OPENING DRIVE: Fresh off their first victory of the 2022 season, the Tennessee State football team will look to carry that momentum from last Saturday's homecoming win over Bethune-Cookman into Ohio Valley Conference play, as the Tigers are set to take on Tennessee Tech this weekend. This will be the OVC opener for TSU, while Tech has played two conference games over SEMO and UT Martin.
 
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU expanded its partnership with Cromwell Media naming 94.9 FM The Fan as the flagship station for TSU Football. "The Voice of the Tigers" Greg Pogue returns for his 11th season behind the mic and will be joined by newcomer analysts to the booth former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders and left tackle, Brad Hopkins. The action can also be heard on the TSU Tigers app.
 
Tennessee State (1-4, 0-0) at. Tennessee Tech (1-4, 0-2)
Date: Sat., October 15
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
Venue: Tucker Stadium (16,500)

TV: ESPN+
Dylan Vazzano (pxp), Sam Brooks (analyst)

Local Radio: 94.9 FM The Fan
Satellite Radio: Sirius XM TBA, XM App TBA
Greg Pogue (pxp) and Chris Sanders (analyst)

Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | Tech
Game Day Information: Watch | Live Stats
  
OVC OPENERS: Tennessee State is 16-18 in Ohio Valley Conference openers since joining the league as a football member in 1988. The Tigers struggled in the first five OVC openers, dropping five straight from 1988-19922. TSU's first OVC opening win came in 1993 as they took down Middle Tennessee 34-33. The Tigers come into Saturday's conference opener losers of their last three OVC openers. TSU last won an OVC season opener in 2018, as they defeated Eastern Illinois 41-40. The Tigers took down TTU 10-7 to open OVC play in the 2014 season.     
 
SERIES INFORMATION: TSU is 21-14 against Tennessee Tech all-time. The Tigers and the Eagles first met in 1984 and have played every year since 1988. TSU won the first six matchups from 1984, 1985, and 1988-1991. The two schools met last year in Nashville with TSU picking up the 20-13 win.  
 
SCOUTING TTU: TTU comes into Saturday night's matchup with a 1-4 record. The Golden Eagles dropped their first game of the season to Kansas 56-10, followed by their first win of the season over Texas A&M-Commerce 26-25. The Golden Eagles have dropped their last three games, two of which were conference games against UT Martin and SEMO. TTU is averaging 22.4 points per game while giving up 38.6. Tech is averaging 382.2. yards per game (234.2 passing, 148.0 rushing), and have accounted for 14 offensive touchdowns on the season (10 passing, four rushing). Quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall commands the Eagle offense, as he has passed for 1083 yards and nine touchdowns, while also rushing for 164 yards and a score. David Gist leads the ground attack with 279 rushing yards and three scores. Josh Reliford (37 tackles) and Seth Carlisle (34 tackles) lead the TTU defense.

GAME 6: BY THE NUMBERS
 
3: The number of straight games in which Jalen Rouse has now scored a touchdown. The sophomore running back recorded his first touchdown of the season on a 33-yard reception against MTSU, followed by rushing touchdowns in the past two games against Lane and B-CU.
 
5: The number of blocked kicks that the Tigers have this season. TSU is tied for first in the nation with Morehead State with five blocks. Michael Crawford picked up his third block in the past two games on Saturday against B-CU, after finishing with two against Lane the week prior. Crawford is tied for second in the nation with his three blocks.

35: The number of tackles for loss that the TSU defense has tallied through five games. TSU has collected 29 solo TFLs and 12 assisted TFLs. The Tigers rank 22^nd in the FCS in TFLs and are averaging 7.0 per game. Tadarrius Patterson leads the defense with five tackles for loss, followed by Chris Walker with 3.5.
 
83: The number of miles that separate Nashville and Cookeville. This weekend's trip to TTU will be the shortest OVC road trip of the season for the Tigers.
 
ELLIS RETURNS: After exiting with an Injury against MTSU and missing the game against Lane College, sophomore quarterback Draylen Ellis had a solid return, sparking the Tiger offense against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. The Mississippi native accounted for two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground as he passed for 138 yards and rushed for 29.
 
ROBERTS IV GETS TD I: True freshman wide receiver John Roberts IV had two first happen on Saturday night against B-CU. The Nashville native recorded his tallied his first career reception which resulted in his first career touchdown. Roberts IV was able to find the endzone early in the second quarter as he caught a five-yard pop pass from Ellis and showed off his shiftiness as he evaded two defenders to put TSU up 14-3.
 
SIX FOR SIX – Junior safety Josh Green who just happens to wear #6 recorded his first inception of the season on Saturday against B-CU and returned it 52-yards for six points. The 52-yard pick-six put the Tigers up 31-3 just before the half. The interception marks Green's seventh career pick and his first career touchdown. Green has 28 tackles on the season, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, one blocked kick, and one pass breakup in addition to his interception.   
 
POSITION CHANGE: After spending the first three years of his career as a tight end at South Florida, and his first four weeks as a tight end for TSU, senior transfer Thomas Nance has found a new home on the defensive line. Nance made the switch to the defensive side of the ball early in practice last week and the 6-3 275-pound senior showed why against B-CU. Nance entered the game late in the fourth quarter and picked up his first career sack as he beat the right tackle off the edge to bring down Franklin for an 8-yard loss.
 
STAYING HOT IN THE RED ZONE: The TSU offense continues to put points on the board when they reach the red zone. The Tigers finished 3-of-3 on red zone attempts on Saturday to move to 9-of-10 on the season. TSU's 90 percent red zone conversion rate is tied for 14th in the nation among FCS programs. The Tigers have passed for four touchdowns, ran for one, and converted four field goals in their 10 red zone opportunities.