NASHVILLE — With the first win of the season under their belts, the Tennessee State football team is set to host Gardner-Webb in the John Merritt Classic for the Tigers' home opener at Nissan Stadium on September 16. This game will serve as the Big South-OVC opener for both teams as TSU and GWU carry 1-1 records.
 
Tennessee State (1-1, 0-0) vs. Gardner-Webb (1-1, 0-0)
Date: Sat., September 16
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Nissan Stadium (69,143)
 
TV: ESPN+
Dan Laing (pxp)
Keith Bulluck (analyst)
 
Radio: WNSR — 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), 107.9 FM (Smyrna)
Sirius XM: Ch. TBA
Stream: TSU Tigers App, WNSR.com, Alexa (Play WNSR)
Greg Pogue (pxp)
Chris Sanders (analyst)
 
Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | GWU
Game Day Information:  Watch | Live Stats
 
SERIES INFORMATION: This will be the first-ever meeting between the Tigers and the Bulldogs.

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU Football can be heard on WNSR's flagship network, 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), 107.9 FM (Smyrna), and WNSR.com. Globally, the broadcast can be heard on Sirius XM. Additionally, WNSR will offer in-depth pregame and postgame analysis, exclusive interviews with coaches and players, and behind-the-scenes content to engage fans on a deeper level. "The Voice of the Tigers" Greg Pogue returns for his 12th season behind the mic and will be joined by former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders. Nashville broadcasting legend Albert Dawson will fill-in for Sanders. The action can also be heard on the TSU Tigers app.
 
THE JOHN MERRITT CLASSIC: It's the annual game that brings out the barbecue grills, fish fries, and fellowship. It's a community revival of sorts and a North Nashville family reunion wrapped in one — the John Merritt Classic. Though it brings thousands from across the city and region to Tennessee State University, it all started years ago with one man, John Merritt, the coach who took Tennessee State to its highest level of football in the program's history. Affectionately known as "Big John", Merritt dominated and revolutionized the game of football during his coaching career, compiling a record of 172-33-7 at TSU and 232-65-11 overall. His former players and the Big Blue Nation still remember Merritt's signature cigar smoke after wins.
 
TSU IN THE JOHN MERRITT: The Tigers have played in the John Merritt Classic 23 times dating back to the first event in 1999. The Tigers are 16-7 in the event. TSU won the first six John Merritt Classics from 1999-2004. The Tigers took down Alabama A&M three years in a row, followed by wins over Prairie View A&M, South Carolina State, and AAMU. TSU's first loss in the classic came in 2005 to AAMU, as they would drop three in a row to AAMU from 2005-2007. The Tigers fell in last year's JMC 28-27 to Lane College in overtime.
 
TSU BY THE NUMBERS
 
16: The number of wins that TSU has in the John Merritt Classic. TSU won the first event in 1999, as they beat Alabama State 41-8.
 
43,836: The number of the combined attendance from all 23 John Merritt Classics. The Classic has drawn 20,00+ fans on 11 separate occasions. 31,119 fans watched the first John Merritt Classic in 1999, which is the highest amount among John Merritt Classics. The Tigers packed 11,553 fans into Hale Stadium for last year's JMC.
 
379: The number of total yards the TSU offense finished with against UAPB. The Tigers showcased a balanced attack with 195 passing yards and 184 rushing yards in the contest. TSU's 379 yards are the most in a game since last season's 394 yards against Eastern Illinois on October 22, 2022.   
 
10: The number of wins Eddie George now has in coaching career. Saturday's victory was the 10^th of George's young career as his team defeated UAPB to win the Southern Heritage Classic. George won five games in his first season in 2021, followed by four last year.

NEW BEGINNINGS: For the first time in 35 seasons, the TSU football team will be playing in a new conference. Saturday's game marks the first Big South-OVC game for the Tigers after the OVC and Big South joined forces this past offseason to become a joint conference. With the release of the 2023 joint football schedule, it was announced that the partnership between the two conferences would exist through the 2026–27 season. 

BIG CAM: 5th-year defensive lineman Cameron Stewart played in his 40^th career game this past Saturday against UAPB, and the big man in the middle had one of his best career outings, as he tallied six tackles (three solo, three assists). The Chattanooga native has seven tackles this season and is on pace for one of his better seasons. Stewart had a career-high 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1.5 TFLs last season.       
 
QB1: With two starts under his belt, including a win against UAPB in a well-managed game, the Tigers seemed to have found their starting quarterback in 6^th-year man Deveon Bryant. "I think he separated himself tonight," stated Eddie George. "When he led us down on the 99-yard drive, he had confidence". Bryant had a well-managed game against UAPB as he finished 14-of-19 through the air with 174 yards, while also tacking on 80 rushing yards. The Illinois native has passed for 217 yards and has accumulated 109 rushing yards in two games.
 
GROUND AND POUND: The Tigers are one of two teams in the newly formed Big South-OVC that have two players with 100+ rushing yards after two weeks of play. Jalen Rouse (119) ranks 5th in the league, while Deveon Bryant (109) is 9^th in the Big South-OVC rankings. Lindenwood is the other team with two 100+ yard rushers.  
 
TEU: TSU tight end Trenton Gillison had a breakout game for the Tigers in their win against UAPB on Saturday. The first-year Tiger and former Michigan State / Youngstown State product hauled in five passes for 57 yards. Gillison's five receptions are the most by a TSU TE since October 2, 2021, when Rodell Rahmaan hauled in five passes at Austin Peay. TSU TEs caught a combined 11 passes last season and will look to surpass that number this season as they have six TEs on the roster.