BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Alabama State is seeking its third consecutive Magic City Classic victory when it faces Alabama A&M at Legion Field on Saturday.
The Alabama State Hornets and Alabama A&M Bulldogs are each 3-3 heading into the 83rd edition of the Magic City Classic, which Alabama State claims is the largest HBCU event in the nation. Magic City Classic Executive Director Perren King said he's expecting 70,000 people inside the stadium and 60,000 people outside the venue.
Alabama State is 2-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, while Alabama A&M is 1-1. As members of the league's east division, they are looking to catch up to Jackson State, which is 3-0 and plays at Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.
The Hornets were off last week but downed Mississippi Valley State, 54-17, on Oct. 12. Adamsville native Kareem Keye filled in at quarterback during the first quarter when Alabama State was trailing 14-0. He finished the contest with 326 passing yards and four touchdowns. Before 2024, the last time Keye competed at quarterback was as a senior at Minor High School in 2022.
The Hornets are allowing 18.6 points per game. Against Mississippi Valley State, Alabama State recorded four sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Alabama A&M is also coming off a bye, and it downed Bethune-Cookman, 56-12, during its homecoming contest Oct. 12. Five quarterbacks have seen the field for the Bulldogs in 2024, but Xavier Lankford earned the starting role after consecutive outings versus Jackson State and Bethune-Cookman. Lankford registered one passing touchdown, three running touchdowns and 315 passing yards in his last game.
The Bulldogs are scoring 31 points per contest. They've surrendered over 35 points per game, but that includes the 73 points they allowed versus Auburn in Week 1. The Hornets are averaging 24.6 offensive points and picking up more yards on the ground than through the air.
Out of the 87 meetings between the two largest historically Black universities in Alabama, 48 have been one-score games. There have been 26 contests coming down to five or fewer points. The 88th battle will air on ESPNU, and kickoff is scheduled for 2:32 p.m. Saturday.
