Tag: Tennessee state football

Tennessee State beat down “Between the Hedges” 63-3

Brandon King

ATHENS, Ga. — Tennessee State’s difficult start to the 2026 football season continued Saturday afternoon as the Tigers fell to No. 3 Georgia, 63-3, at Sanford Stadium. Georgia wasted little time taking control, scoring touchdowns on each of its first four possessions and racing to a 28-0 lead after the opening quarter. The Bulldogs ultimately piled up 63 points while holding Tennessee State to just three points. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton completed 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns in his one half of work, while running…

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Tennessee State’s Brenton Paul named OVC Rookie of the Week

Brandon King

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee State freshman running back Brenton Paul is already making his mark in Nashville. Paul was named the Ohio Valley Conference Football Rookie of the Week on Monday following an impressive collegiate debut against Jackson State in the John Merritt Classic at FirstBank Stadium.  The true freshman accounted for 55 all-purpose yards, rushing nine times for 38 yards while adding two receptions for 17 yards. He also scored his first collegiate touchdown on a nine-yard run late in the first quarter.  Paul’s impact went beyond the stat…

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Jackson State Survives Tennessee State 26-24 in Wild John A. Merritt Classic Finish

Brandon King

Jackson State opened the 2026 season with a thrilling 26-24 victory over Tennessee State on Saturday night, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit and surviving a late field-goal attempt to secure the season-opening win. The Tigers wasted little time making an impact. On Jackson State’s opening drive, quarterback Jared Lockhart sold a play-action fake on 3rd-and-6, stepped up in the pocket and found a wide-open Jabari Jones for an 88-yard touchdown pass. The explosive play gave Jackson State an early 7-0 advantage. Tennessee State answered immediately. On the ensuing drive, quarterback Daylin…

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BREAKING: Four Jackson State Players Granted TRO, Eligible for 10 Days

Brandon King

Jackson State has received a major boost just two days before its 2026 season opener. Reid Pulliam, B.J. Washington, Kazarius Bowie and Tymon Wells have been granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, making the four Tigers eligible to compete for the next 10 days. The ruling comes as the players continue their legal fight for an additional season of college football eligibility. The timing is significant. Jackson State opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, against Tennessee State, meaning all four players are now eligible to take…

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UPDATE: Tennessee State’s 1998 and 1999 Championship Trophies Were Not Missing After All

Brandon King

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee State University’s 1998 and 1999 football championship trophies were never actually missing, bringing a positive end to a story that had sparked concern across the Tigers’ fan base. Earlier this week, former TSU head football coach L.C. Cole posted on social media that he had been informed the championship trophies were missing and asked anyone with information about their whereabouts to come forward. The message quickly spread among Tennessee State alumni, former players, and supporters, many of whom expressed concern over the status of two of…

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Former TSU Coach L.C. Cole Raises Alarm Over Missing 1998 and 1999 Championship Trophies

Brandon King

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Tennessee State University football coach L.C. Cole is asking the Tennessee State community for help after learning that the program’s 1998 and 1999 championship trophies are reportedly missing. Cole shared the news with Tennessee State fans on social media, urging anyone with information about the trophies’ whereabouts to come forward. “Tennessee State Fans I just got word that our 1998 and 1999 championships trophy’s are missing,” Cole wrote. Cole emphasized that the trophies represent more than just awards. They are reminders of the accomplishments of Tennessee…

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Tennessee State Football Places Seven on OVC Preseason Defensive Players to Watch List

Brandon King

The Tennessee State Tigers continue to receive preseason recognition heading into the 2026 football season, with seven players earning spots on the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Defensive Players to Watch list. Under head coach Reggie Barlow, who enters his second season leading the Tigers, Tennessee State’s defense is expected to be a key factor as the program looks to build momentum in the OVC. The Tigers were represented across multiple defensive and special teams categories, highlighting the team’s depth and versatility. 🏈 Tennessee State Defensive Players to Watch Defensive Line…

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Ohio Valley Conference announces return to traditional football branding

Staff

Courtesy of Kyle Schwartz, Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications, Ohio Valley Conference Building upon a legacy that spans nearly 80 years and includes national championship teams, All-Americans, National Players of the Year and NFL draft picks, the Ohio Valley Conference announced today that its football-playing members will once again compete under the OVC name and logo beginning with the 2026 season. The return to the OVC identity follows three successful years of partnership with the Big South Conference under the names Big South-OVC Football Association (2023, 2024) and OVC-Big South…

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The John A. Merritt Classic moved to FirstBank Stadium

Staff

Courtesy of Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics NASHVILLE — Tennessee State and Jackson State will renew one of HBCU football’s most storied rivalries at Vanderbilt University’s FirstBank Stadium when the teams meet in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic, presented by the Tennessee Titans and ONE Community, on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tennessee State 2026 single-game tickets, including the John A. Merritt Classic, will go on sale Monday, June 15, at 9 a.m. CT. The game will be played at FirstBank Stadium due to NFL scheduling, which has the Tennessee Titans…

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Tennessee State Alum Shannon Harris Continues Elevating HBCU Coaching Legacy With DC Defenders

Brandon King

Image via the DC Defenders The impact of HBCUs on professional football extends far beyond the players on the field. Tennessee State University alumnus and DC Defenders head coach Shannon Harris is proving that point in a major way. Harris has guided the Defenders to the UFL Championship Game for the second consecutive season, further solidifying his reputation as one of professional football’s rising coaching stars. His success represents not only a personal achievement but also another significant milestone for Tennessee State and the HBCU football community. A former quarterback…

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