2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team

2025 Tennessee State Tigers football
2025 Tennessee State Tigers football
Conference	OVC–Big South Football Association
Record	0–0 (0–0 OVC–Big South)
Head coach	Reggie Barlow (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Fred Kaiss (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Gregg Williams (1st season)
Home stadium	Nissan Stadium
	Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

2025 OVC–Big South football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Charleston Southern	0	–	0	0	–	0
Eastern Illinois	0	–	0	0	–	0
Gardner–Webb	0	–	0	0	–	0
Lindenwood*	0	–	0	0	–	0
Southeast Missouri State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Tennessee State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Tennessee Tech	0	–	0	0	–	0
UT Martin	0	–	0	0	–	0
Western Illinois	0	–	0	0	–	0

* – Ineligible for OVC–Big South title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II. As of April 12, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team will represent Tennessee State University as a member of the OVC–Big South Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They are expected to be led by first year head coach Reggie Barlow. The Tigers play their home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Jordan Gant	RB	Akron
Kaleob Onyeahialam	OL	Alabama A&M
Dion Villiers	DB	Florida A&M
Alex Valbuena	OL	Jackson State
Ace Meadows	OL	Jackson State
Boogie Trotter	DB	Marshall
Hadine Diaby	OL	Nevada
Sanders Ellis	LB	Purdue
CJ Evans	RB	Samford
Tucker Kyne	TE	Tennessee Tech
David Jones	DB	UTEP
Jalen Bell	DL	Unknown
Blake Gamez	OL	Unknown
Connor Meadows	OL	Unknown
Bryant Williams	WR	Unknown
Cameron Blaylock	DT	Unknown
Eriq George	DL	Unknown
Adam Damante	QB	Unknown
Jalen McClendon	DB	Unknown
Jordan Helton	S	Unknown
Gerald Bullock	TE	Unknown
Kheagian Heckaman	TE	Unknown
Ro Abercrombie	TE	Unknown
Mecca Carr-Bordeaux	DL	Unknown
Karate Brenson	WR	Unknown
Jourden Hale-Frater	OL	Unknown
Saidou Ba	OL	Unknown
Jaden McGill	RB	Unknown

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Adam Damante	QB	Arizona
Freddy Perez	K	Georgia Military College
Tyson Edwards	WR	Memphis
Syncere Safeeullah	DB	Nebraska
James Stewart	DE	Middle Tennessee
Jelani Willis	LB	Western Michigan

^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Recruiting class

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Hometown	High School	Source
Devaughn Slaughter	ATH	6-0	160	Indianapolis, IN	Cathedral	^[5]
Christopher Barnett	OL	6-4	280	Murfreesboro, TN	Blackman	^[6]
Steven Nelson	OL	6-3	265	Murfreesboro, TN	Rockvale	^[7]
Jaylon Price	DE	6-3	220	Sunflower, MS	Southwest Mississippi CC	^[8]
Parker Harden	OL	6-4	330	Pickerington, OH	Pickerington Central	^[9]
Jayden Guy	WR	6-0	165	Murfreesboro, TN	Blackman	^[4]
Brandon Collins	DT	6-2	235	Nashville, TN	Ensworth	^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	TV
August 30	North Carolina A&T*	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	TBA
September 6	North Dakota State*	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	TBA
September 13	Alabama A&M*	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	TBA
September 27	Tennessee Tech	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN (Sgt. York Trophy)	ESPN+
October 4	at Eastern Illinois	O'Brien Field Charleston, IL	ESPN+
October 11	at Southeast Missouri State	Houck Stadium Cape Girardeau, MO	ESPN+
October 18	Howard*	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	TBA
October 25	Western Illinois	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	ESPN+
November 1	Lindenwood	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	ESPN+
November 8	at UT Martin	Graham Stadium Martin, TN (Sgt. York Trophy)	ESPN+
November 15	Gardner–Webb	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	ESPN+
November 22	at Charleston Southern	Buccaneer Field North Charleston, SC	ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[10]

Game summaries

vs. North Carolina A&T

Game One – North Carolina A&T Aggies (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Hale Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday August 30, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NCAT	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Carolina A&T	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. North Dakota State

Game Two – North Dakota State Bison (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NDSU	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Dakota State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Tennessee Tech

Game Three – Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Eagles	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday September 27, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	TTU	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Eastern Illinois

Game Four – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL

Date: Saturday October 4, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	TSU	EIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Eastern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Southeast Missouri State

Game Five – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0
Redhawks	0	0	0	0	0

at Houck Stadium • Cape Girardeau, MO

Date: Saturday October 11, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	TSU	SEMO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southeast Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Howard

Game Six – Howard Bison (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Hale Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday October 18, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	HOW	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Howard	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Western Illinois

Game Seven – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday October 25, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Lindenwood

Game Eight – Lindenwood Lions (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday November 1, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	LIN	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lindenwood	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at UT Martin

Game Nine – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at UT Martin Skyhawks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0
Skyhawks	0	0	0	0	0

at Graham Stadium • Martin, TN

Date: Saturday November 8, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	TSU	UTM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UT Martin	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Gardner–Webb

Game Ten – Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday November 15, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	GWU	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Gardner–Webb	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Charleston Southern

Game Eleven – Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) at Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0
Buccaneers	0	0	0	0	0

at Buccaneer Field • North Charleston, SC

Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	TSU	CSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Charleston Southern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
^ "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
^ "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Football Adds Six in February Signing Period". tsutigers. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKdjVkxFPt/?img_index=1
^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKw3mJyAjx/?img_index=1
^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKzePUyX_z/?img_index=1
^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDK2BBHy0Oj/?img_index=1
^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DDLMx9TSflF/?img_index=1
^ "2025 Tennessee State Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

[1] "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.

[2] "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.

[3] "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.

[feb-4] "Football Adds Six in February Signing Period". tsutigers. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.

[5] ttps://www.instagram.com/p/DDKdjVkxFPt/?img_index=1

[6] ttps://www.instagram.com/p/DDKw3mJyAjx/?img_index=1

[7] ttps://www.instagram.com/p/DDKzePUyX_z/?img_index=1

[8] ttps://www.instagram.com/p/DDK2BBHy0Oj/?img_index=1

[9] ttps://www.instagram.com/p/DDLMx9TSflF/?img_index=1

[10] "2025 Tennessee State Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

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v t e Tennessee State Tigers football
Venues	Sulphur Dell Dudley Field/Vanderbilt Stadium (alternate, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979–1990, 1994, 1996) Hale Stadium (1953–1998, 2012–2020) Nissan Stadium (1999–2019, 2021–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin: Sgt. York Trophy Jackson State: Southern Heritage Classic
Culture & lore	Tigre
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1916 1917–1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941–1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold