Key Highlights
- Bulldogs to close out home campaign against Rattlers on Saturday.
- Kickoff at Louis Crews Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m., Senior Day and Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Day event.
- Alabama A&M (4-6 overall, 1-5 SWAC) starts strong but struggles to hold leads in recent games.
- Florida A&M (4-5, 3-2 SWAC) enters off a thrilling victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and features balanced offense with key players Johnson III and Franklin Jr.
Bulldogs Eye High Note to End Home Campaign on Senior Day
On Saturday, November 14, 2025, the Alabama A&M Bulldogs (4-6 overall, 1-5 SWAC) will aim to cap off their home slate with a victory against the Florida A&M Rattlers in a Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup. The game, set for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Louis Crews Stadium on Senior Day and Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Day, marks the 15th edition of this series since 1965.
Head coach Sam Shade highlighted the team’s struggles in recent games, saying, “We’ve been able to get out to a good start in the first quarter in a lot of our games. We haven’t been able to hold on to those leads.” He noted that Alabama A&M is still searching for what’s missing from their team and emphasized the need to play a complete game.
Key Matchup: Line of Scrimmage and Turnovers
To secure victory, the Bulldogs must protect their line of scrimmage. Alabama A&M head coach Sam Shade stressed the importance of avoiding turnovers and minimizing penalties, stating, “We need to win the turnover battle.” The team has faced significant challenges in recent games, dropping five out of its last six matches, including classic contests against Jackson State and Alabama State.
Florida A&M: Riding Momentum and Balanced Offense
The Rattlers (4-5, 3-2 SWAC) enter the contest with momentum after a thrilling 31-28 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Quarterback RJ Johnson III has been a key player for Florida A&M, passing for 1,787 yards and 11 touchdowns. Thad Franklin Jr., alongside Jamal Hailey, provides balance in the ground attack with 554 rushing yards and five scores. Wide receiver Kenari Wilcher is also contributing significantly to the team’s offense.
Game Analysis: Florida A&M Leads Series
The Rattlers have dominated this series historically, leading it 12-2 since 1965. They have won three of their last four games, while Alabama A&M seeks its first win against Florida A&M in over two decades (1979). The Bulldogs’ last victory in the series came with a score of 19-14.
Other notable statistics for both teams include:
- AAMU ranks third in FCS in fourth down conversion percentage defense and second in SWAC.
- Florida A&M is allowing 34.4 points per contest with opponents converting more than 50% on third downs.
- Kicker Daniel Porto leads the nation in field goals per game and ranks high in field goal percentage, both first in the SWAC.
Both teams will be looking to secure a positive outcome for their respective programs as they compete for valuable SWAC points.
