The inaugural Birmingham Football Classic brings the Southern University Jaguars and Alabama State University Hornets to historic Legion Field on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Gates open at noon and kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. Central Time
Alabama State Hornets Breakdown
The Hornets enter the 2026 season with high expectations, voted as the preseason favorites to win the SWAC East. [1]
- The Momentum: Head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. enters his fifth season at the helm after leading the program to a stellar 10-2 record last season. ASU boasts deep roster continuity and a highly disciplined unit that already dominated Southern 30-7 in their meeting last year. [1, 2]
- Key Players: All eyes are on redshirt senior quarterback Andrew Body, the reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, who makes his highly anticipated return to the field. He is complemented by dynamic dynamic safety/defensive back Zaquan Patterson, who anchors a ferocious defense
Southern University Jaguars Breakdown
The Jaguars are the ultimate wildcard of the weekend as they entirely reset their football identity. [1]
- The Momentum: Southern is looking to completely wipe the slate clean following a dismal 2-10 season in 2025. The program has captured national headlines by hiring NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as their 22nd head coach. Faulk, who spent last year coaching running backs at Colorado, has brought an influx of SEC and FBS transfer talent to rebuild the roster from scratch. [1, 2, 3]
- Key Players: Star running back Trey Holly returns to anchor the backfield after a productive past season. Defensively, edge rusher Ckelby Givens is expected to be the primary X-factor tasked with disrupting ASU's backfield. [1, 2]