The Grambling State University football team will kick off its first game of the season on Saturday night as the Tigers begin the two-game season-opening road swing against University of Louisiana.
Kickoff from Cajun Field is set for 6 p.m.
Grambling State will broadcast the game on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network. The Tigers’ broadcast crew of Santoria Black, Ossie Clark, Leon Thomas and Nick Harrison will call all of the action.
The game can be heard in Ruston (La.) (KPCH 99.3 FM – the Peach) and will be streaming online at www.gsutigers.com. Additionally, the game will be seen live on ESPN3.
The Tigers are coming off an 11-2 season and their second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference title. The Ragin’ Cajuns went 5-7 a year ago, but were 3-2 at Cajun Field.
What to watch for
Grambling State is seeking its first season-opening victory since the 2011 season (21-14 win over Alcorn State).
For the first time in two years, the Tigers will have a new starting quarterback and running back on opening night.
GSU will look to replace the void of Devante Kincade and Martez Carter, both of whom graduated.
The Tigers’ defense is led by STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List linebacker De’Arius Christmas.
Connections, comparisons
This will be the first meeting between GSU and Louisiana.
Grambling State is 42-25-1 all-time in season openers, with the last victory coming in 2011.
Louisiana will be seeking its second consecutive season-opening win, having outlasted Southeastern Louisiana, 51-48 last year.
The Tigers are 36-43 all-time against teams from the state of Louisiana, including a 43-14 loss last season to Tulane.
Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs will be seeking his 18th victory in the state of Louisiana.
This will be the first game under new head coach Billy Napier at Louisiana.
The two schools are only separated by 189 miles.
Saturday’s game is the Herbert Heymann Football Classic, which honors one of the great philanthropists at Louisiana.
Grambling State comes into the game unranked, but received votes in the STATS FCS Top 25 and FCS Coaches Poll.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in the SBN Black College Football Poll and No. 2 in the HBCU BOXTOROW Coaches Poll.
GSU was picked to win the SWAC Championship
Louisiana begins the season unranked in all polls.
Up next for the G-Men
After a trip to Cajun Field, the Tigers visit Northwestern State on Sept. 8, before having the first of two open weeks on Sept. 15. After the open week, the Tigers will have their 2018 home opener on Sept. 22 against Alabama State at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.