Tag: John A. Merritt Classic

The rivalry is back: Tennessee State and Jackson State to get it on in the John A. Merritt Classic 

Staff

Tennessee State and Jackson State will renew football pleasantries in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic on Saturday, August 29 at Nissan Stadium.  The Week 0 , matchup will mark the first time the TSU and JSU have met in the Merritt Classic. The two-storied program has been getting it on since 1949, but since 1990 has primarily met in the Southern Heritage Classic, taking part in 29 of the 36 games, with the last such matchup taking place on September 10, 2022, a 16-3 win for Jackson State. Tennessee…

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Big plays power Tennessee State past North Carolina A&T in John A. Merritt Classic

Brandon King

image via TSU Athletics Tennessee State and North Carolina A&T locked horns in the 2025 John A. Merritt Classic, the first time the two schools had met since Tennessee State laid a 37-7 beating on the Aggies in the 2010 Circle City Classic. Buoyed by big plays, the Tigers were able to defeat North Carolina A&T 24-21 in a winning start to the Reggie Barlow era.  North Carolina A&T struck first, taking a 7-0 lead when Wesley Graves burst through the middle and took it 40 yards to the end…

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