It’ll be the last time Alabama State football will have to play a road game in the 2026 season when the Hornets face Texas Southern.
Both the Hornets and Tigers are fighting for their SWAC title hopes, but the teams are heading in different trajectories. Texas Southern has been playing spoiler, while the Hornets are still searching for some consistency in the win column.
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It’ll serve as an interesting matchup between two teams that have been fighting all of the 2026 season.
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Nathaniel Dwight sets up the Alabama A&M Bulldog and the Alabama State Hornet by his families tv’s while tailgating before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Nathaniel Dwight sets up the Alabama A&M Bulldog and the Alabama State Hornet by his families tv’s while tailgating before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Themika Sims checks his chicken and pork while tailgatingbefore the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Robert Tellis grills while tailgating before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Cam Newton does selfies with fans before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Terrell Dickson shows his pet ‘King Skittlez’ to tailgaters before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Football fans make their way through venders before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Vendors sell merchandise before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Tailgaters surround Legion Field before the Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
A skeleton waits for gamete while fans tailgate before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Barry Brand chops sausage for cowboy stew while tailgating before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Fans Tailgate before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
The midfield Magic City Classic emblem at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Tailgaters man the grills before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Fans visit venders at the Fan Zone before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Fans visit venders at the Fan Zone before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Venders sell merchandise before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Fans gather before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Fans get food and merchandise from venders before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
An Alabama State flag flies over RVs before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Robert Reyes shows the ribs he is smoking before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Leroy Roberts displays the whole hog he is smoking before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Tailgaters relax before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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Magic City Classic photo gallery: Alabama State vs Alabama A&M images
Venders sell merchandise before the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
Where to watch Alabama State football at Texas Southern
Listen: Hornets Radio Network on WVAS FM 90.7
Alabama State football at Texas Southern
The Hornets will take on Texas Southern in a SWAC matchup at 2 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium.
Score prediction for Alabama State football vs. Texas Southern
Alabama State 31, Texas Southern 24: Alabama State is three close games away from possibly being the best team in the SWAC in the 2026 season. This feels like a game the Hornets aren’t going to let be decided in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Look for Alabama State’s offense getting out to an early lead, and the defense maintaining that early lead.
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Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.
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