New Orleans, LA – Clearly beating rival Southern, 36-12, felt oh so good to the Grambling State Tigers at the XXXVIII State Farm Bayou Classic on Saturday.
But something else felt even better.
Grambling State is headed back to the SWAC Championship Game for the first time since 2008 as the result of its fourth straight win against Southern.
The Tigers (7-4, 6-3 SWAC), who have overcome a 1-4 start with six straight victories, won the Western Division title. They will play Eastern Division winner Alabama A&M (8-3, 7-2) in the championship game Dec. 10 in Birmingham, Ala.
In beating Southern at the Louisiana Superdome, Grambling State broke a tie in the series, going in front 30-29 overall as well as 20-18 since the rivalry became the Bayou Classic.
Doug Williams, in the first season of his second stint as Grambling State's head coach, won for just the second time in seven games against Southern.
Jaguars coach Stump Mitchell dropped to 0-2 against Grambling State. His squad finished the season with a 4-7 record, including 4-5 in the SWAC.
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