The Tennessee State Tigers football program represents Tennessee State University in the sport of American football. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.
History
NCAA relegation In 1981, the Tennessee State Tigers were relegated from Division I-A to Division I-AA.
First FBS victory Tennessee State's first victory over an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents came in the opening game of the 2017 season, when the Tigers defeated the Georgia State Panthers, 17–10.
Championships
National championships 1946 Henry A. Kean 10–1 Black College National Champions 1947 Henry A. Kean 10–0 Black College National Champions 1954 Henry A. Kean 10–1 Black College National Champions 1956 Howard C. Gentry 10–0 Black College National Champions 1965 John A. Merritt 9–0–1 Black College National Champions 1966 John A. Merritt 10–0 Black College National Champions 1970 John A. Merritt 11–0 Black College National Champions 1971 John A. Merritt 9–1 Black College National Champions 1973 John A. Merritt 10–0 AP & UPI College Division National ChampionsBlack College National Champions 1979 John A. Merritt 8–3 Black College National Champions 1982 John A. Merritt 10–1–1 Black College National Champions 2013 Rod Reed 10–4 Black College National Champions
Conference championships 1945 Henry A. Kean Midwest Athletic Association 3–0 1946 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 3–0 1947 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 3–0 1949 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 4–0 1954 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 4–0 1956 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 4–0 1957 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 3–0 1959 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 3–0 1960 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 3–0 1961 Lawrence E. Simmons Midwestern Conference 3–0 1963 John A. Merritt Midwest Conference 3–0 1964 John A. Merritt Midwestern Conference 3–0 1965 John A. Merritt Midwestern Conference 2–0 1966 John A. Merritt Midwestern Conference 2–0 1998 Lawrence C. Cole Ohio Valley Conference 6–1 1999 Lawrence C. Cole Ohio Valley Conference 7–0 2024 Eddie George Big South–OVC Football Association 6–2
Postseason appearances Bowl games Tennessee State has competed in ten bowl games and has a record of 8–1–1.
1944 Vulcan Bowl W 12–7 1945 Vulcan Bowl W 33–6 1946 Vulcan Bowl Louisville Municipal College W 32–0 1954 National Classic North Carolina College L 6–19 1956 Orange Blossom Classic Florida A&M W 41–39 1965 Grantland Rice Bowl Ball State T 14–14 1966 Grantland Rice Bowl W 34–7 1970 Grantland Rice Bowl Southwestern Louisiana W 26–25 1971 Grantland Rice Bowl McNeese State W 26–23 1972 Pioneer Bowl Drake W 29–7
NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs The Tigers have made seven appearances in the NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship playoffs, with a combined record of 3–7.
1981 Quarterfinals South Carolina State L 25–26 OT 1982 QuarterfinalsSemifinals Eastern IllinoisEastern Kentucky W 20–19L 7–13 1986 First RoundQuarterfinals Jackson StateNevada W 32–23L 6–33 1998 First Round Appalachian State L 31–45 1999 First Round North Carolina A&T L 10–24 2013 First RoundSecond Round ButlerEastern Illinois W 31–0L 10–51 2024 First Round Montana L 27–41
College Football Hall of Fame members
John Merritt Coach 1963–1983 1994
Alumni in the NFL Over 100 Tennessee State alumni have played in the NFL, including:
Richard Dent Onzy Elam Joe Gilliam Mike Hegman Sylvester Hicks Bennie Anderson Claude Humphrey Ed "Too Tall" Jones Jim Kelly Greg Kindle Loaird McCreary Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Harold Rice Anthony Shelton Jim Thaxton Mike Jones Larry Kinnebrew Steve Moore Herman Hunter Gilbert Renfroe Malcolm Taylor
Annual Classic Southern Heritage Classic
Future non-conference opponents Announced schedules as of March 16, 2026.
Jackson State1 at Jackson State at Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee at Georgia at Tennessee at North Carolina A&T at Alabama A&M Alabama A&M at Alabama A&M at Florida A&M at Morgan State Morgan State Florida A&M John A. Merritt Classic
References
External links