Why is Ohio State playing Grambling State University?
The Ohio State University, defending national champions of the College Football Playoff, is scheduled to play Grambling State University for the first time ever this Saturday at Ohio Stadium at 3:30 pm. The game is televised on Fox Sports. In exchange for playing the game, Grambling State will receive a $1 million guarantee for the contest. That is the highest payout for any Football Championship Series football program this season. Many people are wondering what Ohio State and Grambling State get out of playing this game. It is a game that Ohio State will be easily favored in, but in reality, both schools will win in this contest.
Ohio State University gets an opponent after a physical and emotional Texas game that will most likely allow them to use many players and get deep into their depth. This will be one of the hardest games Coach Ryan Day and his staff have to prepare for all year. Playing an opponent that you are superior to on both sides of the ball can easily bring a mental letdown to players. Keeping them focused on their own execution of plays and schemes will be the focus in Columbus this week. It is vital, this early in the year, that young players on any team get game action and experience.
Ohio State will play one of the most prestigious FCS programs in the nation. This contest provides a game with historic ramifications and brings opportunity and peril to both programs. Few HBCUs get the opportunity to play in Ohio Stadium or against Big Ten programs. Grambling State University brings a history of football excellence along with 15 Black College national football titles. Legendary former head coach Eddie Robinson won 408 games as head coach of the Tigers. He produced four NFL Hall of Famers in Willie Brown, Buck Buchanan, Charlie Joiner and Willie Davis. The Tigers enter this game with nothing to lose as long as they stay healthy.
Grambling State is a member of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) and holds a record 26 conference titles. They have had over 100 football alumni play in the National Football League, including Doug Williams, Super Bowl MVP while playing with the Washington Redskins. James Harris was the first African American quarterback selected to a Pro Bowl. Grambling State dominated Black College football until college football fully accepted desegregation.
Grambling State University gets three obvious benefits from playing this game. Financial, recruiting exposure and community impact benefits make this a win for the program. There is a definite disparity in size and talent between the two squads, but for schools like Grambling State, this game has monumental ramifications.
The first major impact is financial. Grambling State University gets a payoff of $1 million, which is higher than the individual football budget at most HBCU schools. These funds will greatly impact the overall budget of the athletic department. A payout of this amount would represent 10% of the overall budget at most Division I FCS programs. The funds will most likely go toward team expenditures for travel, scholarships, recruiting, equipment and other athletic department needs. A $1 million payoff can be beneficial in meeting the budget needs of other programs in the department and allow for special programming opportunities.
The second major impact is the ability to showcase their own program, HBCUs in general and significantly impact football recruiting. Playing in one of the top football recruiting states in the nation in front of over 100,000 Buckeye fans and a national television audience of millions is exposure they can’t buy.
Thirdly, the Grambling State football program gets to compete against one of the most talented collegiate football programs in the nation. They will uncover strengths and weaknesses in their schemes and players. It is the best self-scout they can ever have.
Head Coach Mickey Joseph brings his team to Columbus fresh off a 55-7 beatdown of Langston University. He will be looking for more than a moral victory. He knows Ohio State and has experience in big-time college football. He was an assistant at LSU for five years and a part of their 2019 national championship coaching staff. He brings a team to Ohio, short on scholarships and resources. His players are undersized, but they will not lack in heart or effort. He has a focus this week of one play at a time and playing the game clean. No mental mistakes and compete until the end.
Ohio State should get to play a lot of its depth. Gaining experience and game action for young players is invaluable. The hopes of both teams are to stay healthy and play a clean game. The greatest improvement historically comes between the first and second games of the year. Lincoln Kienholz should get a few series to showcase how Ohio State plans to use him this year. The coaching staff will be looking for players who can help them in big games down the road.
The game for Grambling State will have a lasting impact on the community and university pride in their school and their athletic program. Having Grambling on the same field as Ohio State will help their players develop confidence and pride in being a part of one more chapter in the storied history of the Grambling State football program. Taking $1 million home no matter the outcome of the game is a major win for Grambling State.
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