NEW ORLEANS — Records? Throw 'em out. Logic? Same thing. When Southern and Grambling meet in the Superdome for the Bayou Classic, none of that matters. And Saturday's 52nd edition proved it once again.
The Jaguars, staring down one of the worst seasons in program history at 1-10, just pulled off the upset of the SWAC season—knocking off 7-4 Grambling State 28-27 on Thanksgiving weekend in front of a raucous Caesars Superdome crowd. This wasn't supposed to happen. Grambling came in as 13.5-point favorites, riding momentum from their first winning season since 2019 and looking to cap Mickey Joseph's turnaround with a signature victory. Southern, meanwhile, was trying to avoid matching their worst record since 1935.
But this is the Bayou Classic. And the Jaguars made sure their interim coach Fred McNair—and senior captain Ckelby Givens in his final game—went out with bragging rights, extending Southern's dominance in this rivalry to four straight wins.
When the Game Hung in the Balance
This one came down to the fourth quarter, and it was everything you'd want in a rivalry game. After Grambling's Josh McCormick drilled a 52-yarder to make it 27-21 with 9:23 left, Southern had its back against the wall. No timeouts to waste. No margin for error.
Enter Barry Remo. The transfer running back who'd been Southern's lone bright spot all season gashed Grambling's defense for 35 yards on first down, then followed it up with a 12-yarder to set up shop at the Grambling 28. One penalty and one lost yard later, it was second-and-16 from the 34.
That's when McCoy—who'd been managing the game all day—uncorked the dagger. Middle of the field, Harris running a seam, and the ball was money. Touchdown, Jaguars. 28-27.
Grambling had one last chance. Freshman quarterback Hayden Benoit, who'd been sharp all game, drove the Tigers from their own 37 to Southern's 38 in the final two minutes. But on what should've been the game-winning drive, Andre Crews fumbled, and Givens—fittingly—recovered to seal it.
Trey Holly Ran Like a Man Possessed
Southern was supposed to lean on Holly, and they did exactly that. The transfer back finished with 18 carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the second quarter that cut Grambling's lead to 14-7. But it was his ability to churn out tough yards—particularly on third-and-short and in goal-line situations—that kept Southern's offense on schedule.
Holly wasn't running for stats. He was running to keep this game close enough for Southern to steal it late. And that's exactly what happened.
Remo, meanwhile, was explosive. His 51-yard touchdown run in the third quarter tied the game at 14 and gave Southern the belief that they could actually win this thing. He finished with 100 net yards on just seven carries, providing the big-play element that stretched Grambling's defense and opened things up for McCoy.
Grambling's Offense Couldn't Finish
Credit to Hayden Benoit—the freshman was poised beyond his years, completing 16 of 32 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He spread the ball around to eight different receivers, with Keith Jones Jr. hauling in a 28-yard TD in the second quarter that gave Grambling a 14-0 lead.
But Benoit and the Tigers couldn't sustain it. After jumping out to that early two-score advantage, Grambling's offense stalled in critical moments. They went 5-for-18 on third down, and too many drives ended with punts or missed field goals when points were there for the taking.
The most damaging sequence? Late in the second quarter, Grambling drove to Southern's 22-yard line but had to settle for a 39-yard field goal to go up 17-7. Then in the fourth, McCormick missed a 43-yarder that would've pushed the lead to six. Those three points might've been the difference.
And turnovers. Elijah West's interception of Benoit in the second quarter set up Southern's first touchdown drive, shifting momentum just before halftime. Then Crews' fumble with 32 seconds left sealed Grambling's fate.
What It Means for the SWAC
Neither team was playing for a SWAC Championship berth—Jackson State and Prairie View A&M had already locked those up. But this game still mattered, especially for program trajectory.
For Grambling, this stings. Mickey Joseph did the heavy lifting this season, getting the Tigers to 7-4 and their first winning record in six years. But losing to your archrival—especially when you're the far better team on paper—takes some shine off what should've been a feel-good year. Grambling finishes 7-5, and instead of celebrating a milestone season, they're left wondering what went wrong when it mattered most.
For Southern, this win doesn't erase a 2-10 record. But it does give interim coach McNair something to hang his hat on as the program searches for its next permanent leader. And for seniors like Givens, who's been through the highs and lows of this rivalry, going out with a fourth straight Bayou Classic win means everything.
Why Southern Won
1. They protected the ball and forced turnovers. Southern had just one turnover all game—a second-quarter interception by backup QB Ashton Strother. Meanwhile, they forced two key takeaways: West's pick in the second quarter and Givens' fumble recovery in the final minute. In a one-point game, those possessions were everything.
2. They ran the ball effectively in critical situations. Southern rushed for 204 yards, with Holly and Remo providing complementary styles. When Southern needed to close out drives or convert short-yardage situations, they leaned on the run game and it delivered.
3. Kam'Ron McCoy made the throw when it mattered most. McCoy wasn't asked to do much—6-for-18 passing, 148 yards—but when the game was on the line, he delivered a perfect ball to Harris for the go-ahead score. That's all you can ask from your quarterback in a rivalry game.
Why Grambling Lost
1. They couldn't convert in the red zone. Grambling had multiple chances to put this game away but settled for field goals or came up empty. That 39-yarder in the second quarter should've been a touchdown. The missed 43-yarder in the fourth was a killer. You can't leave points on the board against a desperate opponent.
2. Third-down inefficiency killed them. Going 5-for-18 on third down means too many punts and not enough sustained drives. Grambling's defense did its job—Southern went 0-for-10 on third down—but the offense couldn't capitalize by staying on the field long enough to put the game out of reach.
3. Turnovers in crunch time. Benoit's second-quarter interception gave Southern momentum heading into halftime. And Crews' fumble in the final minute ended any chance of a comeback. You can't beat a desperate team when you're giving them extra possessions.
Final Word: This is why the Bayou Classic endures. This is why records don't matter. Southern came into the Superdome with one win and a mountain of doubt, and they walked out with the trophy. Grambling had the better team, the better season, and the better résumé—and none of it mattered.
That's HBCU football at its finest. And the Jaguars just reminded everyone why this rivalry is bigger than any single season.
