Grambling head coach Mickey Joseph wasn’t in the business of selling false hope this week as his Tigers prepare for a daunting trip to Columbus to face No. 1 Ohio State.
After a 55-7 win over Langston in their opener, the FCS program faces the defending national champions, who surged back to the top spot after a thrilling victory over then-No. 1 Texas in front of 16.6 million viewers. At his midweek press conference, Joseph lightened the mood before turning serious.
“Well, first of all, they’ve got a great band, and we’ve got a great band. So we’re going to compete, as a band,” he joked. But soon, the tone shifted. Joseph acknowledged the reality of the matchup, underscoring the differences in scholarships, resources, and expectations.
“We understand what we’re getting into. We understand what’s going to happen,” Joseph said. “We all know why we’re playing the game.” Ohio State is set to pay Grambling $1 million as part of its guarantee-game schedule.
Reporter: What are your initial thoughts on Ohio State?
— Ohio’s Tate (@BarstoolTate) September 4, 2025
Grambling State head coach: They’ve got a great band…and we’ve got a great band. We’re going to compete, as a band.
….I’m just joking. We understand what’s going to happen pic.twitter.com/WeDlqowEHk
For Joseph, the focus is less on the final result and more on discipline. “The game has to be clean. It had better be clean. Clean to me means that we better not have nine on the field. We’d better not have 13 on the field. Play within the system, and we swing. We fight every play.”
Joseph also praised OSU coach Ryan Day’s handling of an immensely talented Buckeyes roster, noting how difficult it can be to keep elite players locked in after winning a national title.
In his second year at Grambling, Joseph is building with perspective, and if nothing else, he hopes Saturday gives his team a chance to measure itself against the very best, even if the result is all but decided before kickoff.
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