The 2026 Tennessee State Tigers football team represents Tennessee State University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers are led by second-year head coach Reggie Barlow and play their home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Schedule
Game summaries
Jackson State
Statistics JKSTTNST First downs 22 22 Plays–yards 64–402 74–354 Rushes–yards 38–180 33–89 Passing yards 222 265 Passing: comp–att–int 17–26–0 23–41–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 26:59 33:01 Team Category Player Statistics Jackson State Passing Jared Lockhart 17/26, 222 yards, TD Rushing Nate Blount IV 15 carries, 101 yards Receiving Jabari Jones 4 receptions, 117 yards, TD Tennessee State Passing Daylin Lee 23/41, 265 yards, TD Rushing Daylin Lee 13 carries, 40 yards, TD Receiving Jayden Guy 9 receptions, 148 yards
at No. 3 (FBS) Georgia
The Tigers played the Georgia Bulldogs for the first time in program history. Georgia paid Tennessee State $600,000 to play the game. Georgia won decisively 63–3.
Georgia received the opening kickoff and scored on its first drive when Nate Frazier ran 48 yards for a touchdown, the first of the season. Tennessee State went three-and-out on its opening possession before Frazier scored his second touchdown on a 14-yard run, giving Georgia a 14–0 lead. After another Tennessee State punt, Gunner Stockton threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Elyiss Williams to extend the lead to 21–0. On Georgia's next possession, Stockton connected with Talyn Taylor for an 11-yard touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 28–0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Stockton opened the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Reddell, his third touchdown pass of the game. After another Tiger punt, Tennessee State stopped Georgia's offense for the first time by forcing a turnover on downs. From there, the Tigers steadily moved the ball against the Georgia defense and scored their first points of the afternoon, on a 37-yard field goal by Preston Hurless. Georgia entered halftime leading 35–3.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff of the second half but were forced to punt after a three-play drive. Georgia responded with Frazier's third rushing touchdown of the game, a three-yard run that extended the lead to 42–3. On the Bulldogs' next possession, backup quarterback Ryan Puglisi threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kaiden Prothro, giving Georgia a 49–3 lead entering the fourth quarter. Georgia scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 54-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Montgomery to Jeremy Bell and an 11-yard touchdown run by Jae Lamar, to finish with a 63–3 victory.
Statistics TNSTUGA First downs 10 31 Plays–yards 58–109 60–660 Rushes–yards 32–10 27–272 Passing yards 99 388 Passing: comp–att–int 15–26–0 25–33–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:33 28:27 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee State Passing Daylin Lee 11/19, 62 yards Rushing Trevor Pearson 5 carries, 14 yards Receiving Cam Bulluck 4 receptions, 28 yards Georgia Passing Gunner Stockton 15/16, 202 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nate Frazier 4 carries, 72 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jeremy Bell 1 reception, 54 yards, TD
at Alabama A&M
Statistics TNSTAAMU First downs 17 20 Plays–yards 71–251 67–452 Rushes–yards 30–64 29–126 Passing yards 187 326 Passing: comp–att–int 19–41–2 24–38–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 28:39 31:21 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee State Passing Daylin Lee 19/41, 187 yards, 2 INT Rushing Brenton Paul 12 carries, 40 yards Receiving Cam Bulluck 4 receptions 50 yards Alabama A&M Passing Cornelious Brown IV 24/38, 326 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Kolton Nero 10 carries, 52 yards Receiving Jarel Williams 8 receptions, 175 yards, TD
at Florida A&M
Statistics TNSTFAMU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Florida A&M Passing Rushing Receiving
at Western Illinois
Statistics TNSTWIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
UT Martin (Sgt. York Trophy)
Statistics UTMTNST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UT Martin Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
Morgan State
Statistics MORGTNST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Morgan State Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
Charleston Southern
Statistics CHSOTNST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Charleston Southern Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Lindenwood
Statistics TNSTLIN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Lindenwood Passing Rushing Receiving
Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMOTNST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southeast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
Eastern Illinois
Statistics EIUTNST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Gardner–Webb
Statistics TNSTGWEB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving
References