The Rematch Nobody in Huntsville Wants to See
Alabama A&M does NOT want to see Florida A&M rolling into Louis Crews Stadium on Saturday at 3 PM EST. Not after what the Rattlers have done to them FOUR straight times. Not after watching FAMU walk into their house last November and leave with a 28-20 victory to close out 2024. And DEFINITELY not with the Bulldogs sitting at 4-6, losers of three straight, getting absolutely demolished 48-5 by Prairie View last weekend.
This is what we call a pride game, folks. Alabama A&M is staring down the barrel of a five-game losing streak to their SWAC East rival, and FAMU? They're playing with house money, sitting at 4-5 overall but 3-2 in conference play, coming off a gutsy 31-28 road win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
When History Becomes Haunting
Since these teams started this modern rivalry in 2021, it's been all Rattlers, all the time. FAMU is 4-0 against Alabama A&M with an average margin of victory of nearly 10 points. They've beaten the Bulldogs in Huntsville (twice) and in Tallahassee (twice). They've won close games (35-31 in 2021) and blowouts (42-28 in 2023). The message has been consistent: We own you.
For Alabama A&M, this season has been a tale of two halves. They started 4-3, including impressive wins over Tennessee State and Lane College. Then the wheels fell off. Three straight losses by a combined score of 117-28. That's not losing—that's getting your lunch money taken.
FAMU's season? Inconsistent but intriguing. They've dropped winnable games at home (Alabama State, North Carolina Central, Jackson State) but showed serious grit on the road, winning at Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. That 43-35 shootout win in Baton Rouge? That's the kind of game that tells you this team can score when it needs to.
What This Game Means for the SWAC Picture
FAMU sits at 3-2 in conference play with a real shot at finishing strong and potentially sneaking into the SWAC Championship conversation depending on how results shake out. They still have Bethune-Cookman and Mississippi Valley State on the schedule after this. Win out, and suddenly you're looking at a 7-5 finish with a 6-2 conference record. That might not get you Atlanta, but it gets you respect and momentum heading into 2026.
Alabama A&M? They're playing for pride and a .500 record. At 4-6, they need to win both remaining games (this one and at Texas Southern) to salvage a winning season. More importantly, they need to prove they can compete in close SWAC games after getting blown out in their last three conference matchups.
What Alabama A&M Must Do
The Bulldogs are at home, which means something. They're 3-1 at Louis Crews Stadium this season. They need to:
- Protect the football and force turnovers. In their four losses to FAMU, they've been outscored 143-104. You don't overcome a talented team by giving them short fields.
- Establish some semblance of offensive identity. Five points against Prairie View? That's unacceptable. They need to rediscover the team that put up 49 on Lane and 45 on Mississippi Valley State.
- Make FAMU uncomfortable early. The Rattlers have lost three home games this season. They're beatable when you get physical and dictate tempo.
What they can lean on: Home field advantage, desperation (which is real at 4-6), and the fact that they've shown they can score—they just need to find that offense again.
What Florida A&M Must Do
The Rattlers are road warriors this year (2-1 away from Tallahassee), but they can't sleep on a desperate team. They need to:
- Start fast. Alabama A&M has been getting punched in the mouth lately. Jump on them early and watch the stadium deflate.
- Control the clock and limit possessions. The Bulldogs can score in bunches when they get rolling. Don't turn this into a track meet—make it a grind-it-out SWAC slugfest.
- Stay disciplined. FAMU has a tendency to beat themselves (see: the home losses). This is a team that can score 43 in Baton Rouge but also lose 45-7 to North Carolina Central at home.
What they can lean on: History (4-0 all-time), momentum (winners of their last game), and confidence (they've already proven they can win in Huntsville). Plus, they're playing the better offensive football right now—31 points on the road beats 5 points at home every single time.
The Bottom Line
FAMU wins this game if they show up ready to play. Alabama A&M needs a near-perfect performance and some FAMU mistakes to pull the upset. The Rattlers have been the better team in this series, and nothing about Saturday's matchup suggests that's about to change.
Prediction: FAMU 34, Alabama A&M 24. The Bulldogs fight hard at home, but the Rattlers make it five straight in a series that's quickly becoming one-sided.
