By: Grambling State Athletics
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Clark-Atlanta
Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium | Grambling, La.
Television/Streaming: SWAC TV
Radio: KGRG 91.5 FM / KPCH 99.3 The Peach
Theme: Tiger Club Appreciation Day
Gameday Color: Black
GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State opens the 2026 season on Saturday night at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium versus Clark-Atlanta of the Southern Intercollegiate Conference (SIAC)(SIAC).
The 2026 season opener marks the beginning of Grambling State's third season under head coach
Mickey Joseph. The Tigers enter the campaign looking to build on a 7-5 overall record in 2025, which marked the program's first winning season since 2019, and its highest single season win total since 2017.
Saturday's game will be the second meeting all-time between GSU and CAU. The teams last met in 2017 in the Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field. Grambling State won that contest 31-20.
GSU has won six straight games against non-Division I FCS or FBS programs. Last season, the Tigers opened the season with a 55-7 win over Langston. The Tigers' most recent loss to a non-Division I program came in 2013 when GSU fell 47-34 to Lincoln (Mo.)
Clark-Atlanta enters the 2026 season under new leadership with head coach Terry Sims taking over the program. Sims is no stranger to the SWAC, having served as head coach at Bethune-Cookman during the Wildcats' first two seasons in the conference. T
The Panthers finished the 2025 season 3-7 overall and 2-6 in the SIAC.
CAU's lineup features three preseason All-SIAC selections in quarterback Xzavier Jackson, defensive lineman Jaiden Cleveland and kick returner/wide receiver Chry'shawn Sellers.
TIGERS OPEN 2026 AT HOME
- Grambling State begins the 2026 campaign inside Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium for the first time since the 2024 season.
- Since 1950, GSU is 44-31-1 in season openers.
- The Tigers' 2026 schedule features five home games, four road contests and two neutral-site games. Following the opener against Clark Atlanta, Grambling State hosts Central State on Sept. 5 before traveling to Fort Worth, Texas, to face TCU on Sept. 12.
- The Tigers open Southwestern Athletic Conference play Sept. 26 against Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
JOSEPH ENTERS THIRD SEASON AT THE HELM
- Mickey Joseph enters his third season as the head coach of Grambling State football.
- Joseph guided the Tigers to a 7-5 record in 2025, improving from the program's 5-7 mark in his first season. The 2025 campaign represented GSU's first winning season since 2019 and the program's most victories in a season since 2017.
BUILDING ON A WINNING 2025
- Grambling State finished 7-5 overall and 4-4 in SWAC play last season.
- The Tigers finished the 2025 regular season with victories in five of their final seven games, including wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jackson State, Alabama A&M and Bethune-Cookman.
- GSU also defeated Jackson State, 26-24, in the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic at Allegiant Stadium.
OFFENSE LOOKS TO TAKE NEXT STEP
- Grambling State produced 3,809 yards of total offense in 2025, averaging 317.4 yards per game.
- The Tigers rushed for 1,712 yards and averaged 142.7 yards per game on the ground. Through the air, Grambling State totaled 2,097 passing yards and averaged 174.8 passing yards per contest.
- GSU scored 36 offensive touchdowns during the 2025 season, including 17 through the air and 15 on the ground.
- The Tigers return several players who contributed to last year's offense, including wide receiver Tyson George, who recorded 30 receptions for 407 yards and a touchdown in 2025.
- Jordan Bride also returns after catching 19 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown last season.
NEW SIGNAL CALLER
- Grambling State enters the season with five quarterbacks on the roster
- Returners Ashton Frye and Hayden Benoit have the most experience under head coach Mickey Joseph, with both starting games last season.
- Frye saw action in four games, logging one start. He threw for 142 yards and one TD on 17-of-26 passing.
- Benoit was called on late in the season, playing in four games as a ture freshman. He complted 53-of-98 passes for 674 yards and six TDs.
- Joining the quarterback room is RJ Johnson a transfer from Florida A&M. At FAMU, he established himself as one of the top QBs in the SWAC, throwing for 2,597 yars and 18 touchdowns, while completing 215-of-331 passes. He also scrambled for 139 yards and three scores.
- Southern Miss transfer Jacobe Robinson is also competeing for the starting job alongside ture freshman Schuylar Turnbull.
VETERAN LINEBACKERS
- GSU boasts one of the most expereinced linebacker duos in the SWAC with Marcellius Johnson and Jamal Jordanleading the charge.
- Johnson enters his fourth season with GSU. Last year, he established himself as one of the leaders of the GSU defensive unit. He was second on the team in total tackles with 51.0 tackles (21 solo). He also had 4.5 tackles for loss with 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
- Jordan, who enters his third season at GSU, was third in total tackles with 47.0 (21 solo) with one sack and one fumble recovery.
A GRAMBLING STATE LEGEND RETURNS
- Grambling State welcomes Bruce Eugene back to campus as he joins the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach.
- Eugene is cherished as one of the greatest all-time quarterbacks in not just Grambling State history, but in FCS history. While at GSU he threw 13,513 yards and 140 TDs.
- He was a two-time SWAC Offensive Player of the Year winner and three-time Walter Payton Award finalist.
- He also led GSU to three HBCU Football National Titles.
MORE G-MEN ON STAFF
- Joseph added two more championship winning coaches to his staff. Jimmy Zachery Jr. and Brandon Varner join the staff
- Zachery, a 2003 graduate of GSU, is coaching the defensive line this season. As a player, he won two SWAC championships and one HBCU National Title. As head of of Opelousas High, he led that program to its first ever LHSAA State Title.
- Varner, a 2017 graduate, also won two SWAC titles and HBCU national championship as a player. He is coaching the defensive ends. He was also and All-SWAC performer.
PRESEASON RECOGNITION
- Grambling State quarterback R.J. Johnson was named to Stats Perform HBCU Football National Player of the Year Watchlist
- Linebacker Marcellius Jonshon led the preseason recogntion charge, earning spots on the SWAC and Phil Steele preaseason all-conference teams
- Linebacker Jamal Jordan and defensive backs Jay'Shaun Johnson and Delano Franklin also earned spots on the Phil Steele preseason all-conference teams, while offensive lineman Alexander Vigil earned second-team preseason All SWAC honors
THE TIGERS RETURN TALENT
- Grambling State returns 55 players from last year's team.
REPRESENTING "THE BOOT"
- Grambling State roster features 49 players from the state of Louisiana.
THE TRANSFER PORTAL
- GSU roster features 28 players with previous Division I FBS and FCS experience.
SWAC WEST PREDICTIONS
- Grambling State was picked to finish second in the SWAC Western Division in the preseason projections. Prairie View A&M was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the SWAC West. Alcorn State finished a close third with 90 points and one first-place vote. Texas Southern was picked fourth with 79 points and received one first-place vote, followed by Southern in fifth with 65 points and one first-place vote. Arkansas-Pine Bluff completed the Western Division.
FOLLOW GRAMBLING STATE ATHLETICS
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