A fight between SWAC teams after Saturday’s game has led to 23 college football players being suspended and their schools being fined $50,000. The incident took place after Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat Grambling State 35-32 on November 7 at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium in Louisiana.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) said Monday that nine Arkansas-Pine Bluff players and 14 Grambling State players have been suspended for their roles in the postgame brawl. Both schools were also fined $25,000.
For Grambling State, this is becoming a rather expensive annual tradition.
SWAC Suspends 23 Players Following Postgame Fight
The SWAC investigated the incident with both schools and determined that each program violated the conference’s code of ethics and conduct.
Several players received two-game suspensions because of the severity of their actions. The conference did not reveal how many players received the longer punishment or identify them in its announcement.
“We’re extremely disappointed by the events that transpired during the postgame of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State football game,” SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland said. “Acts of that nature have zero place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and intercollegiate athletics.
“The Conference Office has and will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy for all acts deemed to be unsportsmanlike and contrary to the high standard of good sportsmanship we expect from all individuals associated with the athletics programs within our league.”
Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Alonzo Hampton wasn’t happy either, telling the Pine Bluff Commercial, “It’s just embarrassing for all of us, and we have to be better as leaders, and guys have to be able to control their emotions.”
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s nine suspensions come at a particularly bad time. The Golden Lions are 6-3 and still competing for a SWAC West Division title, with a crucial game against Prairie View A&M scheduled for Saturday.
Grambling State Was Also Punished For A Football Fight Last Year
As Sports Illustrated pointed out, this is the second straight season in which Grambling State has been involved in a fight resulting in suspensions and fines.
Last November, a halftime brawl between Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman led to 27 suspensions. Grambling State was fined $40,000 for that incident, while Bethune-Cookman was fined $25,000.
The SWAC has also had a little trouble with baseball fights in the past.
In March 2025, a game between Prairie View A&M and Jackson State ended with a benches-clearing brawl after a walk-off hit. Two months later, however, Bethune-Cookman outfielder Andrey Martinez showed much better sportsmanship after hitting a walk-off home run to win the SWAC baseball championship.