The Grambling State Tigers close the 2024 season Saturday against Southern University in the 51st annual Bayou Classic at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Kickoff is 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock, the network’s streaming service.
The Tigers (5-6) have a chance to finish the season at .500 under first-year Head Coach Mickey Joseph.
GSU is 2-5 in the SWAC, but all five losses were by seven points or less. Four were by five or less, including a 36-35 loss to Prairie View A&M in five overtimes in the State Fair Classic on Sept. 28 in Dallas.
The Tigers are coming off a 22-17 loss to Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Ala., on Nov. 14.
Southern (7-4, 6-1) has won three in a row and clinched the West Division title. The Jaguars will face East Division champion Jackson State in the conference championship game on Dec. 7.
Southern defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31-9 in its last game on Nov. 16.
Southern won last year’s Classic 27-22. GSU last won 29-26 in 2021.
Southern leads the overall series 41-34. The game became the Bayou Classic in 1974 and was first held at the old Tulane Stadium. Southern leads the Classic series 26-24.
Grambling State averages 294.5 total yards per game.
GSU quarterback Myles Crawley returned to action against Alabama A&M after missing the previous two games with an injury. He was 12-of-27 for 169 yards and a touchdown.
Crawley has completed 139-of-242 passes for 1,564 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight interceptions in nine games.
Ke’travion Hargrove leads the team in rushing with 430 yards on 94 carries. Tre Bradford has gained 407 yards on 102 carries.
Javon Robinson is the Tigers’ leading receiver with 51 catches for 501 yards.
Linebacker Andrew Jones, a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, leads the defense with 112 total tackles, including 17 for loss.
Southern averages 365.6 total yards per game.
Jordan Woods became the third player to start at quarterback in the victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He was 14-of-22 for 202 yards. Eight different receivers caught passes. Former Airline star Cam Jefferson, a redshirt freshman, had a 71-yard touchdown catch.
Kobe Dillon leads the team in rushing with 679 yards on 141 carries. Kendric Rhymes has 504 yards rushing and CJ Russell 301.
Darren Morris is the Jaguars’ leading receiver with 29 catches for 346 yards. Dupree Fuller has has 28 catches for 328 yards.
Linebacker Ckelby Givens, a former Captain Shreve star who is also a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, has 24.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks among his 63 total tackles. Linebacker Vincent Paige Jr. leads the team in tackles with 66 total, including 7.5 for loss.