ESPN's First Take was at Legion Field in Birmingham to feature Saturday's HBCU football matchup with Alabama State and Alabama A&M. The festivities included a 40-yard dash between both mascots from the Hornets and Bulldogs.
However, the friendly race nearly turned bad when Cam Newton got involved in the celebration.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL MVP got physical with the Alabama State Bulldog, who didn't appear to be backing down. Newton pushed the mascot, and it nearly turned bad after both squared up. But the situation cooled down quickly with the Bulldog likely realizing it was about to be a haymaker-style headline to follow.
It was a smart move for both to walk away. Newton isn't even a full year into his ESPN contract and it wouldn't be a good look to beat up a mascot. On the other hand, the Bulldog would never hear the end of it.
Anyone watching Cam Newton get into it with the Alabama A&M Mascot? Pic.twitter.com/0fA6l2FFJO
— Legend 🦁 (@Legendkilla691) October 24, 2025
The Magic City Classic between Alabama State (4-2) and Alabama A&M (4-3) will be a great in-state battle. This marks the contest in the series with the Bulldogs owning a 43-37-3 all-time record dating back to 1940. Both teams have five wins in the past decade.
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