| Grambling State Tigers football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1928; 98 years ago (1928) | ||
| Athletic director | Trayvean Scott | ||
| Head coach | Mickey Joseph 2nd season, 12–11 (.522) | ||
| Stadium | Eddie Robinson Stadium (capacity: 19,600) | ||
| Location | Grambling, Louisiana | ||
| Conference | SWAC (since 1958) | ||
| Division | West | ||
| All-time record | 536–240–18 (.686) | ||
| Bowl record | 19–8 (.704) | ||
| Black college national championships | |||
| 1955,1967,1972,1974,1975,1977,1980,1983,1992,2000,2001,2002,2005,2008,2016 | |||
| Conference championships | |||
| MAA: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 | |||
| Conference division championships | |||
| SWAC West:2000,2001,2002,2003,2005,2007,2008,2010,2011,2015,2016,2017 | |||
| Rivalries | Southern Jackson State Prairie View A&M | ||
| Colors | Black, gold, and red[1] | ||
| Website | gsutigers.com | ||
TheGrambling State Tigers football team representsGrambling State University inGrambling, Louisiana. The Tigers play inNCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of theSouthwestern Athletic Conference. They were known asGrambling 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 coachEddie 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 andMorgan State became the first collegiate football teams from the United States to play a game in the continent ofAsia. Grambling State defeated Morgan State 42–16 inTokyo, Japan. In fall 1977, the Grambling State Tigers were invited back to Tokyo where they defeated theTemple Owls 35–32 in the inauguralMirage Bowl game.[3]
Among its accomplishments include: 15Black 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]
Grambling State has won fifteenBlack college football national championships.
| Year | Coach | Overall record |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Eddie Robinson | 10–0 |
| 1967 | 9–1 | |
| 1972 | 11–2 | |
| 1974 | 11–1 | |
| 1975 | 10–2 | |
| 1977 | 10–1 | |
| 1980 | 10–2 | |
| 1983 | 8–1–2 | |
| 1992 | 10–2 | |
| 2000 | Doug Williams | 10–2 |
| 2001 | 10–1 | |
| 2002 | 11–2 | |
| 2005 | Melvin Spears | 11–1 |
| 2008 | Rod Broadway | 11–2 |
| 2016 | Broderick Fobbs | 12–1 |
Grambling State has won 27 conference championships, 26 of them in the SWAC.[5][6][7]
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Midwestern Conference | Eddie 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 Conference | Broderick Fobbs | 11–1 | 9–0 |
| 2017 | Southwestern Athletic Conference | 11–2 | 7–0 |
Since the division of theSouthwestern Athletic Conference into two divisions in 1999, Grambling State has been in the West Division. They have won ten division titles and reached theSWAC 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 |
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 |
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 |
Over 100 Grambling State alumni have played in the NFL,[8] including fourPro Football Hall of Famers:
Announced schedules as of February 3, 2026.[9]
| 2026 |
|---|
| Clark Atlanta |
| Central State |
| atTCU |
