The 2020 Alabama A&M Bulldogs football team represented Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by third-year head coach Connell Maynor and played their home games at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama as members of the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. On July 20, 2020, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 3, 2021, A&M was voted HBCU National Champions by the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls, after finishing the season undefeated. Their selections marks the first time in history the Bulldogs finished the season ranked as the #1 team in black college football. A&M ended ranked #19 in the 2020–21 Division I FCS Coaches Poll, head coach Maynor was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award for the top coach in FCS, and QB Aqeel Glass was a finalist for Walter Payton Award for best FCS player.
Schedule Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Mississippi State, Stephen F. Austin, and UAB were canceled. The SWAC released updated spring schedules on August 17. Initially, A&M's spring schedule featured 6 games, 3 away, 2 home and the Magic City Classic. The Bulldogs won their first game via forfeit after Alcorn opted out of their spring season. Additionally, games against Mississippi Valley State and Prairie View A&M were postponed and later canceled due to COVID cases in their respective programs. On March 3, the Bulldogs added a non-conference game against South Carolina State. Their last scheduled home contest against Grambling State was also canceled without a makeup game schedule. Alabama A&M lost its final opportunity to host a game at Louis Crews Stadium when the SWAC moved its championship game to a neutral site due to confusion over tiebreakers as a result of COVID related cancellations.
Game summaries
At South Carolina State
SCSU −10.0 53 Statistics Alabama A&MSouth Carolina State First downs 20 14 Total yards 433 297 Rushing yards 161 165 Passing yards 272 132 Turnovers 3 5 Time of possession 32:11 27:49
Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama A&M Passing Aqeel Glass 15/33, 272 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Gary Quarles 21 carries, 87 yards Receiving Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TDSouth Carolina State Passing Corey Fields 10/22, 132 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Kendrall Flowers 13 carries, 115 yards Receiving Shaquan Davis 2 receptions, 51 yards
At Jackson State
SCSU −10.0 53 Statistics Alabama A&MJackson State First downs 28 26 Total yards 533 463 Rushing yards 93 140 Passing yards 440 323 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 29:12 30:48
Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama A&M Passing Aqeel Glass 27/40, 440 yards, 6 TDs Rushing Gary Quarles 16 carries, 86 yards Receiving Zabrian Moore 4 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TDJackson State Passing Quincy Casey 30/47, 323 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Santee Marshall 19 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD Receiving Daylen Baldwin 6 receptions, 135 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Alabama State
AAMU −4.5 52 Statistics Alabama StateAlabama A&M First downs 20 24 Total yards 285 484 Rushing yards 181 112 Passing yards 104 372 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:12 28:48
Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama State Passing Chris Scott 13/28, 89 yards, 1 TD Rushing Ezra Gray 19 carries, 101 yards Receiving Jahod Booker 5 receptions, 58 yardsAlabama A&M Passing Aqeel Glass 25/40, 372 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Aqeel Glass 5 carries, 45 yards Receiving Zabrian Moore 4 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDs
Vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff
AAMU −3.5 61 Statistics Arkansas–Pine BluffAlabama A&M First downs 18 30 Total yards 324 368 Rushing yards 88 97 Passing yards 236 271 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 26:06 33:54
Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas–Pine Bluff Passing Skyler Perry 23/36, 231 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs Rushing Skyler Perry 16 carries, 71 yards Receiving DeJuan Miller 6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TDAlabama A&M Passing Aqeel Glass 24/45, 271 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Gary Quarles 23 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Zabrian Moore 5 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDs
Postseason honors
Deacon Jones Trophy/Black College Football Player of the Year QB Aqeel Glass
BOXTOROW HBCU Player of the Year QB Aqeel Glass
BOXTOROW HBCU All-American First-Team QB Aqeel Glass OL Jonathan Williams WR Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim DL Marcus Cushnie
BOXTOROW HBCU All-American Honorable Mention RB Gary Quarles WR Zabrian Moore
SWAC Player of the Year QB Aqeel Glass
All-SWAC First Team QB Aqeel Glass OL Dexter Fuqua WR Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim DL Marcus Cushnie
All-SWAC Second Team RB Gary Quarles OL Antearius Harrington OL Jonathan Williams WR Zabrian Moore LB Armoni Holloway DB Amari Holloway K Spencer Corey
References