BOWIE, Md. -- Bowie State football will remain on the road Saturday, Sept. 19, as the Bulldogs travel to Huntsville, Alabama, to take on Alabama A&M University at Louis Crews Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT.
Bowie State enters the matchup looking for its first victory of the 2026 season after opening the campaign with consecutive road losses to Virginia State and Delaware State. The Bulldogs dropped their season opener, 42-13, at Virginia State before falling to Delaware State, 21-6, last Saturday at Alumni Stadium in Dover, Delaware. Saturday's contest will mark another opportunity for first-year head coach Dawson Odums and the Bulldogs to compete against a Division I FCS opponent while continuing to build the foundation of a new era of Bowie State football.
When: Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT)
Where: Louis Crews Stadium – Huntsville, Ala.
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Another Road Test for the Bulldogs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Bowie State enters its third game of the 2026 season with a 0-2 record, but the Bulldogs have shown flashes of competitiveness during their challenging opening stretch. Against Delaware State, Bowie State produced 287 total yards, including 160 through the air and 127 on the ground, while holding possession for 33:48. The Bulldogs also moved the chains 19 times and converted 7-of-14 third-down opportunities against the Hornets. The matchup with Alabama A&M represents the third consecutive road game against a Division I FCS opponent to open the season. Odums, who was hired as Bowie State's 11th head football coach in February, will look to continue developing his team while the Bulldogs gain valuable experience against two different FCS opponents during the early portion of the schedule. Bowie State's 2026 campaign features four consecutive road games to begin the season before the Bulldogs return home Oct. 3 against Shaw University.
Offense Looking for Consistency                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bowie State's offense will look to build off the positives from its first two games while continuing to find consistency against a talented Alabama A&M defense. Quarterback Jaylin Solomon provided a dual-threat presence against Delaware State, completing 11-of-18 passes for 108 yards while adding 45 rushing yards on 13 carries. Kyle Hawkins also completed both of his pass attempts for 52 yards and connected with Konner Blount-Foster on a 31-yard touchdown in the third quarter, accounting for Bowie State's lone touchdown of the afternoon. The Bulldogs have also received production from their running game. Daniel Coles Jr. led Bowie State with 45 rushing yards on 11 carries against Delaware State, while Solomon also contributed 45 yards on the ground. Through the air, John Thompson led the Bulldogs with 56 receiving yards, while Blount-Foster finished with four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Bulldogs Defense Faces Explosive Alabama A&M Offense                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Bowie State's defense will have another major challenge against an Alabama A&M offense that enters Saturday's matchup averaging strong production through the air. The Bulldogs are coming off a Delaware State contest in which they limited the Hornets to 224 rushing yards and 167 passing yards while recording several strong individual defensive performances. Ashton Mayeux led the Bulldogs with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, while James Francis added nine tackles and Alijah Bivans recorded eight. Romeo Edmonds contributed four tackles and a pass breakup, while Khalil Travers recorded an interception. Bowie State will need another active performance from its defense against an Alabama A&M offense that has demonstrated the ability to generate explosive plays through the passing game.
Scouting the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Alabama A&M enters Saturday's contest with a 2-1 record after defeating Tennessee State, 30-3, last weekend at Louis Crews Stadium. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 31-24 loss to Howard in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge before rebounding with a 38-23 victory over Miles College and a dominant 30-3 win over Tennessee State. Alabama A&M's offense is led by quarterback Cornelious Brown IV, who delivered one of the strongest performances of the young season against Tennessee State. Brown completed 24-of-38 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns while throwing one interception. He opened the game 10-for-10 for 152 yards and two touchdowns and helped the Bulldogs build a 20-3 halftime advantage. Wide receiver Jarel Williams has emerged as another major weapon for Alabama A&M. Williams caught eight passes for 175 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee State, including a 61-yard touchdown reception and a 67-yard catch that helped set up another score. Jaylan Bean added five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, while Donovan Price caught two passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. The Alabama A&M rushing attack was led by Kolton Nero, who carried 10 times for 52 yards, while Ty'Jarian Williams added 50 rushing yards, including a 46-yard run that helped set up a fourth-quarter touchdown. As a team, Alabama A&M finished with 452 total yards.
First Meeting                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Saturday's matchup will be the first meeting between Bowie State and Alabama A&M in program history. The contest is part of Alabama A&M's 2026 Hall of Fame Game and will conclude the Bulldogs' three-game homestand. Alabama A&M's 2026 schedule lists Bowie State as its Sept. 19 opponent at Louis Crews Stadium with a 6 p.m. kickoff. The meeting also provides Bowie State with another opportunity to face a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent after opening the season against Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) rival Virginia State and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent Delaware State. With Alabama A&M entering the game at 2-1 and coming off a 27-point victory, the Bulldogs will face another significant test on the road.
Finishing the Road Stretch                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The Alabama A&M contest is the third game of Bowie State's four-game road stretch to open the 2026 campaign. Following Saturday's matchup, the Bulldogs will travel to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, on Sept. 26 to face Elizabeth City State University before finally returning to Bulldog Stadium on Oct. 3 to host Shaw University.
For Bowie State, Saturday's game represents another chance to make progress during the opening month of the Odums era. The Bulldogs will look to carry over the positive moments from their first two contests, execute more consistently and compete for their first victory of the season against an Alabama A&M team that enters the matchup with momentum.
Next week, the Bulldogs will conclude their four-game road trip, facing Elizabeth City State Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit bsubulldogs.com.
