Albany State Clinches 25th Straight Winning Season

Albany State beat Shorter 37-14 at Barron Stadium to finish 6-5 and extend its streak among historically Black colleges and universities.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Football

Albany State Clinches 25th Straight Winning Season

Albany State defeated Shorter University 37-14 at Barron Stadium on Saturday, finishing the regular season at 6-5. The win extends the program's streak of winning seasons to 25 consecutive years, the longest active run among historically Black colleges and universities.

Why it matters

Albany State stood 3-5 before winning its final three games, including a 49-0 victory over Fort Valley State in the Fountain City Classic. The finish keeps the program on track to contend for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and NCAA Division II playoffs in future seasons.

Quarterback Jeffery Davis completed 17 of 24 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, while Albany State rushed for 178 yards and held Shorter to 71 rushing yards. Albany State's 336 total yards and 49-0 win over Fort Valley State in the prior game are the most recent benchmarks, with the postseason outlook still undetermined.

The players

Albany State University

Albany State University is a historically Black public university in Albany, Georgia, and a member of the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Shorter University

Shorter University is a private Baptist-affiliated university in Rome, Georgia, whose athletic teams compete in the NAIA.

The details

Jeffery Davis directed a 70-yard scoring drive on Albany State's first possession, finishing with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Omarion Dupree. Nigel Pittman later blocked a Shorter punt and recovered it at the 6-yard line before carrying it into the end zone, and the Golden Rams outscored their final two opponents 86-14.

- Saturday: Albany State defeated Shorter 37-14 at Barron Stadium in Rome, Ga.
- Earlier this season: Albany State won its final three games, including the 49-0 Fountain City Classic win over Fort Valley State.

Season Trajectory

Albany State's 25 consecutive winning seasons, the longest active run among historically Black colleges and universities, places this 6-5 finish within a sustained run of competitiveness since 2001. The late-season rally from 3-5 to a winning record keeps the program positioned for conference and playoff contention heading into the offseason.

The 6-5 finish keeps Albany State eligible in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference race and positions the program for a return to playoff contention. Albany State will enter winter workouts and spring practice with a number of returning starters.

The takeaway

Albany State's streak of 25 straight winning seasons shows sustained competitiveness, and its late-season rally suggests the roster can contend again. Readers following the program can track the next season's schedule and conference standings for updates on the returning starters.