Above: Alabama A&M Bulldogs celebrate last year’s victory in the Magic City Classic. (contributed/Alabama A&M Athletics)

There will be concerts. There will be a parade. There will be tailgating.

Oh yeah, there will also be a football game Saturday as Alabama A&M takes on Alabama State in the 74th Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. at Birmingham’s Legion Field.

The game will be shown live on ESPN3 with a tape delay replay on ESPNU.

The Bulldogs won a thriller 37-36 last year. The Hornets lead the all-time series 39-36-3. Alabama State is 3-4 overall and 3-3 in Southwest Athletic Conference; A&M is 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the SWAC.

The Hornets’ Kourtney Berry is the top tackler in the league with 12.6 per game. The Bulldogs’ Harvey Harris is No. 5 in the SWAC in rushing with 62.2 yards per game.

While Alabama sits out this week awaiting a visit next week from LSU, Auburn entertains Ole Miss at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN.

Auburn quarterback Sean White scans for receivers in the Tigers’ loss to Arkansas. (Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics)

The Rebels come to the Plains looking to stay close in the SEC West race. The Bengal Tigers (4-0 league, 7-0 overall) and Crimson Tide (4-1, 7-1) are first and second in the division; Ole Miss is third at 3-1, 6-2.

Auburn (1-3, 4-3) wants to continue to right its ship after taking on water in the opening weeks. Sean White has managed the offense with a steady hand with few turnovers on his watch.

Here’s the rest of the slate in this week’s Alabama NewsCenter football preview. All college games are Saturday and high school games on Friday, unless otherwise noted.

OTHER STATE COLLEGES

Miles College at Stillman (Thursday): The Golden Bears are making a fading memory of their 1-4 mark to open the season. They have won three in a row to even their record at 4-4 overall and improve to 3-0 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  The Tigers are 3-2, 1-2 in the league. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.

West Alabama at Valdosta State: The Tigers (6-2) are tied for fourth place in the Gulf South Conference with Valdosta State (5-2 overall); each is 2-2 in the league. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. on ESPN3.

Huntingdon at Greensboro: A one-point loss to Birmingham-Southern is the only blemish on the Hawks’ record. They’ll go for their sixth win in a row at noon.

Birmingham-Southern at Centre: The Panthers are 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the Southern Athletic Conference. Centre is 5-2, 3-2 in the league. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m.

Faulkner at Kentucky Christian: The Eagles broke a three-game losing skid with a 48-44 win over Bethel last week. Kickoff this week is at 12:30 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks welcome friends and family to campus for homecoming/family day and a 1 p.m. kickoff on ESPN3. JSU is 6-1 overall; the Colonels are 5-2.

Central State at Tuskegee: With a victory in the game that starts at 1 p.m., Tuskegee head football coach Willie Slater will reach the 90-win plateau with the Golden Tigers, tying him with Rick Comegy for second on the all-time list behind Cleve Abbott.

Birmingham-Southern quarterback Mickey Courtney faces a tackler. (Jimmy Mitchell/BSC Athletics)

Delta State at North Alabama: Following a 31-10 loss to West Georgia, the Lions look to get back on the winning path at 1:30 p.m.

Furman at Samford: The Bulldogs are coming off back to back losses. They kickoff at 2 p.m. on ESPN3.

Troy at Appalachian State: The Mountaineers are next for the Trojans, who ended a four-game skid with a 52-7 win over New Mexico State. Kickoff this week is at 2:30 p.m.

Clark Atlanta at Concordia: The Hornets and visiting Panthers get underway at 2 p.m.

South Alabama: The Jaguars (3-4) are idle this week before hosting Idaho at 2 p.m. Nov. 7.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Class 7A: Coach Josh Niblett likely never thought his Bucs would be playing for their playoff position at 7 tonight with the game airing on ESPN2. North Marion (8-0) of Citra, Fla., was supposed to be the caliber opponent that could sharpen Hoover, No. 8 in the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association poll, for a playoff run. After losses to rivals Spain Park and Vestavia Hills, the Bucs could use a win.

Class 6A: No. 5 Saraland, last year’s state runner-up, plays at No. 8 Blount for second place in Region 1.

A Briarwood player makes a tackle. (Bernard Troncale/Alabama NewsCenter)

Class 5A: Sylacauga plays at B.B. Comer in the continuation of a long rivalry.

Class 4A: Handley, Munford and St. James are each 4-2 in Region 3. Munford is the second seed by virtue of its 49-48 win over region champion Leeds during the regular season. The Dadeville-Handley winner will earn the third seed and the other team the fourth.

Class 3A: Class 6A Briarwood Christian travels to No. 1 Madison Academy, which is the region winner in 3A, Region 8

Class 2A:  Reeltown, LaFayette and Ranburne are all 3-3 in Region 5. LaFayette hosts Saks, which is No. 2 in Class 4A Region 6.

Class 1A: Victory Christian is at Alabama School for the Deaf.

AISA: Bessemer Academy, the No. 2 team in the latest Alabama Independent School Association rankings of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, hosts No. 7 Escambia Academy.