Albany–Stony Brook football rivalry
The Albany–Stony Brook football rivalry, also known as the Battle for the Golden Apple and the Empire Clash is an American college football rivalry between the Albany Great Danes and the Stony Brook Seawolves. Both teams represent university centers of the State University of New York, and since 2013 have competed together as members of CAA Football, the legally separate football league operated by the multi-sports Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The two teams have met 25 times on the football field, with Albany currently holding a 15–10 edge in the all-time series. Albany leads the series 12–9 since 1999, when both programs moved up to Division I.
The Great Danes won 38–20 in 2023 | |
Stony Brook Seawolves
| |
| Sport | Football |
|---|---|
| First meeting | November 18, 1995 Stony Brook, 40–21 |
| Latest meeting | November 11, 2023 Albany, 38–20 |
| Next meeting | November 9, 2024 |
| Trophy | The Golden Apple Trophy |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 25 |
| All-time series | Albany leads, 15–10 |
| Trophy series | Albany, 5–4 |
| Largest victory | Albany, 59–14 (2022) |
| Longest win streak | Albany, 6 (1996–2001) |
| Current win streak | Albany, 2 (2022–present) |
Since 2013, when both programs joined CAA Football together, they have been meeting yearly as part of their conference schedule. The rivalry game was coined the "Empire Clash" in 2013 during their first CAA Football game against each other. Starting in 2015, the winner of the game is awarded The Golden Apple Trophy. The game is traditionally played on the final week of the regular season.
Albany plays home games at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium (capacity 8,500, grass surface, located in Albany, NY) and Stony Brook plays home games at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium (capacity 12,300, artificial turf surface, located in Stony Brook, NY).