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FAMU football at Alabama State: Can Rattlers extend SWAC streak, raid Hornets homecoming?
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- FAMU football at Alabama State: Can Rattlers extend SWAC streak, raid Hornets homecoming?
Southwestern Athletic Conference football is in full swing.
On Saturday, Florida A&M football opens its SWAC schedule in Montgomery as it visits Alabama State .
Kickoff is at 3 p.m. Eastern Time at Alabama State Stadium. Fans who can't attend the Week 6 game can watch on ESPN Plus.
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Alabama State will be celebrating its homecoming when FAMU comes to town.
The Rattlers and Hornets both sit at 2-2.
FAMU fell at Troy 34-12 two weeks ago. The Rattlers' originally scheduled SWAC home opener versus Alabama A&M was moved from Sept. 28 to Nov. 29 due to Hurricane Helene .
Alabama State traveled to Daytona Beach last Saturday and beat Bethune-Cookman 26-21.
FAMU at Alabama State: Tale of the Tape
Records
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FAMU (2-2) ― Last Game: L, 31-12 at Troy
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Alabama State (2-2) ― Last Game: W, 26-21 at Bethune-Cookman
Coaches
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FAMU: James Colzie III (2-2)
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Alabama State: Eddie Robinson Jr. (15-11)
Players to Watch
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FAMU: Quarterback Daniel Richardson, Linebacker Nay'Ron Jenkins
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Alabama State: Running Back Jamarie Hostzclaw, Linebacker Demarkus Cunningham
Team Historical Accolades
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FAMU: 17 claimed national championships (16 Black College, one NCAA Division I-AA)
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Alabama State: Two Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships
All-Time Series
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Tied 20-20-2
Last Matchup
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FAMU 23, Alabama State 10 (2023)
Meet the Teams: FAMU at Alabama State
FAMU at Alabama State is one of the SWAC's most highly anticipated matchups this season.
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SWAC voters predicted the Hornets to finish first in the East division . Despite being the reigning SWAC and Black College Football national champions, the Rattlers were picked second.
FAMU is ranked 22nd in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll, the only HBCU in the top 25. The Rattlers also have won 16 straight SWAC games, spanning back to 2022.
The Rattlers have the 25th-best passing offense, with Daniel Richardson quarterbacking the unit. Richardson is 16th FCS passing yards average with 246.8 per game. He's led FAMU to game-winning and comeback wins over Norfolk State and South Carolina State.
Defensively, FAMU is still a work in progress, allowing an average of 204.5 rushing yards per game. The Rattlers also haven't forced a turnover through four games.
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Injuries slightly derailed Alabama State's season with their top two quarterbacks, Andrew Body and Jonah O'Brien, out .
True freshman Zach Sims is now the starting quarterback for the Hornets. Sims has completed 47 percent of his passes for 184 yards and a touchdown in three appearances.
Alabama State has the SWAC's top rushing offense and the FCS' sixth-best defense .
Who will win? FAMU at Alabama State
Florida A&M wide receiver Jaylen Ward (3) avoids a tackle from Norfolk State defensive back Corey Chapman (28) during the Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge NCAA college football game against Norfolk State in Atlanta on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024.
FAMU and Alabama State had slugfests the last two seasons they've met.
In 2022, the Rattlers slithered out of Montgomery with a 21-14 victory after blocking the Hornets' attempted game-winning field goal. In 2023, FAMU hosted Alabama State and won 23-10.
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Expect more of the same on Saturday.
FAMU's offense can be electric with Richardson under center. And Alabama State has one of the best defenses in the nation.
Saturday won't be your typical homecoming blowout.
FAMU will best Alabama State again and raid the Hornets' homecoming festivities.
Score Prediction: FAMU 26, Alabama State 17
BOLD PREDICTION: FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson will pass for 300 yards against Alabama State's sixth-ranked defense.
FAMU at Alabama State ― Week 6, SWAC
Florida A&M Rattlers head coach James Colzie III coaches the FAMU v South Carolina State game Thursday, August 31 2024.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: ASU Stadium; Montgomery, Alabama
Broadcast: ESPN Plus
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Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football at Alabama State: Who will win Saturday's SWAC showdown?
