Grambling State on Friday canceled its football game against Jackson State after Grambling's disgruntled players refused to travel to Jackson for the game Saturday.

The players -- upset with travel policies, poor facility conditions and a tumultuous coaching situation -- made a decision not to play at a team meeting Friday afternoon, a player told ESPN's Brett McMurphy.

"We aren't playing," the player said.

Jackson State spokesman Wesley Peterson told The Associated Press on Friday that Grambling officials contacted JSU at about 6 p.m. ET and informed the school of the decision.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference issued a statement late Friday that ruled the game a "forfeit," charging "Grambling State the loss and awarding Jackson State with a win."

Grambling officials met throughout a chaotic Friday, trying to rectify the sour situation between players and administration. Apparently, nothing could be worked out so that the game could be played.

Grambling spokesman Will Sutton said late Friday that university officials would have no further comment. He said players will not be available for interviews.

Buses that lined up at Grambling to transport the team remained empty Friday.

School officials delayed departure of the team buses for an hour, until 4:30 p.m. ET, in hopes of changing players' minds, according to reports. That deadline passed and the buses left without players before 5 p.m., The News-Star reported.

SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said according to league rules, Grambling will forfeit and the school will be fined. Grambling athletics director Aaron James said Friday night that the school will be fined $20,000 by the SWAC, according to USA Today Sports.

"I've been in contact with the schools and they informed me the game is going to be canceled," Sharp said. "It's just a very disappointing situation when something like this happens. But we'll do everything we can with these schools to reach an understanding moving forward."

Grambling players walked out of a meeting with school officials Tuesday and did not show up at practice Wednesday.

Buses line up Friday on the Grambling State campus to take the Tigers' to Jackson State. Players did not show up and the buses left empty before 5 p.m. ET. Sean Isabella/The News-Star

On Thursday, the school relieved George Ragsdale of his duties as interim coach and replaced him with defensive coordinator Dennis "Dirt" Winston.

The Shreveport Times reported that one of the conditions for the players to end their boycott was that Ragsdale, who started the season as running backs coach, be relieved of his coaching duties.

Athletic director Aaron James said Winston has the ability to "tone things down and get the program up and running smoothly."

According to the Times, the players met with administrators Tuesday to voice concerns about traveling by bus instead of plane to games in Kansas City, Mo., and Indianapolis, poor facility conditions and the firing of coach Doug Williams in September.

Williams sent a text message Friday evening to USA Today, saying: "I'm proud of them boys. They took a stance."

For the 750-mile trip to a neutral-site game in Indianapolis, SI.com reported that the team left campus at 6 p.m. last Thursday and arrived in Indianapolis at 9 a.m. Friday. Grambling lost 48-0 to Alcorn State the next day. Alcorn State, based in Mississippi, flew to the game, Grambling safety Naquan Smith told SI.

"It does something to your body, being on the bus that long," Smith told SI. "We were kinda upset [the] other team got a chance to fly there. It wasn't fair."

For this week's game, Jackson, Miss., is about 160 miles from Grambling, La.

Grambling fired Williams in September after the Tigers (0-7, 0-4 SWAC) lost their first two games by a combined score of 71-19. Grambling went 1-10 last season.