The first Bayou Classic was held long before the esteemed event became the Thanksgiving weekend destination that it is today.
With 52 years under its belt, the annual rival football game between Grambling State and Southern University has become a living archive of historically Black college and university culture, serving as a bridge between past- and present-day history and acting as a living museum of Blackness and Southern legacy.
How it all began
Although the teams’ first matchup was held on Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day and honored on Nov. 11 annually, in 1932, the Bayou Classic didn’t take place until another 42 years later.
The inaugural Bayou Classic was held at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1974. It featured a then-freshman quarterback, Doug Williams, who led the Grambling State Tigers to a 21-0 victory over the Southern Jaguars.
Williams would go on to become the first Black quarterback to both start and win a Super Bowl after he led the then-Washington Redskins to a victory in Super Bowl XXII held at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego.
A place where Black culture thrives
The game is typically held on the Saturday after the Thanksgiving holiday and sits at the center of the Bayou Classic, and it has since evolved into a weekend filled with notable events.
Since its inception in 1974, Southern’s marching band, known as The Human Jukebox, and Grambling’s Tiger Marching Band have had a competition of their own ahead of the big game with the annual Battle of the Bands and Greek step show held on Friday, commencing the weekend.
Additionally, the bands face off during the halftime show, and this year’s event featured Memphis, Tennessee, rapper GloRilla, who hit the field alongside the Tiger Marching Band for an electric performance, and New Orleans native Juvenile, who performed with The Human Jukebox.
Saturday’s Fan Fest featured a standout performance from Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, along with activations from brands like Diageo, which closed out its “Show Your HBCU Spirit” campaign during the 2025 Bayou Classic. This continued the company’s commitment to celebrating the legacy of institutions like Grambling State University and Southern University and A&M College, both located in Louisiana.
As previously reported by Blavity, the leading spirits brand held various events leading up to homecoming tailgates at North Carolina A&T University, Howard University and SpelHouse.
“We look at all students,” Danielle Robinson, head of community engagement and partnerships at Diageo, told us in an exclusive interview during SpelHouse. “Getting them to understand that there is a career path and an industry that is open and, you know, looking for people that look like us.” She added, “A lot of industries are declining, but hospitality is continuing to grow, so making sure that our program is accessible and available.”
The legacy continues
In 1991, the Bayou Classic made history as the first game between HBCUs to air on a national network, premiering on NBC. Southern walked away victorious with a score of 31-30, marking the closest call in the sporting event’s history.
This year, Southern came back to defeat Grambling 28-27, the closest the score has been since the aforementioned history-defining game, and the Jaguars continue to hold the all-time Bayou Classic series lead with 28 wins over the past 52 years, marking four consecutive victories. The Tigers have won 24 games in the event’s history.