# Grambling State Tigers football

The Grambling State Tigers are the college football team representing Grambling State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They were known as Grambling Tigers until 1973, when the university changed its name from Grambling College to the current one.
The prominence of Grambling football is longstanding. The Tigers, under Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson, who guided them to 408 victories in 55 seasons from 1941 to 1942 and 1945 to 1997, were built as a small-school powerhouse with more than 200 players who played professional football.
On September 24, 1976, Grambling State and Morgan State became the first collegiate football teams from the United States to play a game in the continent of Asia. Grambling State defeated Morgan State 42–16 in Tokyo, Japan. In fall 1977, the Grambling State Tigers were invited back to Tokyo where they defeated the Temple Owls 35–32 in the inaugural Mirage Bowl game.
Among its accomplishments include: 15 Black college football national championships (tied for second most in HBCU history) and 27 Conference Championships (one Midwest Conference & 26 SWAC). The Tigers have won the most SWAC Championships to date.

## Football classifications

* 1956–1972: NCAA College Division (Small College)
* 1973–1976: NCAA Division II
* 1977: NCAA Division I
* 1978–present: NCAA Division I-AA (FCS)

## Conference affiliations

* 1928–1951: Independent
* 1952–1957: Midwestern Conference
* 1958–present: Southwestern Athletic Conference

## Annual Classics

* State Fair Classic
* Red River State Fair Classic
* Bayou Classic

## Championships
### Black college football national championship

Grambling State has won fifteen Black college football national championships.
| Year | Coach | Overall record |
| 1955 | Eddie Robinson | 10–0 |
| 1967 | Eddie Robinson | 9–1 |
| 1972| | Eddie Robinson | 11–2 |
| 1974 | Eddie Robinson | 11–1 |
| 1975 | Eddie Robinson | 10–2 |
| 1977 | Eddie Robinson | 10–1 |
| 1980 | Eddie Robinson | 10–2 |
| 1983 | Eddie Robinson | 8–1–2 |
| 1992 | Eddie Robinson | 10–2 |
| 2000 | Doug Williams | 10–2 |
| 2001 | Doug Williams | 10–1 |
| 2002 | Doug Williams | 11–2 |
| 2005 | Melvin Spears | 11–1 |
| 2008 | Rod Broadway | 11–2 |
| 2016 | Broderick Fobbs | 12–1 |

### Conference championships

Grambling State has won 27 conference championships, 26 of them in the SWAC.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference |
| 1955 | Midwestern Conference | Eddie Robinson | 10–0 | 2–0 |
| 1960 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 9–1 | 6–1 |
| 1965 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Eddie Robinson | 8–3 | 6–1 |
| 1966 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 6–2–1 | 5–1–1 |
| 1967 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Eddie Robinson | 9–1 | 6–1 |
| 1968 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 9–2 | 6–1 |
| 1971 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Eddie Robinson | 9–2 | 5–1 |
| 1972 | Southwestern Athletic Conference (vacated) | Eddie Robinson | 11–2 | 5–1 |
| 1973 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 10–3 | 5–1 |
| 1974 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 11–1 | 5–1 |
| 1975 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* (vacated) | Eddie Robinson | 10–2 | 4–2 |
| 1977 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Eddie Robinson | 10–1 | 6–0 |
| 1978 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Eddie Robinson | 9–1–1 | 5–0–1 |
| 1979 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 8–3 | 5–1 |
| 1980 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 10–2 | 5–1 |
| 1983 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Eddie Robinson | 10–2 | 6–0–1 |
| 1985 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 9–3 | 6–1 |
| 1989 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Eddie Robinson | 9–3 | 7–0 |
| 1994 | Southwestern Athletic Conference* | Eddie Robinson | 9–3 | 6–1 |
| 2000 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Doug Williams | 10–2 | 6–1 |
| 2001 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Doug Williams | 11–0 | 6–1 |
| 2002 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Doug Williams | 11–2 | 6–1 |
| 2005 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Melvin Spears | 11–1 | 9–0 |
| 2008 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Rod Broadway | 11–2 | 7–0 |
| 2011 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Doug Williams | 8–4 | 6–3 |
| 2016 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Broderick Fobbs | 11–1 | 9–0 |
| 2017 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | Broderick Fobbs | 11–2 | 7–0 |

### Division championships

Since the division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference into two divisions in 1999, Grambling State has been in the West Division. They have won ten division titles and reached the SWAC Football Championship Game each time.
| Year | Coach | Conference CG Result |
| 2000 | Doug Williams | W 14–6 vs. Alabama A&M |
| 2001 | Doug Williams | W 38–31 vs. Alabama State |
| 2002 | Doug Williams | W 31–19 vs. Alabama A&M |
| 2005 | Melvin Spears | W 45–5 vs. Alabama A&M |
| 2007 | Rod Broadway | L 31–42 vs. Jackson State |
| 2008 | Rod Broadway | W 41–9 vs. Jackson State |
| 2011 | Doug Williams | W 16–15 vs. Alabama A&M |
| 2015 | Broderick Fobbs | L 21–49 vs. Alcorn State |
| 2016 | Broderick Fobbs | W 27–20 vs. Alcorn State |
| 2017 | Broderick Fobbs | W 40–32 vs. Alcorn State |

## Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

The Tigers have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs three times with a record of 0–3.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1980 | Semifinals | Boise State | L 9–14 |
| 1985 | First Round | Arkansas State | L 7–10 |
| 1989 | First Round | Stephen F. Austin | L 56–59 |

## Division II Playoffs results

The Tigers have appeared in the Division II playoffs one time with an overall record of 1–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1973 | Quarterfinals (Boardwalk Bowl) Semifinals (Grantland Rice Bowl) | Delaware Western Kentucky | W 17–8 L 20–28 |

## College Football Hall of Fame members

* Buck Buchanan - OT, 1959–1962, inducted 1996
* Gary "Big Hands" Johnson - DT, 1971–1974, inducted 1997
* Eddie Robinson - Coach, 1941–1997, inducted 1997 (third most victories in college football history)
* Doug Williams - QB, 1974–1977, inducted 2001
* Paul "Tank" Younger - FB, 1945–1948, inducted 2000

## Pro Football Hall of Fame members

Over 100 Grambling State alumni have played in the NFL, including four Pro Football Hall of Famers:
* Willie Brown, inducted 1984
* Buck Buchanan, inducted 1990
* Willie Davis, inducted 1981
* Charlie Joiner, inducted 1996

## Notable former players

* Garland Boyette
* Arlester Brown
* Jamie Caleb
* Henry Davis
* Walter Dean
* Steve Dennis
* Alphonse Dotson
* Broderick Fobbs
* James Harris
* Richard Harris
* Jason Hatcher
* James Hunter
* Randy Hymes
* Stone Johnson
* Ernie Ladd
* Albert Lewis
* Frank Lewis
* Clifton McNeil
* Billy Newsome
* Elfrid Payton (Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee)
* Jake Reed
* Vern Roberson
* Roosevelt Taylor
* Bennie Thompson
* Everson Walls
* Sammy White
* Doug Williams
* Willie Williams
* Willie Young

## Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of February 5, 2025.
* 2025
* at Ohio State
* Kentucky State
* East Texas A&M