3-1 Again: Alabama A&M Enters SWAC Play With a Chance to Change the Story

There is something familiar about where Alabama A&M football finds itself heading into Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

The Bulldogs are 3-1. They were 3-1 at this point last season, too.

But while the record looks the same, the circumstances surrounding this year’s team feel different. After four games, Alabama A&M has shown flashes offensively, found more consistency defensively and, most importantly, enters conference play coming off back-to-back dominant performances.

Now comes the part that matters most.

The real season starts now.

Alabama A&M closed its three-game homestand Saturday night with a 45-3 demolition of Bowie State at Louis Crews Stadium. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 31-24 loss to Howard before responding with three straight victories over Miles College, Tennessee State and Bowie State.

That gives Alabama A&M a 3-1 record for the second consecutive season.

Last year, however, the Bulldogs’ 3-1 start didn’t carry over into conference play. After defeating Lane College 49-7 to reach 3-1, A&M traveled to Bethune-Cookman and suffered a 41-34 loss. The Bulldogs ultimately finished 4-8 and 1-7 in SWAC play. 

This year, the Bulldogs get another opportunity.

And it starts in Tallahassee.

Breaking Down the First Four

Game 1: Howard — L, 31-24

The season opened on a national stage in Atlanta against Howard.

Alabama A&M fell behind early and ultimately dropped the MEAC/SWAC Challenge matchup 31-24. The Bulldogs showed enough offensively to remain within striking distance, but the loss immediately put pressure on the next three games.

The response was important.

Instead of allowing the opening loss to define the season, A&M went back home and started stacking wins.

Game 2: Miles College — W, 38-23

The Bulldogs answered against Miles, putting together a strong offensive performance in their home opener.

A&M rushed for 279 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns while producing 471 total yards. 

It wasn’t perfect, but it was the first step toward establishing some momentum.

Game 3: Tennessee State — W, 30-3

Then came the biggest defensive statement of the season to that point.

Alabama A&M dominated Tennessee State 30-3, holding the Tigers to 251 total yards and just 64 rushing yards.

The Bulldogs also forced three turnovers and recorded three sacks.

Offensively, Cornelious Brown IV threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, but the defense arguably stole the show.

Game 4: Bowie State — W, 45-3

Then A&M took another step forward.

Cornelious Brown IV was nearly unstoppable in the first half, completing 25 of 32 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for another score.

The Bulldogs finished with 538 total yards, including 426 through the air.

But once again, the defense deserves attention.

A&M held Bowie State to just 165 total yards and only seven passing yards for the game. The Bulldogs held Bowie State to 62 total yards in the first half and forced the Bulldogs from Maryland to struggle to move the football consistently.

Jeremiah Hudson-Davis also continued his strong stretch, returning a blocked field goal 82 yards for a touchdown.

After allowing 3 points to Tennessee State, A&M allowed only 3 points to Bowie State.

Six points allowed over the last two games.

That’s the kind of defensive performance that gets attention heading into conference play. 

The Defense Is Trending in the Right Direction

The numbers over the last two games tell a pretty clear story.

Against Tennessee State, Alabama A&M held the Tigers to:

• 251 total yards

• 64 rushing yards

• 187 passing yards

• 3 points

• 3 turnovers

Against Bowie State:

• 165 total yards

• 158 rushing yards

• 7 passing yards

• 3 points

A&M also recorded three sacks in each game.

The Bulldogs have now put together consecutive games in which the defense has controlled the game from the opening minutes.

That’s significant because conference play is a different test.

The question isn’t whether Alabama A&M can dominate teams when everything is clicking.

The question is whether the Bulldogs can carry that defensive identity into SWAC play.

And Now… Florida A&M

Next up is Florida A&M.

Alabama A&M travels to Tallahassee on Saturday, September 26, for its SWAC opener against the Rattlers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

And this isn’t just another conference game. There is history attached to this matchup. A lot of it. According to Alabama A&M’s official series history, the Bulldogs have not beaten Florida A&M since 1979, when A&M defeated the Rattlers 19-14.

Since then, Florida A&M has won the last five meetings between the programs. The most recent meeting came last November in Huntsville, when FAMU escaped with a 26-23 victory.

So yes, Alabama A&M has been waiting a long time. The Bulldogs haven’t beaten Florida A&M in 47 years. And Saturday provides another opportunity to change that.

A Different 3-1?

That’s ultimately what makes this moment interesting.

Last year’s 3-1 start ended with a conference loss at Bethune-Cookman.

This year’s 3-1 start ends with a trip to Tallahassee.

The circumstances are different, but the challenge is the same: Can Alabama A&M take what it has done in September and carry it into SWAC play?

The Bulldogs have scored at least 30 points in each of their last three games.

The defense has allowed just six points over the last two.

Cornelious Brown IV is playing some of his best football of the season.

And Alabama A&M has built some momentum.

But none of that matters once the ball is kicked off against Florida A&M. This is where the season really begins. The first four games provided a foundation.

The next eight will tell us what this Alabama A&M team really is.

3-1 is familiar.

What happens next doesn’t have to be.