Grambling State’s football tradition is highlighted by two historic rivalries, its “World Famed” marching band and one of college football’s all-time great coaches.
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Five Things to Know About Grambling State As Ohio State Faces First FCS Opponent in Two Years
The ultimate challenge is followed by the ultimate cupcake.....
Ohio State knocked off the No. 1 team in college football on Saturday, Texas, and now faces a squad that isn't in the same league as itself or the Longhorns – literally. FCS Grambling State awaits the Buckeyes this weekend. It's the first FCS opponent they've played since Youngstown State on Sept. 9, 2023.
The Tigers themselves are fresh off their own version of a cupcake victory, and even as FCS foes go, they are not a strong one based on their recent history. But speaking of history, there is a rich one for Grambling State, one that dates back to 1926 in its hometown of Grambling, Louisiana. One of the premier HBCUs, Grambling State has two traditional rivalries with fun histories and a former coach so legendary that a museum is dedicated to him.
Middling in the FCS
It's been six years since Grambling State had a winning season on the football field, the last one being a 6-5 campaign in 2019. The Tigers fired Hue Jackson (yes, the Hue Jackson of Browns infamy) in 2023, following a combined 8-14 record across two seasons, which led to the hiring of current head coach Mickey Joseph.
Joseph started his tenure with a 5-7 campaign in 2024. Grambling State finished 62nd in the FCS in scoring offense and 54th in scoring defense. The Tigers faced one FBS opponent, the UL-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, and lost 40-10. They went 2-6 in their conference, the SWAC.
This year for Grambling State is about building to a place to be competitive in said conference. Ohio State will be cutting them a nice check to show up for a tune-up game and fund those efforts.
A Strong Start
The G-Men, as Grambling State players are affectionately called, opened their season with their own cupcake competition in the NAIA squad Langston. The Tigers committed some big cat-on-big cat violence by trouncing the Lions 55-7.
Grambling State scored 55 unanswered points to start the contest and got its backups plenty of reps in the second half. Quarterback Czavian Teasett finished 20-of-25 for 210 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, while five different running backs carried the ball at least six times, four of them scoring a touchdown.
Langston managed less than 100 yards of total offense in a comprehensive team effort from the Tigers' defense. No single Grambling State defender exceeded four tackles.
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