The Grambling State Tigers football team represents Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. 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 1928–1950: Independent 1951–1957: Midwest Athletic Association 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.

1955Eddie Robinson 10–01967 9–11972 11–21974 11–11975 10–21977 10–11980 10–21983 8–1–21992 10–22000Doug Williams 10–22001 10–1 2002 11–22005 Melvin Spears 11–12008 Rod Broadway 11–22016 Broderick Fobbs 12–1

Conference championships Grambling State has won 27 conference championships, 26 of them in the SWAC.

1955 Midwestern ConferenceEddie Robinson 10–0 2–0 1960 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 9–1 6–1 1965 Southwestern Athletic Conference 8–3 6–1 1966 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 6–2–1 5–1–1 1967 Southwestern Athletic Conference 9–1 6–1 1968 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 9–2 6–1 1971 Southwestern Athletic Conference 9–2 5–1 1972 Southwestern Athletic Conference (vacated) 11–2 5–1 1973 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 10–3 5–1 1974 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 11–1 5–1 1975 Southwestern Athletic Conference* (vacated) 10–2 4–2 1977 Southwestern Athletic Conference 10–1 6–0 1978 Southwestern Athletic Conference 9–1–1 5–0–1 1979 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 8–3 5–1 1980 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 10–2 5–1 1983 Southwestern Athletic Conference 10–2 6–0–1 1985 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 9–3 6–1 1989 Southwestern Athletic Conference 9–3 7–0 1994 Southwestern Athletic Conference* 9–3 6–1 2000 Southwestern Athletic Conference Doug Williams 10–2 6–1 2001 Southwestern Athletic Conference 11–0 6–1 2002 Southwestern Athletic Conference 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 ConferenceBroderick Fobbs 11–1 9–0 2017 Southwestern Athletic Conference 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. 2000 Doug Williams W 14–6 vs. Alabama A&M2001 Doug Williams W 38–31 vs. Alabama State2002 Doug Williams W 31–19 vs. Alabama A&M2005 Melvin Spears W 45–5 vs. Alabama A&M2007 Rod Broadway L 31–42 vs. Jackson State2008 Rod Broadway W 41–9 vs. Jackson State2011 Doug Williams W 16–15 vs. Alabama A&M2015 Broderick Fobbs L 21–49 vs. Alcorn State2016 Broderick Fobbs W 27–20 vs. Alcorn State2017 Broderick Fobbs W 40–32 vs. Alcorn State

Postseason results NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs three times with a record of 0–3.

1980 Semifinals Boise State L 9–14 1985 First Round Arkansas State L 7–10 1989 First Round Stephen F. Austin L 56–59

NCAA Division II playoffs The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division II football championship playoffs one time with an overall record of 1–1.

1973 Quarterfinals (Boardwalk Bowl)Semifinals (Grantland Rice Bowl) DelawareWestern Kentucky W 17–8L 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 3, 2026.

Clark Atlanta Central State at TCU

See also Grambling State Tigers List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs

References

External links