2025 State Fair Classic — Dallas, TX

Grambling State Tigers vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers
Saturday, September 27, 2025 • Kickoff 6:00 PM
Cotton Bowl Stadium, 3750 The Midway, Dallas, TX 75215

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of one of the nation’s most storied HBCU football traditions. The State Fair Classic returns to the Cotton Bowl at the heart of the State Fair of Texas, pairing the Grambling State University Tigers against the Prairie View A&M University Panthers for a day that blends championship-caliber football with world-class bands, music, and culture.

About the Classic

Launched in 1925—originally featuring Wiley College vs. Langston University—the State Fair Classic helped pioneer big-stage college football showdowns in Texas. After Langston, Prairie View entered the matchup in 1929, and over the decades the event grew into a cultural institution. Early games kicked off on Monday nights through the 1960s, a scheduling quirk often cited as a precursor to modern “Monday Night Football.” Today, the Classic is a centerpiece of HBCU pride, pageantry, and community impact.

Game Day Highlights — Saturday, Sept 27

• 4:00 PM – Pre-Game Concert: Fat Daddy’s Biggest Southern Soul Party on the State Fair of Texas Chevy Main Stage

• National Anthem – Performed by Jokia

• Black National Anthem – Performed by Deitrick Haddon & The State Fair Classic Mass Choir

• Opening Prayer – Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes III

• 6:00 PM – Kickoff: Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M (Cotton Bowl Stadium)

• Halftime Show – Grambling State “World Famed” Tiger Marching Band vs. Prairie View A&M “Marching Storm”

• 5th Quarter – Post-game band showdown tradition

• Post-Game Concert – TLC on the Chevy Main Stage

• Post-Game Mixer – Grambling State University Metro DFW Alumni Chapter, Hilton Anatole, 2201 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207

Note: Some listings elsewhere may show placeholder times; the official football kickoff is 6:00 PM with the pre-game concert at 4:00 PM.

Tickets-RSVP Link

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