass as time expired and James Burgess returned a blocked field goal for a score as ASU took a 24-14 advantage into the final quarter.
 
Alabama State added to the lead with a Ja'Won Howell touchdown run with five minutes remaining as the Hornets earned the victory.
 
ABOUT THE GAME

• This will be the 88^th meeting between the two programs 
• The two teams have met every year since 1940
• Alabama State won the first meeting, 30-0, in 1924
• Both teams will be entering the game off wins and both scored 50-plus points in their previous game
• Both teams will be needing a win to keep in the race for the East Division

 
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS

• Alabama A&M built off the second half momentum of the Gulf Coast Challenge with a 56-12 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 12
• In the win over BCU, the Bulldogs amassed a season-high 701 total yards
• AAMU is averaging 477.7 total yards and 31.0 points per game 
• Quarterback Xavier Lankford earned the starting spot after back-to-back performances against Jackson State and Bethune-Cookman
• Xavier Lankford was named the SWAC's Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14
• Offensive lineman Carson Vinson is a projected NFL Draft pick as nearly every single NFL team has visited campus
• All three quarterbacks (Cornelious Brown IV, Aveon Smith and Xavier Lankford) have started at least one game this season
• The Bulldogs are fourth in the FCS in time of possession, sixth in fourth down conversion percentage defense, sixth in total offense, ninth in fourth down conversion percentage, ninth in first downs defense and ninth in passing offense 
• Individually, Jordan Milton is third nationally in fumbles recovered, while Cornelious Brown IV is eighth in passing yards per completion

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT – ALABAMA STATE

• The Hornets are searching for back-to-back wins for the first time this season
• Alabama State is coming off a 54-17 win over Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 12
• The 54 points scored was the most the Hornets put on the board since a 55-20 victory over Miles in the Turkey Day Classic
• The Hornets are averaging 24.6 points and 317.2 yards per game
• ASU's defense has just been as good, surrendering 252.2 yards and 18.6 points per game
• In six games, Alabama State has passed for under 100 yards in four games, but had more than 300 passing yards in its last win (versus Mississippi Valley State)
• The Hornets are ranked tops in the FCS in blocked punts, second in blocked kicks, fourth in first downs defense, fourth in passing yards per completion, fourth in total defense, sixth in rushing defense, ninth in fourth down conversion, percentage defense and ninth in rushing yards allowed
• Individually, Treqwan Thomas is tops nationally in forced fumbles, while Keane Lewis and Stafon Young-Rolle are third in fumbles recovered
• Keane Lewis is third in the FCS in punt return touchdowns, while AJ Gates is fifth in kickoff return touchdowns 
• Defensively, Treqwan Thomas is tops in the country in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss

 
SERIES HISTORY  

• Alabama A&M and Alabama State will be meeting for the 88^th time
• This will be the 83^rd meeting in the annual Magic City Classic
• Alabama A&M holds the all-time series lead 44-41-3
• The Bulldogs are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings
• Alabama State has the longest winning streak in the series, eight games from 1924-1941
• The Hornets have won back-to-back games in the rivalry

 
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME 

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

 
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT 

• Alabama A&M returns home for Senior Day and Heroes Appreciation Day as Southern visits Louis Crews Stadium
• The Bulldogs are 5-13 all-time against the Jaguars and are seeking their first win in the series since 2012
• However, the 2012 win was vacated, meaning the last official win coming by AAMU was in 2010 (34-14)
• Southern travels to Florida A&M this weekend before making the trip to Louis Crews Stadium

 
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