OPENING DRIVE: Coming off a heartbreaking loss at home in overtime in front of 11,000+ fans at Hale Stadium this past weekend, the Tennessee State University football team will look to get in the win column this Saturday as they welcome in Bethune-Cookman for homecoming. The Tigers will play their first of four games at Nissan Stadium as they play host to the Wildcats this week. 
 
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 (0-4, 0-0) vs. Bethune Cookman (1-3, 1-1)
Date: Sat., October 8
Time: 5:00 p.m. CT
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Venue: Nissan Stadium (69,143)

TV: ESPN+
Dan Laing (pxp), Keith Bulluck (analyst), and Brad Hopkins (analyst)

Local Radio: 102.5 FM The Game
Satellite Radio: Sirius XM 387, XM App 977
Greg Pogue (pxp) and Chris Sanders (analyst)

Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | B-CU
Game Day Information: Watch | Live Stats
  
HOMECOMING SUCCESS: The Tigers have had lots of success when it comes to homecoming matchups. TSU is 69-16-5 all-time when playing on homecoming. The Tiger's first homecoming game was played in 1926, as they tied with Fisk 13-13. TSU and Fisk would have a 0-0 tie in the 1927 homecoming game, followed by three Fisk wins in 1928, 1929, and 1930. TSU's first homecoming win would come in 1931 as they defeated Louisville-Munic 41-0. From 1931 to 1986, the Tigers only lost two homecoming games. TSU had a 21-game homecoming win streak from 1931 to 1960 and then would start a 24-game streak from 1962 to 1986. TSU took down Murray State 27-21 in last year's homecoming game. 
 
SERIES INFORMATION: TSU is 8-2 against Bethune-Cookman all-time. The Tigers and the Wildcats last played in 2018, as TSU picked up the 34-3 win in Nashville. TSU has won the last two contests, also picking up a 31-24 win in the 2016 season. B-CU's last win over TSU came in the 2013 season as they picked up a 12-9 win over the Tigers. Bethune's only other win against TSU came in a 16-13 contest in 1987. TSU won the first five matchups over B-CU, beginning with the first matchup in 1982 as TSU won 41-11. 
 
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN: The Wildcats come into Saturday's homecoming matchup with one win under their belt this season, defeating Grambling State 36-19. The Wildcats dropped their first two games of the season and lost again last Saturday. B-CU is averaging 21.25 points per game while giving up 39.25. Bethune has been pass-heavy racking up 938 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air while tallying 567 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. B-CU is averaging 376.3 yards per game. Defensively, the Wildcats are allowing 475.8 yards per game (242.8 rushing & 233.0 passing). 

WEEK 6: BY THE NUMBERS
 
69: The number of wins that TSU has in homecoming matchups. The Tigers have done a nice job of picking up wins on homecoming and will look to make it an even 70 as they host B-CU on Saturday.
 
5: The number of players that have recorded a rushing touchdown. TSU has tallied five rushing touchdowns on the season all by different players. Devon Starling, Jalen Rouse, Chayil Garnett, Edwin Rhodes III, and Draylen Ellis have all found the endzone on the ground.  

31: The number of players that have made their TSU debut this season. 
 
3: Tennessee State's rank among accumulative attendance through two home contests this season. A combined 62,904 people have seen TSU play this season between the Southern Heritage Classic which drew 51,351 and the John Merritt classic which brought in 11,553 fans. The Tigers only trail Montana and Montana State in home attendance. TSU currently has the highest average attendance with 31,452. 

MOSLEY'S MAKES: After a stellar performance that saw him earn OVC Specialist of the Week this past Saturday, Kaleb Mosley proved why he was picked to replace Antonio Zita as the placekicker. Mosley who is now pulling double duty as the placekicker and the punter finished 2-of-2 on field goal attempts against Lane College, with a career-long 51-yard field goal that sent the game into overtime, while also connected on all three of his extra-point attempts. The Senior is now 4-of-4 on field goal attempts this season, three of which have been from 30-39 yards, while the fourth was from 51 yards. The fifth-year senior currently leads the team in scoring through four games with 17 points and has the seventh-longest field goal in the FCS this season.
 
ROUSE TO THE HOUSE – Third-year running back Jalen Rouse had a career day against Lane College, as he reached the endzone for the second straight week. The sophomore racked up a career-high 109 yards on the ground on 25 carries and a score. He also caught one pass for 10 yards. Rouse is second on the team with 139 rushing yards on 37 carries with one touchdown. He has caught three passes for 77 yards and a score.  

GROUND ATTACK: Through four games this season the TSU offense has totaled just under 600 rushing yards with 597. The Tigers are averaging 149.2 yards per game on the ground and have totaled five rushing touchdowns on the season. TSU has three players with 100+ rushing yards, Devon Starling (292), Jalen Rouse (139), and Draylen Ellis (131) have all eclipsed the 100+ yard mark.
 
BLOCK PARTY: The Tennessee State defense is tied for 2^nd in the nation with four blocked kicks. Michael Crawford has recorded two blocks, while Josh Green and Cameron Stewart have each recorded one apiece. The Tigers recorded three blocks against Lane College as Crawford collected two, while Stewart tallied the third. 
 
NISSAN OPENERS: Tennessee State is 8-2 in Openers at Nissan Stadium going back to the 2011 season. TSU's only two losses in that span came in 2013 to Bethune-Cookman and in 2017 to Eastern Illinois. B-CU's win over TSU in that 2013 matchup was their last win over the Tigers. 

FINAL TUNEUP: Saturday's game against Bethune-Cookman will be the final non-conference game for the Tigers until they take on A&M Commerce to close out the season. TSU will start OVC play next Saturday, October 15, as they will travel to Tennessee Tech for a 6:00 p.m. OVC opener. TSU will look to build off its tough non-conference schedule as they move into conference play.