The Bulldogs will renew a regional football rivalry next year.
Alabama A&M and the University of North Alabama will play each other in football in 2018 and 2019, the schools announced Friday.The Bulldogs and Lions played annually (except 1991) from 1975-1997 when both were NCAA Division II programs.
A&M and UNA will be the only two NCAA Division I programs in north Alabama.
“This is great news for fans of Alabama A&M University, the University of North Alabama and of college football in this area,” said Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks. “The close proximity of these two NCAA Division I athletic programs will bring a new excitement to the Tennessee Valley region.
“We welcome UNA to the family of NCAA Division I athletics and wish them well.”
UNA Athletic Director Mark Linder agreed the games will create excitement.
“These games are going to create a lot of excitement for UNA fans, Alabama A&M fans and football fans across north Alabama,” Linder said. “It is renewing a great rivalry between two schools in close proximity that have great fan bases. These are the kind of games that we need to be playing and want to be playing.”
The Bulldogs will host UNA on Sept. 8, 2018 and the Lions will host the game Sept. 14, 2019.
