State Fair Classic

Annual college football game, Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M

State Fair Classic

Stadium| Cotton Bowl in Fair Park
Location| Dallas, Texas
Operated| 1925–2019, 2021-present
Sponsors

Southwest Airlines (1995–2017)

Former names

State Fair Classic (1945[1]–1989)
Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic (1990–1994)
Southwest Airlines Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic (1995–1999)
Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic (2000–2017)

2023 matchup
Prairie View A&M Panthers 20,
Grambling State Tigers 35
2024 matchup
Grambling State Tigers vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers

150km
100miles

Cotton Bowl

Grambling State

Prairie View A&M

Locations of Grambling State and Prairie View A&M

In-game action during the 2019 State Fair Classic

The State Fair Classic (formerly known as the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic, for sponsorship purposes) is an annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Prairie View A&M University Panthers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The game is played on a neutral site at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas during the State Fair of Texas. The game often occurs the weekend before the Red River Showdown game; the Heart of Dallas Classic took place on the first weekend of the 2013 fair, and the State Fair Football Showdown took place on the third weekends of the 2018 and 2019 fairs, featuring SWAC competitors Southern and Texas Southern.[2]

## History

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### Background

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The State Fair Classic, held annually at the Cotton Bowl, began in 1925 featuring the Wiley College Wildcats and Langston University Lions. The first game was played on Monday, October 19, 1925 and resulted in a 0–0 tie with neither team scoring before a crowd of 5,000.[3] Both teams met four consecutive years in Dallas before Prairie View replaced Langston in 1929.[4] The contest always took place on "Negro Day" at the State Fair of Texas and would feature the city's black high school football championship in the afternoon followed by the much-anticipated college game at night. An early concept of "Monday Night Football" could also be attributed to the Texas State Fair Classic and Louisiana's own State Fair Classic, as the contests took place on Monday nights from the 1920s into the 1960s.

Wiley wasn't the only college to play PVAMU in the State Fair Classic during that era, as the Panthers battled Tennessee State in 1956 and then Texas Southern until 1959.

Bishop College relocated to Dallas in 1961, eventually taking Wiley's place in the annual contest, in the 43rd annual classic in 1967. From that point, Prairie View A&M maintained a presence in the Cotton Bowl with match-ups against Bishop and others over the years before moving its annual rivalry game against Grambling to the Cotton Bowl stadium in 1985 (the Panthers' series with Grambling had also previously been hosted by the State Fair of Louisiana before returning to on-campus venues in 1962).

With the disbanding of the Prairie View football program in 1990, the State Fair Classic featured Grambling and Elizabeth City State. Even though Prairie View brought football back in 1991, that year Grambling played North Carolina A&T, so it was not until 1992 that the classic would see the PVAMU–GSU showdown once again. Since then, this has been the annual match-up held at the State Fair Classic. Upon the revival of this pairing, Grambling won every game until this changed with the 2009 edition—and the game subsequent to this has been very competitive, with Prairie View winning 9 out of 14 contests between then and 2022. At one point, it was even considered "likely" that Grambling would have to be replaced by Langston for the classic's 2015 edition.[5]

### Other events associated with the classic

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The classic is accompanied by a pre-game concert featuring a celebrity artist, press conference/fellowship luncheon, pep rallies, alumni fundraising functions, golf tournament, jazz show, comedy show, tailgating, and two battles of the bands. The first battle features high school bands in the Dallas area and the last is between the "World Famed Tiger Marching Band" of Grambling and the "Marching Storm" of Prairie View.[6]

### Economic impact

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The classic has an annual estimated economic impact of $8.5 million for the City of Dallas.[7] The official 2017 game attendance was 55,231 which solidified the event as one of the largest HBCU football classics in the nation and the largest NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision game in Texas.[8] Both schools have a significant portion of their alumni base in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

### Evolving name

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Early contests appear to have been informally referred to as the Negro Day game to differentiate it from the state fair's other game, the Red River Showdown. Otherwise, the game is documented as having been called the "State Fair Classic" since at least 1945[1] and was known exclusively as such through the 1989 season. In 1990, it was renamed the Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic after the former Dallas city councilman. After attracting a title sponsor for 1995, it was rechristened as the Southwest Airlines Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic. Starting with the 2000 season, Lipscomb's name was no longer associated with the game, because he had been convicted of 65 counts of conspiracy and bribery.[9] Promotions with Southwest Airlines listed as the title sponsor ceased after the 2017 game.[10][11]

