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Grambling State Tigers football
2026 Grambling State Tigers football team
First season1928; 98 years ago (1928)
Athletic directorTrayvean Scott
Head coachMickey Joseph
3rd season, 12–11 (.522)
LocationGrambling, Louisiana
StadiumEddie Robinson Stadium
(capacity: 19,600)
ConferenceSWAC (since 1958)
DivisionWest
ColorsBlack, gold, and red[1]
     
All-time record536–240–18 (.686)
Bowl record19–8 (.704)
Black college national championships
1955, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2016
Conference championships
MWAA: 1955
SWAC: 1960, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2017
Division championships
SWAC West: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017
RivalriesJackson State
Prairie View A&M (rivalry)
Southern (rivalry)
Websitegsutigers.com

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

Football classifications

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Conference affiliations

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Annual classics

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Championships

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Black college football national championship

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Grambling State has won fifteen Black college football national championships.

Year Coach Overall record
1955 Eddie Robinson10–0
19679–1
197211–2
197411–1
197510–2
197710–1
198010–2
19838–1–2
199210–2
2000 Doug Williams10–2
200110–1
200211–2
2005Melvin Spears11–1
2008Rod Broadway11–2
2016Broderick Fobbs12–1

Conference championships

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Grambling State has won 27 conference championships, 26 of them in the SWAC.[5][6][7]

GSU's 2016 SWAC Championship celebration
Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference
1955Midwestern Conference Eddie Robinson 10–02–0
1960Southwestern Athletic Conference*9–16–1
1965Southwestern Athletic Conference8–36–1
1966Southwestern Athletic Conference*6–2–15–1–1
1967Southwestern Athletic Conference9–16–1
1968Southwestern Athletic Conference*9–26–1
1971Southwestern Athletic Conference9–25–1
1972Southwestern Athletic Conference (vacated)11–25–1
1973Southwestern Athletic Conference*10–35–1
1974Southwestern Athletic Conference*11–15–1
1975Southwestern Athletic Conference* (vacated)10–24–2
1977Southwestern Athletic Conference10–16–0
1978Southwestern Athletic Conference9–1–15–0–1
1979Southwestern Athletic Conference*8–35–1
1980Southwestern Athletic Conference*10–25–1
1983Southwestern Athletic Conference10–26–0–1
1985Southwestern Athletic Conference*9–36–1
1989Southwestern Athletic Conference9–37–0
1994Southwestern Athletic Conference*9–36–1
2000Southwestern Athletic ConferenceDoug Williams10–26–1
2001Southwestern Athletic Conference11–06–1
2002Southwestern Athletic Conference11–26–1
2005Southwestern Athletic ConferenceMelvin Spears11–19–0
2008Southwestern Athletic ConferenceRod Broadway11–27–0
2011Southwestern Athletic ConferenceDoug Williams8–46–3
2016Southwestern Athletic ConferenceBroderick Fobbs11–19–0
2017Southwestern Athletic Conference11–27–0

Division championships

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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
2000Doug WilliamsW 14–6 vs. Alabama A&M
2001Doug WilliamsW 38–31 vs. Alabama State
2002Doug WilliamsW 31–19 vs. Alabama A&M
2005Melvin SpearsW 45–5 vs. Alabama A&M
2007Rod BroadwayL 31–42 vs. Jackson State
2008Rod BroadwayW 41–9 vs. Jackson State
2011Doug WilliamsW 16–15 vs. Alabama A&M
2015Broderick FobbsL 21–49 vs. Alcorn State
2016Broderick FobbsW 27–20 vs. Alcorn State
2017Broderick FobbsW 40–32 vs. Alcorn State

Postseason results

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NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

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

Year Round Opponent Result
1980SemifinalsBoise StateL 9–14
1985First RoundArkansas StateL 7–10
1989First RoundStephen F. AustinL 56–59

NCAA Division II playoffs

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

Year Round Opponent Result
1973Quarterfinals (Boardwalk Bowl)
Semifinals (Grantland Rice Bowl)		Delaware
Western Kentucky		W 17–8
L 20–28

College Football Hall of Fame members

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Pro Football Hall of Fame members

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Over 100 Grambling State alumni have played in the NFL,[8] including four Pro Football Hall of Famers:

Notable former players

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Future non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of February 3, 2026.[9]

2026
Clark Atlanta
Central State
at TCU

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Grambling State University Logos and Marks (PDF). July 14, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ "The 150 greatest coaches in college football's 150-year history". December 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Back in the day: 40 years ago, Morgan State and Grambling played in Tokyo". September 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Grambling's Eddie Robinson changed college football and his legacy still impacts the game".
  5. ↑ "Conference Champions". Cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  6. ↑ "2015 SWAC Football Media Day by SWAC". issuu. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Log in to NewsBank".
  8. ↑ "Grambling St. Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Grambling State Tigers Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
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