Alabama State Hornets

The Alabama State Hornets represent Montgomery, Alabama in SWAC football, a program with over a century of history and one of the sport's oldest continuous HBCU rivalries against Alabama A&M in the Turkey Day Classic. Black and old gold define a Hornets program known for its marching band as much as its football, playing to passionate home crowds. Alabama State has racked up over 120 conference championships across its athletic history. The football program remains a fixture of SWAC competitiveness.

Alabama State's football program dates to 1901, with the school itself founded in 1867 as the Lincoln Normal School. The Hornets joined the SWAC in 1982 and captured SWAC championships in 1991 and 2004, with the undefeated 1991 team (11-0-1) earning Black college national championship recognition. A shared SWAC East Division title in 2011 added another national championship nod from multiple polls. The program has built a reputation for developing talent that continues on to professional football.