The State Fair of Texas has become an annual tradition that draws millions from the DFW metroplex and beyond to Fair Park in Dallas.
The allure of unique culinary creations, pure entertainment, and showcases like college football games, make the spectacle even more enticing and put the city in the spotlight.
Everyone knows of the annual Red River Rivalry game between Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in mid-October, but another college football tradition takes place during the fair’s opening weekend: the State Fair Classic between Prairie View A&M and Grambling State University.
“The greatest way to kick off the State Fair every year is to have the State Fair Classic on opening weekend bring in folks from South Texas and all over Texas to cheer for both universities, as well as Louisiana,” Mitchell Glieber, president of the State Fair of Texas, said during a press conference at the Cotton Bowl on Monday. “We’re extremely honored to be able to host this event each and every year.”
History of the State Fair Classic
The 2024 State Fair Classic will be the 99th edition of the annual football game that involves Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The first edition was played between Wiley College and Langston University, but Prairie View took Langston’s spot in 1929. The State Fair Classic also gets some credit for the creation of Monday Night Football as it was played on a Monday for four decades.
While the game has featured other HBCUs such as Texas Southern and Tennessee State, Prairie View, and Grambling have been the mainstays since 1985, except for a brief period in the 1990s when Prairie View had a financial situation that shut down most of its athletic programs.
Grambling holds a 28-10 advantage against Prairie View in the State Fair Classic and won last year’s meeting to snap a five-game losing streak.
While Grambling has many more wins in the series, many recent games have been close. Even last year’s 35-20 Grambling win was a 2-point game entering the fourth quarter.
Halftime Show
The halftime show is often one of the selling points of the State Fair Classic. Yes, the game on the field is a factor, and no, it doesn’t involve any world-renowned stars like the Super Bowl. It does, however, include two of the most acclaimed marching bands in the United States gives both teams and universities pride in something that has nothing to do with the result of the game and an opportunity to promote their institutions.
“We’re excited for our band and our cheer, but we’re also excited about our institution and being able to put her first in all things and having a platform in the DFW metroplex for the world to see all things Grambling State University, “Grambling athletic director Dr. Trayvean Scott said during Monday’s press conference. “
Navigating the State Fair Environment
The State Fair Classic is not just a football game. It involves a week of other festivities that, while entertaining for fans and alumni, can easily cause teams, players, and coaches to lose focus, like mixers, concerts, the annual high school Battle of the Bands, and more.
Prairie View’s Bubba McDowell is no stranger to the rivalry, entering his third year as the Panthers’ head coach and 13th overall season with the team. After last year’s loss, he’s concentrated on the game and eager to start a new streak.
“You have to talk about it. It’s tradition,” he explained. “You always want to be on a winning streak [against a rival], because it’s very important, especially in a big game like this that means so much — not just to HBCU sports but the city of Dallas.”
McDowell also believes the winning team earns an advantage recruiting high school players from the Dallas area.
“We get a lot of kids from Dallas, and they get a lot of kids from Dallas,” he said. “Usually the team that comes out here and wins gets the best guys from this area.”
Meanwhile, first-year head coach Mickey Joseph is doing everything he can to help the Grambling State Tigers avoid any potential letdowns amid a 3-1 start. The Tigers are doing all their preparation for the week back in Grambling and will not arrive in Dallas until Friday night.
“We want to make sure we don’t get caught up in the sideshow; we block out the noise,” Joseph explained. “Block out the noise so we don’t get caught up in everything else because, when we come in here, it’s business. Going to play the game is business.”
While avoiding distractions can be a smart approach, Joseph also acknowledges that it is part of what makes the State Fair Classic unique. That and the chance for the smaller schools to take the field on a big stage in one of the country’s biggest markets for both media and sports.
“Dallas is Dallas. Dallas is big,” he remarked. “As y’all say, y’all do everything big in Dallas. Everything’s big in Texas. This is a great atmosphere. It’s a great game, a great atmosphere. [ALW Entertainment founder] Al [Walsh] does a great job, and we’re happy to be part of it.”
For the Belt
The 99th edition of the State Fair Classic also brings increased stakes as an official rivalry trophy, the “State Fair Belt,” was revealed earlier this week. The belt is modeled after a wrestling championship belt and has the words “State Fair” printed across the center. The winner of Saturday’s game will own the belt until next year’s matchup.
Kickoff for the 2024 State Fair Classic between Prairie View A&M (1-3) and Grambling State (3-1) is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Cotton Bowl Renovations
A project to renovate, update, and rejuvenate the Cotton Bowl Stadium began shortly after last year’s State Fair. The project is expected to take two years and finish before the 2025 State Fair. It is on pause during this year’s fair.
“As far as this year, you’re not going to see a ton of things that are different, but when you come for the 2025 game, it will be a whole new stadium that you see,” Glieber added. “It’s going to be amazing. The improvements are extraordinary and will really do quite a bit as far as the fan experience is concerned.”
Joshua Carter