Miles has a tough task at hand today when it faces perennial Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship contender Albany State The Golden Bears (2-2, 1-0 SIAC) look to stay hot after winning their last two contests, including a 27-24 win over Morehouse last week in the Prince Hall Americanism Football Classic. The Golden Rams, who were ranked in several Division II polls after opening the season with two wins, have now lost two straight after suffering a 48-16 loss to West Georgia.

Since Reginald Ruffin took over as head coach in 2011, these two teams have found themselves playing against each other for the SIAC title three times, most recently in 2015 when Miles defeated Albany State 20-7 for its second title game victory. Those battles with a championship trophy on the line have also turned up the intensity in the teams' regular season matchups, where the Golden Rams have taken three straight. Last season, Miles fell in a big hole and fought all the way back but lost 35-33 with a controversial finish.

This game will feature the SIAC's top running backs, as Miles' Justin Hardy (372 yards, No. 1) and Albany State's McKinley Habersham (322 yards, No. 2) and Kelan Fraise (301 yards, No.4) expect to carry the load for their team's offenses. Defensively, linebacker Austin Stephens is second in the SIAC in total tackles (38) while defensive end Kaelan Bonds had five solo sacks, which is tops in the conference.