Grambling is easily known for its celebrated Tiger Marching B&, which has performed prior to several crowds worldwide by owning its elaborate and gumptious marching routines. Previous football coach Eddie Robinson holds the NCAA record for most career wins as a head coach.

Grambling State's colors come black and gold, with red as a tertiary color. A school's nickname is the Tigers. Grambling State sports teams participate inside NCAA Section We (We-AA for football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Grambling State plays its archrival Southern University in the annual Bayou Classic, which is played in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome on U.S. national television.