COLUMBUS, Ga. - When Fort Valley State and Albany State kick off at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, it will be the 36th Fountain City Classic and the 92nd meeting between the two Georgia HBCU rivals. Here's the rivalry by the numbers.

Who leads? It depends on where you start counting

• In the Classic era (since the game moved to Columbus in 1990): Albany State leads 27-8.
• All time (going back to 1924): Fort Valley State leads 45-42-4.

Both are true. Fort Valley State dominated the first half of the rivalry. It went 37-15-4 before 1990 and won every meeting from 1945 through 1959. Since the game came to Columbus, Albany State has taken over.

The Classic era, decade by decade

Albany State has won three straight (2023, 2024, 2025) and eight of the last 10.

The numbers that stand out

• 906 to 531: Albany State has outscored Fort Valley State in the 35 Classics. That's an average of about 26 points to 15.
• 57-0: Albany State's 2021 win, the most lopsided score in the rivalry's history.
• 7: Albany State's longest Classic winning streak, from 2002 to 2008.
• 1 point: the closest Classic ever, Albany State's 20-19 win in 2004.
• 13 of 35: Classics decided by 8 points or fewer, a single score.
• 3: shutouts in the Classic era (1990, 1993 and 2021), all by Albany State.
• 0: games in 2020, when the SIAC suspended fall sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 4: ties in the rivalry, the last in 1978.

The most memorable Classics

1990: The first one. Albany State 35, Fort Valley State 0. Organizers moved the rivalry to Columbus to attract more corporate support, and Albany State opened the Classic era with a shutout.

1991: Fort Valley State answers, 22-20. One year later, the Wildcats won their first Classic by two points.

2001: Fort Valley State 45, Albany State 7. Fort Valley's biggest win of the Classic era.

2004: Albany State 20, Fort Valley State 19. The closest Classic ever, decided by a single point.

2002-2008: Seven straight for Albany State.** It's the longest winning streak of the Classic era. **Fort Valley State finally snapped it in 2009, 35-13.

2010: Albany State 12, Fort Valley State 7. A late defensive stand. Fort Valley got into scoring position after blocking a punt, and the Golden Rams' defense held. Albany State was named the black college national champion that season.

2021: Albany State 57, Fort Valley State 0. The first Classic after the 2020 cancellation became the most lopsided game in the rivalry's history. It was Albany State's fifth shutout of the season.

2022: Fort Valley State 31, Albany State 21. The upset. Albany State came in ranked in its region. Fort Valley State running back Emanuel Wilson ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns to hand the Golden Rams their only Classic loss of the 2020s.

2025: Albany State 48, Fort Valley State 3. The Golden Rams finished the SIAC regular season undefeated. A week later, they beat Benedict 22-16 for the conference championship.

Before you go

The 36th Fountain City Classic kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium. Gates open at noon. The Classic Parade steps off at 9 a.m. that morning. For tickets, parking, tailgating and bag rules, read our Fountain City Classic 2026 guide.

Which Classic do you remember most? Tell us at columbustimes.com/contact.