By: Brian Howard
GRAMBLING, La. | It's been a busy offseason for the Grambling State University football program.
The Tigers finally look to put last season behind themselves in the 2022 season opener on Saturday night with a trip to Jonesboro, Ark., to face Arkansas State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. from Centennial Bank Stadium.
Grambling State went 4-7 last season, but will enter Saturday's game off a win as the Tigers defeated rival Southern in the Bayou Classic. Arkansas State dropped its final two games of the season, concluding the 2021 season at 2-10.
Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ as the broadcast crew of Graham Doty, Pete Cordelli and Cori Keller will have the call. Grambling State will broadcast and stream the game on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The game can be heard in Ruston on the Peach (KPCH-99.3). The Tigers' broadcast crew of Santoria Black, Ossie Clark, Nick Harrison and T. Lay Collins will call all of the action.
Grambling State will enter the game with a new head coach as Hue Jackson takes over the reins. Jackson said the Tigers are eager to play somebody other than ourselves after spending nearly the past month in training camp.
"We are looking forward to it and are anticipating a big crowd at Arkansas State," Jackson said. "We are anticipating a good turnout for us. I think we travel pretty well. People want to see what we are doing and what we are trying to accomplish, so we're looking forward to it."
ABOUT THE GAME
- This will be the second meeting between the two schools
- The season opener will be streamed live on ESPN+
- Arkansas State's head coach Butch Jones enters his second season
- The Red Wolves were predicted to finish fifth in the preseason Sun Belt Conference West Division poll
- The Tigers were chosen to finish fourth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) West Division poll
GRAMBLING STATE NEWS & NOTES
- Grambling State will be seeking to snap an eight-game losing streak in season openers, dating back to the 2012 season
- The Tigers are looking to put together back-to-back wins, dating back to the end of the 2021 season after a 29-26 victory in the Bayou Classic over rival Southern
- Grambling State begins the season with six straight road games, with two of those contests coming at neutral sites
- Sundiata Anderson was most recently named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS & NOTES
- The Red Wolves are looking to get off to a great start after going 2-10 last season
- Since moving to FBS status in 1992, ASU is 7-23 in season openers
- Facing six current members of the SWAC, Arkansas State is 8-0 against the league
- The Red Wolves have thrown for at least 300 yards and two scores in 22 of 36 games since 2019, most among Sun Belt Conference schools
- Arkansas State is 72-24 when playing at home since the 2005 season
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME
- Grambling State must protect the quarterback
- GSU's needs to win the turnover battle
- The Tigers must avoid mental mistakes
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
- Arkansas State leads the series, 1-0
- The Red Wolves won the only meeting, 10-7, in 1985
WHAT FANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR
- The Gameday color for Grambling State fans is … wear WHITE
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT
- Grambling State continues its road swing in Shreveport
- The Tigers will meet Northwestern State in the Shreveport Classic
- Grambling State is 3-2 all-time against the Demons
- Northwestern State won the last meeting, 34-7 in 2018
- GSU won back-to-back games in the series in 2009 and 2017
- The Tigers are 15-3-1 in the Shreveport Classic
- The Demons have compiled an 18-41-3 mark in the Shreveport Classic
- Fans can purchase tickets at the GSU Ticket Office or click here
FOLLOW GRAMBLING STATE ATHLETICS
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /GramblingStateTigers1901 (Facebook), @gramblingathletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
