Magic City Classic: A look at the football matchup

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- For fans of Alabama State (3-4, 3-3) and Alabama A&M (2-4, 2-2), the Magic City Classic – full of sights, sounds and football – serves as a mid-season championship for both historically black colleges, an annual matchup neither wants to lose Saturday afternoon at Legion Field.

After all, nobody likes to hear trash talk for an entire year.

While Alabama State leads the all-time series, 39-36-3, Alabama A&M has won seven of the last 10, including last season's epic finish, a 37-36 victory. Alabama State had a 15-yard TD run called back with 15 seconds left. Then on the game's final play, the Hornets then a field goal which would have won the game.

"Just the tradition and history and of course the large venue is an additive to it," said Brian Jenkins, head coach of Alabama State. Jenkins is preparing for his first game in the SWAC series, considered one of the nation's top HBCU Classics.

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