Magic City Classic

The Magic City Classic is an annual American football "classic" that features Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University, the two largest historically black universities in the state. It is played at Legion Field in Birmingham (nicknamed the "Magic City"). The classic has become one of the highest attended Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) games in the nation and the largest event in Birmingham carrying a nearly $25 million economic impact. The stadium attendance averages over 60,000 annually.

Magic City Classic

Alabama A&M Bulldogs Alabama State Hornets
First meeting	October 31, 1924 Alabama State 30, Alabama A&M 0
Latest meeting	October 26, 2024 Alabama State 27, Alabama A&M 19
Next meeting	October 25, 2025
Stadiums	Legion Field
Trophy	Magic City Classic Trophy
Statistics
Meetings total	89
All-time series	Alabama A&M leads, 44–42–3
Largest victory	Alabama State, 56–0 (1931)
Current win streak	Alabama State, 3 (2022–present)

150km
100miles

Legion Field

Alabama State

Alabama A&M

  

Locations of Alabama A&M and Alabama State

The first game between the two schools was played in 1924. It has been an uninterrupted, annual tradition since 1945 and has been played at Legion Field since 1940.

The classic is the largest HBCU event in the nation attracting nearly 200,000 participants. The Alabama A&M Bulldogs lead the series with a record of 44–42–3 all-time (as of 2024).

Other activities

Many festivities are held in conjunction with the game, including a pep rally, comedy show, scholarship breakfast, concert/festival, soirees, tailgating, block parties, alumni gatherings, 2-hour parade, and a popular "Battle of the Bands" between AAMU’s Marching Maroon and White Band and ASU's Mighty Marching Hornets. Festivities begin the week of Saturday's game.

In recent years, the classic has attracted numerous African-American celebrities, public figures, and elected officials to Birmingham.

History

Alabama A&M victories

Alabama State victories

Tie games

Forfeit

No.	Date	Winner	Score
1	1924	Alabama State	30–0
2	1925	Alabama State	7–0
3	1929	Alabama State	32–0
4	1930	Alabama State	46–6
5	1931	Alabama State	56–0
6	1932	Alabama State	18–0
7	1940	Alabama State	24–6
8	1941	Alabama State	21–13
9	1942	Alabama A&M	20–6
10	1945	Alabama State	20–7
11	1946	Alabama State	15–14
12	1947	Alabama State	12–6
13	1948	Alabama A&M	14–8
14	1949	Tie	13–13
15	1950	Alabama State	16–12
16	1951	Alabama A&M	27–6
17	1952	Alabama A&M	38–13
18	1953	Alabama A&M	13–7
19	1954	Alabama State	23–7
20	1955	Alabama A&M	13–6
21	1956	Tie	0–0
22	1957	Alabama State	13–7
23	1958	Alabama State	20–8
24	1959	Alabama State	22–0
25	1960	Alabama A&M	22–20
26	1961	Alabama A&M	32–12
27	1962	Alabama A&M	54–6
28	1963	Alabama A&M	32–14
29	1964	Alabama A&M	30–0
30	1965	Alabama A&M	34–0
31	1966	Alabama A&M	36–19
32	1967	Alabama State	13–7
33	1968	Alabama State	27–21
34	1969	Alabama State	26–6
35	1970	Alabama A&M	26–18
36	1971	Alabama State	12–6
37	1972	Alabama A&M	8–7
38	1973	Alabama A&M	10–7
39	1974	Alabama A&M	14–7
40	1975	Alabama A&M	29–22
41	1976	Alabama A&M	17–15
42	1977	Alabama State	14–7
43	1978	Alabama A&M	22–7
44	1979	Alabama State	17–14
45	1980	Alabama State	20–17
46	1981	Alabama A&M	13–3

No.	Date	Winner	Score
47	1982	Tie	13–13
48	1983	Alabama A&M	27–14
49	1984	Alabama A&M	28–12
50	1985	Alabama A&M	7–6
51	1986	Alabama A&M	20–10
52	1987	Alabama State	17–14
53	1988	Alabama State	7–0
54	1989	Alabama A&M	17–10
55	1990	Alabama State	24–20
56	1991	Alabama State	59–13
57	1992	Alabama State	14–11
58	1993	Alabama State	7–0
59	1994	Alabama State	26–0
60	1995	Alabama State	37–20
61	1996	Alabama A&M	20–3
62	1997	Alabama State	20–13
63	1998	Alabama State	34–28
64	1999	Alabama A&M	15–10
65	2000	Alabama A&M	34–27
66	2001	Alabama State†	35–0
67	2002	Alabama A&M	23–20
68	2003	Alabama A&M	20–17
69	2004	Alabama State	24–20
70	2005	Alabama A&M	31–28
71	2006	Alabama A&M	21–13
72	2007	Alabama A&M	13–9
73	2008	Alabama A&M	17–16
74	2009	Alabama A&M	21–7
75	2010	Alabama State	31–10
76	2011	Alabama A&M	20–19
77	2012	Alabama State	31–13
78	2013	Alabama State	31–7
79	2014	Alabama A&M	37–36
80	2015	Alabama State	35–20
81	2016	Alabama A&M	42–41
82	2017	Alabama State	21–16
83	2018	Alabama A&M	27–10
84	2019	Alabama A&M	43–413OT
85	2020	Alabama A&M	38–14
86	2021	Alabama A&M	42–28
87	2022	Alabama State	24–17
88	2023	Alabama State	31–16
89	2024	Alabama State	27–19
Series: Alabama A&M leads 44–42–3
† Alabama State later forfeited the 2001 game as part of an NCAA penalty for violations committed.

See also

• List of NCAA college football rivalry games
• List of black college football classics

External links

• Official website