## Game results

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Date  | Winning team  | Losing team  | Location

|
|
|

October 19, 1925  | Langston | 0 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1926  | Langston | 13 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 17, 1927  | Langston | 27 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 15, 1928  | Langston | 7 | Wiley | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 21, 1929  | Prairie View | 0 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 20, 1930  | Wiley | 17 | Prairie View | 13  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1931  | Prairie View | 20 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 17, 1932  | Wiley | 13 | Prairie View | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 16, 1933  | Wiley | 6 | Prairie View | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 15, 1934  | Prairie View | 13 | Wiley | 12  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1935  | Prairie View | 0 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1936  | Wiley | 7 | Prairie View | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 18, 1937  | Prairie View | 13 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 17, 1938  | Prairie View | 6 | Wiley | 6  | Dallas, TX
October 16, 1939  | Wiley | 13 | Prairie View | 6  | Dallas, TX
October 14, 1940  | Prairie View | 18 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 13, 1941  | Prairie View | 32 | Wiley | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1942  | Prairie View | 6 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX[12]
October 16, 1943[13] | Prairie View | 0 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 14, 1944  | Wiley | 28 | Prairie View | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 15, 1945  | Wiley | 35 | Prairie View | 7  | Dallas, TX[14]
October 14, 1946  | Wiley | 19 | Prairie View | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 13, 1947  | Prairie View A&M | 12 | Wiley | 6  | Dallas, TX
October 18, 1948  | Prairie View A&M | 19 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 17, 1949  | Prairie View A&M | 27 | Wiley | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 16, 1950  | Prairie View A&M | 47 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 13, 1951  | Prairie View A&M | 38 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX[15]
October 13, 1952  | Prairie View A&M | 53 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1953  | Prairie View A&M | 32 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 18, 1954  | Prairie View A&M | 19 | Wiley | 6  | Dallas, TX
October 17, 1955  | Prairie View A&M | 34 | Wiley | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 15, 1956  | Tennessee State | 45 | Prairie View A&M | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 14, 1957  | Prairie View A&M | 7 | Texas Southern | 6  | Dallas, TX
October 13, 1958  | Prairie View A&M | 26 | Texas Southern | 19  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1959  | Prairie View A&M | 34 | Texas Southern | 15  | Dallas, TX
October 17, 1960  | Prairie View A&M | 36 | Wiley | 15  | Dallas, TX
October 16, 1961  | Prairie View A&M | 48 | Wiley | 13  | Dallas, TX
October 15, 1962  | Prairie View A&M | 26 | Wiley | 17  | Dallas, TX
October 14, 1963  | Prairie View A&M | 27 | Wiley | 10  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1964  | Prairie View A&M | 39 | Wiley | 13  | Dallas, TX
October 18, 1965  | Prairie View A&M | 16 | Wiley | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 17, 1966  | Prairie View A&M | 21 | Wiley | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 16, 1967  | Prairie View A&M | 31 | Bishop | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 19, 1968  | Bishop | 13 | Prairie View A&M | 10  |
October 18, 1969  | Bishop | 36 | Prairie View A&M | 21  | Dallas, TX
October 24, 1970  | Prairie View A&M | 29 | Bishop | 26  | Dallas, TX
October 16, 1971  | Tennessee State | 42 | Prairie View A&M | 20[16] | Dallas, TX[17]
