By Barnett Wright
The Birmingham Times
Alabama State and Alabama A&M will play its annual Magic City Classic rivalry game at Legion Field on April 17, 2021, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced on Monday.
The SWAC announced the schedules for all 10 SWAC schools for the upcoming 2021 spring football season, and that includes one non-conference open date for each team and conference contests scheduled each week beginning Feb. 27, 2021 in week one.
The 2020 Classic had been set for Oct. 31 but delayed following concerns related to the COVID-19 global pandemic. This year is the first time the classic will not be played since 1943 and 1944, during the height of World War II.
The conference said fall sports teams and student-athletes will have the opportunity to attend classes and practices in preparation for a spring 2021 competitive schedule upon return to campus.
Student-athletes will participate in conditioning, strength training and practices in all sports provided all required local, state and federal health and safety guidelines are met.
According to a statement from the SWAC office earlier this month, “The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors felt [the delay] was necessary out of growing concern for the health, safety and well-being, both mentally and physically, of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, team staff, campus faculty, fans and supporters.
“The continued increase of COVID-19 cases across many portions of the league’s geographic footprint and Southern regions of the country played a significant role in the council’s decision, along with data that suggests African-American communities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In the spring, each SWAC team will play six conference football games to include four games against division opponents and two games against non-division opponents. Each member institution will also have the option to play one non-conference game. The season will officially kickoff the weekend of February 27 with five league games set to be played.
The football season will culminate with the Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship Game. The game is scheduled to be played on Saturday, May 1.
A complete listing of the games scheduled to be played each week along with team-by-team schedules can be found below.
2021 SWAC Football Schedule
February 27
- Alcorn State at Alabama A&M
- Southern at Alabama State
- Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State
- Texas Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling State (State Fair Classic)
March 6
- Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State
- Alabama State at Alcorn State
- Jackson State at Grambling State
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern
- Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M (Labor Day Classic)
March 13
- Bye week
March 20
- Alabama A&M at Prairie View A&M
- Jackson State at Alabama State
- Alcorn State at Mississippi Valley State
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State
- Southern at Texas Southern
March 27
- Grambling State at Alabama A&M
- Alabama State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Alcorn State at Southern
- Prairie View A&M at Jackson State
April 3
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Mississippi Valley State
- Grambling State at Texas Southern
April 10
- Alabama A&M at Jackson State
- Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State
- Texas Southern at Alcorn State
- Southern at Prairie View A&M
April 17
- Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M (Magic City Classic)
- Jackson State at Alcorn State
- Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern
- Prairie View A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Grambling State vs. Southern (Bayou Classic)
April 24
- Open Date
May 1
- Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship
