After an already hectic week-zero college football slate, Alabama State and Southern University would meet at Legion Field in the first-ever Birmingham Football Classic.  Alabama State would enter the matchup with the Jaguars of Southern as the favorite to win the SWAC, and would also open as a double-digit favorite over the Jaguars. Meanwhile, Southern University came into the 2026 season opener looking to quiet the outside noise after being selected to finish near the bottom of the SWAC as the 5th out of six teams in the Western Division. 

Expectations bring pressure that often trips up teams in the season opener, especially against a program with something to prove like the Jaguars of Southern University, who came into the season opener with nothing to lose and very few expectations of doing well this season. 

Southern University would strike first late in the first quarter, ending a four-play, 72-yard touchdown run from Mike Franklin with a 29-yard touchdown run to give the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead over Alabama State. Alabama State would respond with a 44-yard field goal to cut the Jaguars’ lead to 7-3 with 1:17 remaining in the first quarter. Southern University would extend the lead to 14-3 with a quick touchdown drive; Alabama State would respond with a touchdown drive of their own to cut the lead to 14-10. Southern University would then add a 24-yard field goal to cap off a 54-yard, eleven-play drive that extended the lead to 17-10 over Alabama State. Alabama State would cut the Southern lead to 17-13 right before half with a 33-yard field goal. 

Southern University took it to Alabama State in the first half, matching punches with haymakers and carrying the momentum into the break. The Jaguars outgained the Hornets 216 to 175 in the first half, with   whicoming00 came on the grou100 through nd aair as they picked apart the Alabama State defense in the air. For the Hornets, it was a dismal first half on the ground with only 49 yards, while the passing attack managed 126 yards. 

Alabama State would retake the lead for the first time all day early in the second half with a 7-play, 52-yard touchdown drive that gave the Hornets a 20-17 lead over the Jaguars. Following a massive defensive stop, Alabama State had the chance to add points to the scoreboard, but a block in the back on the 58-yard punt return would erase the points from the scoreboard. However, the penalty only delayed the touchdown for Alabama State, as they quickly found the end zone to extend the lead over Southern University to 27-17 with 2:29 remaining in the half. Outscoring Southern University 14-0 in the third quarter shifted all the momentum over to Alabama State as they entered the 4th quarter looking to turn up the notch on the lead. 

Alabama State opened the 4th quarter with a massive interception from Greg Mangle, giving the Hornets the ball back and a chance to drive the nails into the Jaguars’ coffin by adding points to the scoreboard. Andrew Abu-Akel would add a 33-yard field goal to the lead extending the Alabama State lead to 30-17 with 9:18 remaining in the game. 

Credit to the Alabama State defense for making halftime adjustments and coming out to dominate the Southern University offense in the second half, creating opportunities for the offense to do what they do best. The Alabama State defense held the Southern University offense to just 119 total yards in the second half, just 45 on the ground, and 74 in the air. Truly a remarkable second half by the Hornets defense, who got pressure on the quarterback, earning a turnover as well. 

A tale of two different halves as Southern University might have won the first half, but it was the talent and next-level coaching from Alabama State that decided the outcome of the 2026 Birmingham Classic. Alabama State found a rhythm in the second half; the offense opened up a bit, special teams made big plays, and the defense held the Jaguars scoreless in the second half after giving up 17 first-half points. Alabama State came into the second half on a mission on both sides of the ball, and in turn earned the Hornets a win in the 2026 Birmingham Classic. 

Photo Credits- SWAC on X