The 1965 Grantland Rice Bowl was an NCAA College Division game following the 1965 season, between the Ball State Cardinals and the Tennessee A&I Tigers. Ball State quarterback Frank Houk was named the game's most outstanding player.
Multiple players from Tennessee A&I were selected in the 1966 NFL draft â wide receiver Willie Walker, defensive tackle Franklin McRae, wide receiver Johnnie Robinson, and guard Jim Carer. Ball State running back Jim Todd was also selected. Tennessee A&I players selected in later drafts include running back Bill Tucker and return specialist Noland Smith in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft, also defensive end Claude Humphrey and quarterback Eldridge Dickey in the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. Humphrey was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. Ball State quarterback Frank Houk was a 1985âÂÂ86 inductee to his university's hall of fame.
Tennessee A&I head coach John Merritt was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.