Grambling State Athletics
Grambling State football returns home Saturday afternoon for one of the most anticipated games on its 2026 schedule as the Tigers welcome Alcorn State to Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium for Homecoming.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, with the game available on SWAC TV. Fans are encouraged to wear black as Grambling State celebrates Homecoming under the theme “One Grambling.”
The Tigers enter the contest 2-2 overall and 0-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play after opening the season with consecutive victories over Clark Atlanta and Central State before facing TCU and Prairie View A&M.
Grambling State opened the season with an impressive 49-7 victory over Clark Atlanta before defeating Central State 48-26. The Tigers then faced their first FBS opponent of the season at TCU, falling 63-7, before returning to SWAC action last Saturday at the State Fair Classic against Prairie View A&M. Grambling State dropped a 21-14 decision to the Panthers at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Despite the setbacks, the Tigers have demonstrated the ability to produce offensively. Through four games, Grambling State is averaging 29.5 points and 401.5 yards of total offense per game. The Tigers have rushed for 169 yards per game while averaging 232.5 passing yards per contest.
The G-Men have been particularly effective on third down, converting 46.2 percent of their opportunities. Grambling State has also scored on 11 of 14 trips inside the red zone, including nine touchdowns.
Grambling State’s rushing attack has been led by D’Shaun Ford, who has 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Tony Phillips Jr. has added 111 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns, while Byron Eaton Jr. has rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. Phillips has also provided a spark in the return game, averaging 32.2 yards on five kickoff returns with one touchdown.
Through the air, Jordan Bride has emerged as one of the Tigers’ top playmakers with 16 receptions for 244 yards, while Tyson George has recorded 17 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Nae’Saan Dickerson has contributed 10 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Grambling State has recorded eight sacks through four games while holding opponents to 165.8 rushing yards per contest. The Tigers have also limited opposing offenses to 32.6 percent on third down.
Alcorn State arrives in Grambling with a 3-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in SWAC play. The Braves have won their last two games, including a 43-40 victory over Texas Southern last Saturday. Alcorn State also owns conference wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Texas Southern.
The Braves have shown considerable offensive balance. Alcorn State is averaging 35 points and 445.2 yards of total offense per game, including 304.4 passing yards and 140.8 rushing yards per contest. The Braves have scored 24 touchdowns through their first five games, with 14 coming through the air and nine on the ground.
Alcorn State has also been efficient on third down, converting 48.1 percent of its opportunities. The Braves have generated 125 completions on 188 attempts and have accumulated 1,522 passing yards.
LAST TIME OUT
- Grambling State fell to Prairie View A&M, 21-14, on Sept. 26 in the State Fair Classic.
- The Tigers led 7-0 in the second quarter before Prairie View scored 14 consecutive points across the third and fourth quarters. Grambling State answered late when quarterback Jacobe Robinson connected with Tyson George for a 47-yard touchdown with 3:10 remaining, cutting the deficit to 21-14.
- Robinson completed 9 of 18 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown while adding 11 rushing yards.
- George finished with two receptions for 63 yards, including the 47-yard touchdown. Jordan Bride had two catches for 23 yards, while Davon Mitchell added two receptions for 37 yards.
- Defensively, Lonell Cunningham led the Tigers with 11 tackles. Marcellius Johnsonrecorded 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. Jon Hortonadded six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while Christen Williams contributed six tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
TIGERS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Quarterback Reginald Johnson has completed 47 of 60 passes for 581 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception in three games.
- Quarterback Jacobe Robinson has completed 17 of 34 passes for 227 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
- Wide receiver Jordan Bride leads the Tigers with 16 receptions for 244 yards. Tyson George has 17 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
- Nae’Saan Dickerson has 10 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown.
- On the ground, D’Shaun Ford leads the Tigers with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Tony Phillips Jr. has 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Byron Eaton Jr. has 100 rushing yards and one touchdown.
TIGERS DEFENSIVE LEADERS
- Lonell Cunningham leads Grambling State with 25 total tackles through four games.
- Marcellius Johnson has recorded 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
- Jalen Guillard has 17 tackles, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
- Louis Foster and Christen Williams each have 16 tackles, while Williams has added 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
- Jon Horton has 13 tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Tony Phillips Jr. has provided an immediate impact in the return game. He opened the season with an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Clark Atlanta.
- Phillips has five kickoff returns for 161 yards, an average of 32.2 yards per return, with one touchdown.
- Theodore Caballero is 16-for-16 on extra-point attempts this season.
- Diego Alfaro has made both of his field-goal attempts.
THE G-MEN ARE BACK AT HOME
- Saturday’s contest is Grambling State’s first home game since Sept. 5, when the Tigers defeated Central State, 48-26. GSU has played its last two games away from home, traveling to TCU and the Cotton Bowl for the State Fair Classic.
- GSU holds 112-40-1 record all-time at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium since its opening in 1983.
HOMECOMING SUCCESS
- Since 1983, the first season at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, Grambling State is 31-10-1 on homecoming.
ALCORN STATE AT A GLANCE
- Alcorn State enters Saturday’s contest with a 3-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in SWAC play.
- The Braves opened the season with a 56-7 victory over Miles before falling to Southern Miss, 49-3.
- Alcorn State defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 53-51, in double overtime before falling to North Alabama, 38-20. The Braves defeated Texas Southern, 43-40, in overtime on Sept. 26.
ALCORN STATE OFFENSIVE STORYLINES
- Alcorn State produced 520 yards of total offense against Texas Southern.
- The Braves passed for 332 yards and rushed for 188 yards while converting 11 of 19 third-down opportunities.
- Quarterback Jaylon Tolbert accounted for 411 yards of total offense in the victory.
- Running back Fredrick Robertson recorded 175 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
ALCORN STATE DEFENSIVE STORYLINES
- Linebacker Mahamadou Diarra led the Braves with nine tackles against Texas Southern.
- Alcorn State also recorded multiple defensive plays behind the line of scrimmage while forcing a fumble in the overtime victory.