Staff Report

Grambling, La. — October 11 isn’t just another date on the calendar for the Grambling State Tigers — it’s Homecoming. This year’s celebration features a heavyweight SWAC clash: Texas Southern University rolls into Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, bringing not just a team, but a chance to upend a rivalry and steal some thunder in Grambling’s most festive weekend of the fall.

Season So Far: Momentum and Misses

Grambling State comes into Homecoming sitting at 3–2 overall, 0–1 in SWAC play.
– The Tigers started strong, trouncing Langston 55–7 in the season opener– But the schedule tested them early: a brutal 70–0 loss at Ohio State exposed areas that need fixing.
– Since then, they’ve bounced back with tight wins: a 37–31 OT victory over Kentucky State, and a 31–28 nail-biter against East Texas A&M (they scored the final 17 points to pull it off). (
– Their conference opener at Prairie View was a setback: a 28–13 loss that reminded everyone that the SWAC gauntlet is long and unforgiving.

Grambling’s strength has often come down to depth, resilience, and adjustments — especially late in games. When their backs are against the wall, they’ve shown flashes of fight.

Texas Southern, meanwhile, arrives with something of a chip on its shoulder. Their 2025 campaign currently stands at 1–3 overall, 1–1 in conference play.
– Under second-year head coach Cris Dishman, the program has staked much on culture, discipline, and closing the gap.
– TSU’s season schedule is rugged, and their road trips have tested their consistency.
– To make a move in the SWAC West, Texas Southern can’t afford to lose road games — this one in Grambling has extra weight.

A Rivalry Revisited: History, Trends & Turning Points

These two Tigers have had a long history of rivalry.  In fact, Grambling holds the edge historically: 10 wins to TSU’s 5 in recent history. At home, Grambling has been especially tough — they are 6–1 in home games vs. TSU.
However, perhaps the most recent contest is a fresh wound: on October 26, 2024, TSU edged Grambling 24–17, capitalizing on a late Quintell Quinn touchdown.
That loss ended a streak and served as a reminder — no rivalry game is a picnic, no matter the venue.

If Grambling wins this matchup, it reaffirms their dominance in this SWAC rivalry. If Texas Southern wins, it sends a ripple across SWAC West — with implications not only for standings, but recruiting pride, fan morale, and program momentum.

Keys to Victory: What Each Team Must Do

For Grambling:

  1. Dominate the Line of Scrimmage — TSU will try to punch inside. If Grambling can control both trenches — run defense and push up front — they force TSU to beat them through the air.
  2. Take Care of the Ball — Turnovers in rivalry games tend to magnify mistakes. Ball security, especially in front of a fired-up crowd, will matter.
  3. Exploit Familiarity — As the home team, Grambling can lean on crowd noise, on cues, on subtle edges in comfort. Use the crowd to break momentum swings.
  4. Close Strong — They’ve shown ability to rally late. But Texas Southern may try to play spoiler — Grambling must finish quarters and the game with composure.

For Texas Southern:

  1. Disrupt Rhythm — Force Grambling into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations, get pressure on the QB, take advantage of early mistakes.
  2. Be Bold on Offense — They don’t need to be conservative. Taking shots, especially if it forces Grambling to adjust, could unbalance the home team.
  3. Win the Special Teams Battle — In tight games, field position and returns often decide. A punt block, big return, or coverage breakdown could swing momentum.
  4. Stay Calm Under Duress — Homecoming energy will be electric. TSU’s players must not let the crowd, the ambiance, or early mistakes unravel their game plan.

Prediction & Narrative

This game is as much about story as it is about stats. Grambling wants to reclaim narrative control — showing that on Homecoming, their tradition and support still carry weight. Texas Southern, meanwhile, seeks validation: a win here would serve notice that the program is rising under Dishman and ready to stake serious claim in the SWAC.

If Grambling executes fundamentals — line play, turnover avoidance, closing toughness — they should win, perhaps by a touchdown or less. But if TSU can flip one turnover, hit a big play, or shake Grambling’s confidence, it’s very much game on.

Final guess: Grambling 28, Texas Southern 21 — a hard-fought contest, with the hosts finding ways to hold on. But in rivalry games, margin is thin — and it’s the one who handles pressure better who walks out smiling.