Las Vegas, NV – October 25, 2025 | Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. PST | Allegiant Stadium | Broadcast Live on HBCU GO TV
For the first time ever, HBCU football is taking center stage in Las Vegas. The Grambling State University Tigers and the Jackson State University Tigers will meet under the bright lights of Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, October 25, for what promises to be a thrilling showcase of tradition, talent, and pride. The game marks the first HBCU Classic ever played in the city, bringing together two powerhouse programs with legacies deeply woven into the fabric of Black college football.
Grambling State (4–3), led by head coach Mickey Joseph, enters the matchup fresh off a hard-fought 20–16 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Running back Tre Bradford was unstoppable, rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns, earning him HBCU FCS National Player of the Week honors. Ranked No. 10 in the latest HBCU poll, the Tigers are hungry to build on last year’s 41–20 victory over Jackson State. This trip marks Grambling’s third appearance in Las Vegas; the last was in 2002. The program also has ties to the city’s entertainment legacy — its World Famed Tiger Marching Band performed during a Las Vegas Raiders halftime show in 2021.
On the other side of the field, Jackson State (5–1) comes in as the reigning HBCU national champion and the No. 1-ranked team in Black college football. Under Coach T.C. Taylor, the Tigers have built a dominant, run-heavy offense that averages 266.7 rushing yards per game — second among all FCS teams. Quarterback JaCobian Morgan, the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, leads a balanced attack that blends power, precision, and patience. This marks Jackson State’s third trip to Las Vegas, having previously played there in 1975 and 2016.
While both teams will bring intensity to the field, the halftime spectacle may be just as unforgettable. Grambling’s World Famed Tiger Marching Band and Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South will take over Allegiant Stadium for a halftime performance that promises to captivate the crowd. And true to HBCU tradition, the battle won’t stop there — fans are encouraged to stay after the final whistle for the famed “5th Quarter,” when both bands face off one more time in a musical duel that embodies the heart and soul of HBCU culture.
This entire weekend is an HBCU family affair — a celebration of unity, excellence, and pride. From alumni tailgates and marching band rehearsals to school chants echoing across the Strip, it’s more than a game; it’s a cultural homecoming in a city built for spectacle.
The game kicks off at 3:00 p.m. PST at Allegiant Stadium and will be broadcast live on HBCU GO TV. Fans everywhere are invited to witness history as two iconic programs bring HBCU football from the yard to the Strip. When the dust settles in Las Vegas, only one Tiger will reign supreme.
Article by Marva Nichols – SWAC Sports Correspondent
