Prairie View A&M Vs. Grambling State: A game that has more meaning off the field than on

DALLAS, Texas — The State Fair of Texas isn’t just about rides and corndogs — it’s also about a century-long college football tradition.

On the second day of the fair, all eyes were on the gridiron as the Grambling State Tigers and Prairie View A&M Panthers squared off in the annual State Fair Classic inside the Cotton Bowl. 

For alumni and current students, the game is more than just a football experience. It’s a celebration of HBCU culture and community, a chance to honor decades of history and tradition.

“This cultivated the reason why I went to PV,” said Imani Taylor, a senior at PVAM.

The game holds a special place in the heart of David Wells, whose nephew, Chase Bingmon, is making his family proud on the field as a running back for Prairie View.  

“To see him involved in it now, we know that we made the right steps with him,” Wells said.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the State Fair Classic, having started way back in 1925 with Wiley College and Langston University. Prairie View joined in 1929, and Grambling made its debut in the mid-1980s — the two have met in the State Fair Classic every year consecutively since 1992.

While rivalries divide fans on game day, for families like Madysen Williams and her mother, Monica, the matchup represents unity and pride in the HBCU community. 

“It’s more important so people can still see that… we have to keep the HBCU family alive and together,” the two said. Madysen is a freshman at PVAM, and her mother is an alumnus of Grambling State.

This year, Prairie View claimed bragging rights, but regardless of the scoreboard, the State Fair Classic continues to hold a special place in Texas sports history, celebrating tradition, community, and HBCU culture.