Home » Bayou Classic Fun Facts: The Granddaddy of HBCU Football Classics
The Bayou Classic pits the Southern University Jaguars against their in-state rival, the Grambling State University Tigers.
Thanksgiving and the following weekend contain many traditions.
While mainstream media focuses more on Power Four rivalries like Ohio State vs. Michigan and Texas vs. Texas A&M, one of the most powerful rivalries in HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) football is the Bayou Classic between the Southern University Jaguars and Grambling State University Tigers.
In defense of mainstream media sports, thanks to television programs like “College Gameday” on ESPN, HBCU rivalries have gotten more love in a post-Coach Prime (Deion Sanders) landscape.
However, many college football fans might not know all they should about the one-and-only “Classic” as far as Jaguars and Tigers alumni are concerned.
Although, mainstream society might be new to the party, Black Hollywood has always shown love to the annual tradition in New Orleans.
Back in the day, fans of Southern and Grambling routinely saw celebrities like Queen Latifah, Evander Holyfield, Juvenile and Lil Wayne partaking in the festivities, whether at the Hyatt Hotel or chillin’ in the French Quarter.
Despite the celebrities in attendance, the fans themselves would make late entrances as if they were celebrities, clad in mink coats even in 70-degree weather.
In essence, the Bayou Classic has always been an event to behold.
So, before the boys from Baton Rouge, La. and Grambling, La. hit the gridiron on national television, RegalMag.com provides a quick guide to understanding one of the most celebrated events in Black America.
- The rivalry between the two schools goes back to 1932. However, the game did not get the moniker “Bayou Classic” until 1974.
- Tulane Stadium in New Orleans was the original home of the Bayou Classic.
- Each year, the Bayou Classic is one of the highest attended NCAA FCS games, with between 50,000-70,000 fans attending annually.
- The game has only been held outside of New Orleans twice. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Houston’s NRG Stadium (Reliant Stadium at the time) hosted the game. After COVID-19 postponed the November 2020 game, that Classic was moved to Shreveport in April 2021.
- The Bayou Classic returned to its regular schedule in November 2021. Therefore, 2021 is the only year that had two Bayou Classics in the same calendar year.
- The November 2021 game featured two teams with losing records. Nevertheless, both teams put up a valiant effort with Grambling State winning 29-26 when the game’s MVP Garret Urban kicked a game-winning field goal. Southern entered that game with a 4-6 record. Grambling State entered the game with a 3-7 record.
- The Bayou Classic in November 2021 became the first college game to allow player-to-coach electronic communication.
- During Bayou Classic weekend, events like the Battle of the Bands and step show are also held at the Caesars Superdome.
- The Caesars Superdome recently underwent $560 million in renovations.
- Fan Fest and the Bayou Classic parade are also fan favorites.
- The first Bayou Classic to be televised nationally by NBC happened in 1991. In that contest, Southern won 31-30 in the closest Bayou Classic contest in its storied history.
- The Bayou Classic is the only NCAA Division 1 FSC game that is regularly broadcasted on television.
- Saturday’s game will be the 51st annual Bayou Classic.
- The 2023 Bayou Classic was the 50th Bayou Classic, won by the Southern Jaguars, 27-22.
- In the first Bayou Classic, Grambling defeated Southern 21-0 despite three interceptions by Grambling’s freshman quarterback, Doug Williams. The Grambling State quarterback would later make history becoming the first Black starting quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory.
- Grambling won the first five Bayou Classics.
- Southern earned its first Bayou Classic win in 1979, with a 14-7 victory.
- During the 1979 Bayou Classic, Southern nose tackle Kenny “The Body Snatcher” Times had 10 tackles and two sacks.
- Southern won eight straight Bayou Classics from 1993-2000.
- Grambling won four straight Bayou Classics from 2008-2011.
- com publisher Todd A. Smith’s first cousin James Vernon, a former Southern wide receiver, won Bayou Classic MVP in 2005 in Houston.
- The 2016 Bayou Classic featured two undefeated teams for the first time, with both the Tigers and the Jaguars entering the annual affair with an 8-0 conference record. Additionally, the FCS coaches’ poll had Grambling State ranked 14th in the nation. Grambling steamrolled Southern in that game, winning 52-30.
- The 2023 game marked the Bayou Classic’s 50th Southern beat Grambling 27-22.
- Southern holds the all-time Bayou Classic lead, 26 wins to Grambling’s 24 wins.
- Proctor & Gamble is the title sponsor of the Bayou Classic.
- Wells Fargo is the banking sponsor of the Bayou Classic.
- The Bayou Classic partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to tackle food insecurity.
- Southern has a 7-4 overall record in 2024. They have a 6-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) record.
- Southern will represent the SWAC West Division in the SWAC championship against Jackson State from the East Division on Dec. 2 in Jackson, Miss. Jackson State is undefeated in SWAC play and has a 10-2 overall 2024 record.
- Southern is a on a three-game regular season win streak.
- Grambling State has a 5-6 overall record in 2024, and a 2-5 conference record.
- The Bayou Classic will contribute an estimated $50 million to the economy of New Orleans.
- New Orleans officials encourage visitors to support local businesses like restaurants, shops and bars.
- The game will begin on Nov. 30 at 1 PM central time on NBC.
- Southern fans will sit on the west side of the Caesars Superdome near sections 129-156.
- Grambling State fans will sit on the east side of the Caesars Superdome near sections 101-128.
- That seating arrangements might pose a problem for divided families that consists of Grambling and Southern graduates/students!!!
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Michael Allen
Michael Allen is a contributing writer for RegalMag.com
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