October 21, 1972  | Prairie View A&M | 14 | Bishop | 10  | Dallas, TX[18]
October 20, 1973  | Prairie View A&M | 25 | Bishop | 3  | Dallas, TX
October 26, 1974  | Bishop | 21 | Prairie View A&M | 14  | Dallas, TX
October 25, 1975  | Prairie View A&M | 14 | Bishop | 13  | Dallas, TX
October 23, 1976  | Prairie View A&M | 22 | Bishop | 14  | Dallas, TX[19]
October 22, 1977  | Prairie View A&M | 39 | Bishop | 7  | Dallas, TX[20]
October 21, 1978  | Bishop | 35 | Prairie View A&M | 34  | Dallas, TX
October 6, 1979  | Bishop | 33 | Prairie View A&M | 16  | Dallas, TX
October 11, 1980  | Bishop | 12 | Prairie View A&M | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 10, 1981  | Bishop | 40 | Prairie View A&M | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 9, 1982  | Prairie View A&M | 24 | Bishop | 13  | Dallas, TX[21]
October 8, 1983  | Bishop | 32 | Prairie View A&M | 20  | Prairie View, TX
October 6, 1984  | Bishop | 34 | Prairie View A&M | 8  | Dallas, TX
October 5, 1985  | Grambling State | 27 | Prairie View A&M | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 4, 1986  | Prairie View A&M | 24 | Grambling State | 19  | Dallas, TX
October 3, 1987  | Grambling State | 28 | Prairie View A&M | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 1, 1988  | Grambling State | 40 | Prairie View A&M | 14  | Dallas, TX
September 30, 1989  | Grambling State | 49 | Prairie View A&M | 0  | Dallas, TX
September 29, 1990  | Grambling State | 67 | Elizabeth City State | 3  | Dallas, TX
September 28, 1991  | North Carolina A&T | 28 | Grambling State | 12  | Dallas, TX
October 3, 1992  | Grambling State | 63 | Prairie View A&M | 3  | Dallas, TX
October 2, 1993  | Grambling State | 49 | Prairie View A&M | 0  | Dallas, TX
October 1, 1994  | Grambling State | 66 | Prairie View A&M | 0  | Dallas, TX
September 30, 1995  | Grambling State | 64 | Prairie View A&M | 0  | Dallas, TX
September 28, 1996  | Grambling State | 54 | Prairie View A&M | 12  | Dallas, TX
October 4, 1997  | Grambling State | 33 | Prairie View A&M | 6  | Dallas, TX
October 3, 1998  | Grambling State | 55 | Prairie View A&M | 40  | Dallas, TX
October 2, 1999  | Grambling State | 47 | Prairie View A&M | 19  | Dallas, TX
September 30, 2000  | Grambling State | 47 | Prairie View A&M | 7  | Dallas, TX
September 29, 2001  | Grambling State | 40 | Prairie View A&M | 6  | Dallas, TX
October 5, 2002  | Grambling State | 35 | Prairie View A&M | 13  | Dallas, TX
October 4, 2003  | Grambling State | 65 | Prairie View A&M | 7  | Dallas, TX
October 2, 2004  | Grambling State | 53 | Prairie View A&M | 32  | Dallas, TX
October 1, 2005  | Grambling State | 50 | Prairie View A&M | 7  | Dallas, TX
September 30, 2006  | Grambling State | 53 | Prairie View A&M | 7  | Dallas, TX
September 29, 2007  | Grambling State | 17 | Prairie View A&M | 14  | Dallas, TX
October 4, 2008  | Grambling State | 40 | Prairie View A&M | 16  | Dallas, TX
October 3, 2009  | Prairie View A&M | 35 | Grambling State | 32  | Dallas, TX
September 25, 2010  | Grambling State | 34 | Prairie View A&M | 17  | Dallas, TX
October 1, 2011  | Prairie View A&M | 31 | Grambling State | 23  | Dallas, TX
October 6, 2012  | Prairie View A&M | 31 | Grambling State | 14  | Dallas, TX
October 5, 2013  | Prairie View A&M | 31 | Grambling State | 3  | Dallas, TX
September 27, 2014  | Grambling State | 26 | Prairie View A&M | 20  | Dallas, TX
September 26, 2015  | Grambling State | 70 | Prairie View A&M | 54  | Dallas, TX
October 1, 2016  | Grambling State | 36 | Prairie View A&M | 16  | Dallas, TX
October 7, 2017  | Grambling State | 34 | Prairie View A&M | 21  | Dallas, TX
September 29, 2018  | Prairie View A&M | 22 | Grambling State | 16  | Dallas, TX
September 28, 2019  | Prairie View A&M | 42 | Grambling State | 36  | Dallas, TX
March 13, 2021  | Prairie View A&M | 17 | Grambling State | 10  | Arlington, TX
September 25, 2021  | Prairie View A&M | 24 | Grambling State | 10  | Dallas, TX
October 1, 2022  | Prairie View A&M | 34 | Grambling State | 14  | Dallas, TX
September 30, 2023  | Grambling State | 35 | Prairie View A&M | 20  | Dallas, TX

