OPENING DRIVE: Second-year head football coach Eddie George and his Tennessee State Tigers will hit the road this weekend for their final conference road game of the season, as they are set to travel to Murray, Kentucky, to take on Murray State. The Tigers will be looking for their fourth straight win and third straight Ohio Valley Conference victory after defeating Eastern Illinois 37-17 last Saturday. George will look to match last year's four-game win streak he set in his first season as the head coach. 
 
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 (3-4, 2-0) at. Murray State (0-8, 0-3)
Date: Sat., October 29
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Murray, Kentucky
Venue: Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800)

TV: ESPN+

Local Radio: 94.9 FM The Fan
Satellite Radio: Sirius XM 386, XM App 976
Greg Pogue (pxp) and Chris Sanders (analyst)

Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | MSU
Game Day Information: Watch | Live Stats
 
SERIES INFORMATION: The Tigers and the Racers have met 33 times with TSU being 14-19 against Murray State all-time. TSU has struggled against MSU in recent years, dropping five straight games from 2015-2016, 2018-2019, and 2021 (spring). The Tigers will look to make it to wins in a row over Murray after taking down the Racers last fall 27-21 in Nashville. TSU's last win at Murray came in 2014 as they won 48-33.
 
SCOUTING MSR: The Racers come into Saturday's matchup without any wins. MSR has only scored 20+ points in one game this season in a 35-21 loss to EIU. Murray averages 12.38 points per game, while they give up 42.63 points per game. The Racer defense is giving up 524.4 yards per game, while the offense is posting just under 300 yards per game at 292.4. Touchdowns have been hard to come by for the Racers as they have only accounted for 12. Jayden Stinson leads the passing attack as he has passed for 1,082 yards on 89-of-180 with seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Damonta Witherspoon leads the Racers' ground game with 313 yards, followed by Jawaun Northington who has rushed for 285 yards and a score.
 
WEEK 9: BY THE NUMBERS
 
1000: The number of passing yards TSU quarterback Draylen Ellis reached this season and in his TSU career in Saturday's win against EIU. Ellis had his most efficient passing game of the season as he completed 75 percent of his passes (27-of-36) for a season-high 309 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The transfer from Austin Peay has thrown for 1,186 yards and eight scores this season which gives him 5,080 career passing yards along with 41 touchdowns.
 
803: The number of combined rushing yards that running backs Jalen Rouse and Devon Starling have combined for this season. The two-headed rushing attack has seen a balanced effort this season, as Rouse has 414 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Starling with 389 yards and one score. When factoring in Starling's 164 receiving yards and Rouse's 115, the duo has combined for 1,082 all-purpose yards. This is the first season since 2019 that TSU has had two running backs cross the 350-yard mark in the same season since the 2019 season.
 
3: The number of interceptions Josh Green has recorded in the last three games. The junior safety notched his first pick of the season against Bethune-Cookman and has gone on to record interceptions in the last two games against Tennessee Tech and EIU. Green now has nine career interceptions, which is tied for the 5^th most among active FCS players.

15: The number of different players that have caught a pass this season. The TSU offense has showcased its wide range of versatile receivers week in and week out, as different 15 players have caught a pass this season. The Tigers have six players with 10+ grabs, and seven players with 100+ receiving yards. JJ Holloman leads the tigers with 18 receptions for 200 yards. 

40: The number of tackles Jahsun Bryant has this season. Bryant became the first Tiger defender to reach 40 tackles this season after collecting four against EIU. The Nashville native has now posted 40+ tackles in three consecutive seasons and has collected 164 and counting for his career. 
 
TURNOVER MACHINE: The TSU defense has been on a tear the last three games when it comes to forcing turnovers. The Tigers have had 11 of their 15 turnovers have come in the span of the last three games against Bethune, Tennessee Tech, and Eastern Illinois. TSU forced four turnovers against both B-CU and EIU, while they forced three against TTU. Josh Green leads the team with four turnover recoveries (3 INTs, 1 FR), while Davoan Hawkins has recovered two fumbles within the last three games.
 
ALLEN FINDS HIS RHYTHM: After recording no sacks and just one tackle for loss in the first three games he played in, junior defensive end Terrell Allen has come on strong in recent weeks as he has notched 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his last three games. Allen had his best game as Tiger this past Saturday against EIU. The Arkansas native tallied six tackles, 3.0 TFLs, and two sacks in the win. Allen has tallied 16 tackles, eight solo, eight assists, 6.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks through six games this season.

DAVIS BREAKS OUT: Da'Shon Davis had a breakout game against EIU as the fourth-year Tiger caught a career-high four passes for a team and career-high 70 yards. The Florida native reeled in three passes for 51 yards against Tennessee Tech and had his first catch of the season against Bethune. Prior to 2022 Davis played in just two games, making one catch for five yards. Davis has hauled in nine passes for 141 yards this season, and showed his athleticism on a 46-yard catch and run against EIU.

TWICE AS NICE: Kaleb Mosley has continued to show why he was chosen as the man to replace Antonio Zita after earning his second OVC Specialist of the Week honor after his performance against EIU. The senior kicker was a perfect 3-of-3 with three 40+ yard field goals (42, 42, 46). Mosley connected on all four of his extra-point attempts on his way to scoring a season-high 13 points against EIU. He is 9-of-11 on field goal attempts this year and has a long of 51 yards. He is a perfect 5-of-5 on field goal attempts from 40+ yards, while his 47 points scored this season are the 4^th most in the OVC.

ROBERTS IV GETS II: Freshman wide receiver John Roberts IV caught his second touchdown pass of the season last Saturday against EIU. Roberts IV hauled in a 52-yard reception to give the Tigers 37 points with 10:00 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The freshman now leads the team in receiving touchdowns with two. 

SWEET AS REESE'S: Fifth-year defensive back James Reese IV, who recently signed a NIL with Reese's candy as a part of "Team Reese", grabbed his first interception of the season against EIU and sealed the deal with 00:50 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. Along with intercepting passes, Reese IV will also intercept a Reese's gold chain and pendant, a custom-tailored travel blazer, a pair of cup shape cufflinks, and a mini fridge made to fit into a locker that will be stored with Reese's in part with his NIL deal. Reese IV was one of 12 DI football players signed to a "Team Reese" NIL deal.