2019
Tytus Howard goes in Round 1
Tytus Howard becomes the first Alabama State player ever selected in the first round of an NFL draft, taken 23rd overall by the Houston Texans.
Program outlook
Program outlook
After more than three decades without matching that level of sustained contention, Alabama State hired alumnus Eddie Robinson Jr. as head coach on November 26, 2021.
Since Oct 9: W 21-15 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff; L 28-31 vs Alabama A&M. 4-4 this season.
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Alabama State's identity also runs through two of HBCU football's oldest rivalry weekends: the Magic City Classic against in-state rival Alabama A&M (since 1924, a near-even series Alabama A&M leads 44-43-3 through 2025) and the Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee (also since 1924, billed as the first Black college football classic).
Through October 3 the 2026 season stands at 3-2. The Hornets beat Southern 30-17 in the opener and Lane College 34-0, lost 34-17 at Troy, and beat Mississippi Valley State 41-15. On October 3 they lost 16-10 at Bethune-Cookman as a favorite — their first SWAC loss of the year, and a reminder that the preseason pick to win the East still has to win it.
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
Moment of the year · 2026
Won 30-17 vs Southern
Week 1 of 2026. An upset win.
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Conference
SWAC standing · 2026
7th in the SWAC
Alabama State is 7th of 12 in the SWAC at 3-3. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on playoff positioning and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama A&M | 4-1 |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 3-2 |
| 3 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 3-2 |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman | 3-2 |
| 5 | Jackson State | 3-2 |
| 6 | Prairie View A&M | 3-2 |
| 7 | Alabama State | 3-3 |
| 8 | Grambling | 2-3 |
| 9 | Mississippi Valley State | 2-3 |
| 10 | Texas Southern | 2-3 |
| 11 | Southern | 2-4 |
| 12 | Florida A&M | 1-4 |
Gameday customs
Rituals
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
The Magic City Classic
since 1924
more
One of the oldest and most competitive rivalries in HBCU football. First played in 1924 (Alabama State won 30-0); an annual fixture at Legion Field since 1940 and uninterrupted since 1945. Played for the Magic City Classic Trophy in front of crowds that regularly top 60,000.
The Turkey Day Classic
since 1924
more
Billed as the first Black college football classic, first played November 15, 1924 (a 28-7 Tuskegee win). Originally staged at Montgomery's Cramton Bowl, it moved to ASU Stadium in 2012, went on hiatus 2013-2016, and resumed in 2017 with Tuskegee returning as the permanent Thanksgiving opponent in 2021. Alabama State won the 100th Classic in 2024 (34-6) and the 101st in 2025 (58-21).
Reddit blowups
r/CFB moments
233
[Postgame Thread] Alabama State Defeats Jackson State 35-28
189
[Postgame Thread] UAB Defeats Alabama State 24-19
145
[Postgame Thread] UAB Defeats Alabama State 52-42
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