Alabama A&M announced its 2026 football schedule on Friday, a 12-game slate that includes a bevy of home games and a lot of classics.
The Bulldogs, coming off a 4–8 overall record and a 1–7 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference play last season, will open the new campaign in Atlanta with a high-profile appearance in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
Alabama A&M will face Howard in the nationally televised matchup, marking just the second time in school history the program has taken part in the event — and its first appearance since 2014. The game will also be only the second meeting ever between the Bulldogs and Bison.
A week later, A&M returns to Huntsville for its home opener during Labor Day weekend, hosting Miles College in the 16th Annual Louis Crews Classic.
The game kicks off a three-game homestand that includes a renewal of The Legacy Series matchup with Tennessee State, followed by a non-conference meeting with Bowie State on September 19.
The Bulldogs begin conference play on the road September 26 with a trip to Tallahassee, Florida, to face Florida A&M before heading to Mobile the following week for the annual Gulf Coast Challenge against Jackson State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
October brings a pair of home games and two marquee events for the Maroon and White. Alabama A&M will host Bethune-Cookman on October 10, then celebrate Homecoming the next week (October 17) against Grambling State. After a bye, the Bulldogs meet archrival Alabama State in the storied Magic City Classic at Birmingham’s Legion Field on October 31.
Down the stretch, A&M travels to Prairie View A&M, the defending SWAC champions, on November 7 before returning home for its final contest at Louis Crews Stadium on November 14 versus Texas Southern. The Bulldogs will conclude the regular season on November 21 with a road trip to Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena.
The 2026 slate provides a balanced mix of classics, rivalries, and conference tests as Alabama A&M looks to rebound in head coach Connell Maynor’s program.