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SWAC and Birmingham Launch Week 0 Birmingham Classic at Legion Field

City and conference officials say attendance will determine whether the game becomes a recurring SWAC showcase.

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Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body and head coach Eddie Robinson, Jr., speak with the media during the SWAC Football Media Day in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday July 15, 2026.
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Overview

  • Alabama State and Southern will play the inaugural Birmingham Classic at Legion Field on Aug. 29, 2026 under an initial two-year agreement between the SWAC and the City of Birmingham.
  • SWAC commissioner Charles McClelland confirmed the two-year deal and said future editions could rotate conference teams if fan turnout shows the event is successful.
  • ESPNU holds broadcast rights for the 2026 Classic and Alabama State will appear on the ESPN family of networks five times in 2026, a move officials say will raise the program’s national profile and scouting visibility.
  • Alabama State leaders say the Classic lets the Hornets generate game revenue and expand recruiting and alumni outreach in Birmingham by staging a revenue-sharing Week 0 matchup rather than a typical guaranteed road game.
  • Organizers point to Legion Field’s long HBCU history and SWAC scheduling rules that made the matchup possible, and Alabama State’s preseason No. 1 pick in the SWAC East adds momentum for the Hornets heading into the opener.