## See also

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* Labor Day Classic
* Red River State Fair Classic
* List of black college football classics
* Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
* Sports in Dallas

## References

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1. ^ a b "Wiley Eleven to Meet Prairie View in Dallas". Marshall (Tx). News Messenger (p. 8). October 10, 1945 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ Luke Johnson (October 8, 2016). "'This is a major deal': Southern to play Texas Southern in 2018–19 Texas State Fair Football Showdown". theadvocate.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
3. ^ The Chicago Defender "Wiley and Langston Battle Hard, But Neither Scores" 31 October 1925 page 9
4. ^ The Chicago Defender "Wiley and Prairie View Ready" 19 October 1929 page 9
5. ^ Kenn Rashad (July 3, 2014). "Langston likely to replace Grambling in 2015 State Fair Classic". hbcusports.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
6. ^ "EVENTS « the Face off Sept 27". swastatefairclassic.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
7. ^ "Grambling heads into Saturday's State Fair Classic with two important weapons | Dallas Morning News". www.dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
8. ^ "Grambling State University Athletics - Football vs Prairie View A&M on 10/07/2017". GSUTigers.com. Retrieved 2017-10-07.
9. ^ "Lipscomb's name dropped from game". amarillo.com. September 21, 2000. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
10. ^ "Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic". do214.com. 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
11. ^ "Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic". Dallas Sports Commission. 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
12. ^ "Wiley to Resume Football Rivalry With Prairie View". Marshall (Tex.) News Messenger (sec. I, p. 8). October 11, 1942 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "Wiley Wildcats Meet Prairie View Normal". Waco (Tex.) News–Tribune (p. 9). October 14, 1943.
14. ^ "Prairie View, Wiley In Cotton Bowl Tomorrow". Marshall (Tex.) News Messenger (sec. B, p. 6). October 14, 1945 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ "Wiley To Play In Cotton Bowl Monday Night". Marshall (Tex.) News Messenger (p. 7). October 12, 1951 - via Newspapers.com.
16. ^ "TSU Rambles, 42–20". Nashville Tennessean (sec. C, p. 1). October 17, 1971 - via Newspapers.com.
17. ^ "Cotton Bowl Battle: Prairie View Tests TSU". Nashville Tennessean (p. 21). October 16, 1971 - via Newspapers.com.
18. ^ "Prairie View Rally Beats Bishop 14–10". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (sec. B, p. 11). October 22, 1972 - via Newspapers.com.
19. ^ "Prairie View tips Bishop". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (sec. G, p. 6). October 24, 1976 - via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ "PV wins, 39–7". San Antonio Express-News (sec. S, p. 4). October 23, 1977 - via Newspapers.com.
21. ^ "Bishop tumbled by Prairie View". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (sec. B, p. 10). October 10, 1982 - via Newspapers.com.

## External links

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* Official Site

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Grambling State Tigers football

Venues|

* Grambling Stadium (?–1982)
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Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
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Culture & lore|

* Tiger Marching Band
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People|

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Seasons|

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National championship seasons in bold

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Prairie View A&M Panthers football

Venues|

* Edward L. Blackshear Field (1960–2014)
* Waller ISD Football Stadium (2015)
* Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field (2016–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Grambling State: State Fair Classic
* Texas Southern: Labor Day Classic

Culture & lore|

* Marching bands brawl

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1907
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National championship seasons in bold

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Southwestern Athletic Conference football rivalries

Conference|

* Magic City Classic (Alabama A&M–Alabama State)
* Soul Bowl (Alcorn State–Jackson State)
* Florida Classic (Bethune–Cookman—Florida A&M)
* Bayou Classic (Grambling State–Southern)
* State Fair Classic (Grambling State–Prairie View A&M)
* Boombox Classic (Jackson State–Southern)
* Labor Day Classic (Prairie View A&M–Texas Southern)

Non-conference|

* Turkey Day Classic (Alabama State–Tuskegee)
* Southern Heritage Classic (Jackson State–Tennessee State)

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