Jackson State will not be the only long-time rival to return to Tennessee State’s schedule in 2026. Florida A&M unveiled its 2026 schedule and the Tigers and Rattlers will be getting it on. The September 19 meeting will see Tennessee State head to Tallahassee, FL to face FAMU at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The two-game series will see a return matchup in Nashville in 2027.
“This rivalry represents the very foundation of HBCU football-tradition, excellence, and community, ” said Tennessee State Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen. “Reconnecting with Florida A&M allows us to honor the past while intentionally laying the groundwork for a long-term, annual matchup that our fans, alumni, and student-athletes can look forward to for years to come.”
Tennessee State and Florida A&M have met 56 times with TSU holding a 31-24 all-time lead in the series. Twenty-one of those meetings have occurred in the setting of a classic, most notably the Atlanta Football Classic/Atlanta Ebony Classic, where 17 matchups took place. Other battlegrounds include the 1956 Orange Blossom Classic, the 1993 Gateway Classic, the John Merritt Classic in 2012, and the Tampa Classic in 2017.
The Rattlers have also been the Tigers’ homecoming opponent in 1971, 1979, 1994, and 2014.
Tennessee State has won the last six meetings with FAMU.
