HBCU Football: Will Alabama A&M repeat as SWAC champions?

The Alabama A&M Bulldogs are coming off a dominant spring season that saw them finish with a perfect 5-0 record on their way to defeating the Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the SWAC championship game.

Their SWAC championship win was just their second in school history and their first since 2006. If history is any indication, the Bulldogs could be on their way to a second straight conference title.

Since 2014, each of the last three SWAC champions have gone on to repeat the very next season. The Alcorn State Braves did it on two occasions first in 2014 and 2015 than in 2018 and 2019. In the midst of the Braves’ two stints as back-to-back champions was Grambling State reigning as champions in 2016 and 2017.

The Bulldogs ended the 2021 fall season ranked 19th overall in the FCS Coaches Poll and 24th in the FCS Stats Perform Poll.

Their football program has been rejuvenated ever since Connell Maynor was hired as head coach of the team. Maynor has recorded an 18-10 record since taking over the position including leading Alabama A&M to their first undefeated season in 65 years and their first-ever Black College Football National championship.

Alabama A&M did suffer a major setback in the offseason that could have an impact on the team as their former top defensive end Marcus Cushnie transferred to the Florida State Seminoles.

In four spring games, Cushnie led the Bulldogs in tackles for loss (7.5), sacks (7.0), and quarterback hits (2).

With that being said, there are high expectations of Alabama A&M as they were selected in the SWAC’s predicted order of finish to win the SWAC East division making it back to the SWAC championship game.

Is Alabama A&M built to go back-to-back in the SWAC? Let’s examine this as we take a closer look at the reigning SWAC champions.