NASHVILLE — The highlight of the schedule each season is Homecoming Week. This year, Tennessee State welcomes a familiar foe, Eastern Illinois, to Nissan Stadium. It will be the sixth time the Panthers have traveled to Nashville for the pageantry on Jefferson Street.
Tennessee State (4-2) vs. Eastern Illinois (1-5)
Date: Sat., October 12, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: NASHVILLE
Venue: Nissan Stadium (69,143)
TV: ESPN+
Dan Laing (pxp)
Chris Sanders (analyst)
Radio: WNSR — 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), 107.9 FM (Smyrna)
Sirius XM: Ch. 389 / 979 (app)
Stream: TSU Tigers App, WNSR.com, Alexa (Play WNSR)
Greg Pogue (pxp)
Chris Sanders (analyst)
Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | EIU
Game Day Information: Watch | Live Stats
SERIES INFORMATION: This marks the 28th all-time meeting between Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois. EIU leads the all-time series 16-11 and snapped TSU's three-season winning streak with a 30-17 win last year.
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU Football can be heard on WNSR's flagship stations: 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), and 107.9 FM (Smyrna), and streamed online at WNSR.com. The broadcast is also available globally on Sirius XM. WNSR will provide comprehensive pregame and postgame analysis, exclusive interviews with coaches and players, and behind-the-scenes content for enhanced fan engagement. "The Voice of the Tigers," Greg Pogue, returns for his 13th season behind the mic and will be joined by Dean Cokinos, head coach of the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League, for home games and former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders for road games. The action can also be streamed on the TSU Tigers app.
SEASONAL NUMBERS:
4-0: TSU holds a perfect 4-0 record in games where they've recorded eight or more tackles for loss and two or more sacks. In their 41-21 win over Mississippi Valley State, the Tigers tallied 13 tackles for loss for 44 yards and 3 sacks for 22 yards, along with 2 forced fumbles and an interception. TSU's defense was even more dominant against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, notching 11 tackles for loss for 69 yards and a season-high 7 sacks for 61 yards in a 41-28 victory. The strong defensive play continued in a 13-9 win over Charleston Southern, where they recorded 11 tackles for loss for 32 yards and 2 sacks for 11 yards. Most recently, the Tigers registered 8 tackles for loss for 42 yards and 3 sacks for 32 yards in a 24-20 victory over Lindenwood.
9: Tennessee State has been effective in the red zone this season, scoring on 14 of their 17 opportunities for a total of 77 points. The Tigers have scored 9 touchdowns, with 5 coming on the ground and 4 through the air, and have converted 5 field goals. TSU has only failed to score in the red zone three times, with 2 missed field goals (Arkansas-Pine Bluff & Lindenwood) and 1 turnover on downs (Mississippi Valley State). Their best red zone performances came in victories against Mississippi Valley State (4-for-5) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-for-5), both of which saw TSU score multiple rushing and passing touchdowns. However, the Tigers were unable to convert in the red zone in their loss to Tennessee Tech (0-for-0), a rare shutout in red zone attempts.
80+: TSU has proven to be a formidable team when they rush for over 80 yards in a game and score at least one rushing touchdown, boasting a perfect 4-0 record in such contests this season. In their matchup against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, TSU rushed 37 times for 196 yards and scored 2 rushing touchdowns. The Tigers continued their strong ground game with a 138-yard performance on 30 carries against Mississippi Valley State, along with 1 rushing touchdown. They also rushed for 101 yards on 20 attempts, scoring another touchdown in a 13-9 victory over Charleston Southern. In their most recent game against Lindenwood, TSU recorded 89 rushing yards on 40 attempts, adding 2 rushing touchdowns to their tally.
99.3: Tennessee State has gained 726 rushing yards this season, with 130 yards lost, resulting in a net total of 596 yards on 184 attempts. The Tigers are averaging 99.3 rushing yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry. Both TSU and their opponents have scored 6 rushing touchdowns. In comparison, TSU's opponents have gained 1,205 rushing yards with 237 yards lost, for a net total of 968 yards on 248 attempts. Opponents are averaging 161.3 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry.
369: Tennessee State has struggled with penalties this season, averaging 61.5 yards per game, compared to 55.8 yards per game by their opponents. The Tigers have been flagged 42 times for a total of 369 yards, while their opponents have committed 44 penalties for 335 yards. Penalties have particularly hurt TSU in key games. Against Mississippi Valley State, the Tigers were penalized 10 times for 102 yards, while their opponent was flagged 11 times for 61 yards. In the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, TSU committed 7 penalties for 69 yards, but their opponent had even more, with 15 penalties for 121 yards. In more disciplined games, TSU had 5 penalties for just 23 yards against Charleston Southern, compared to their opponent's 2 penalties for 20 yards. However, the overall penalty trend remains a challenge for the Tigers to overcome in close matchups.
WEEK 6 BY THE NUMBERS:
2: Spencer Roof has made a significant impact in the last two games. In the matchup against Charleston Southern, Roof recorded 3 total tackles, including 1 tackle for loss. His defensive presence was felt even more in the recent game at Lindenwood, where he tallied 4 tackles, including a crucial sack that resulted in a 10-yard loss for the opposing team. Additionally, Roof forced a fumble and recorded a blocked kick.
2TD: Tevin Carter, the backup running quarterback for Tennessee State, made a significant impact in the red zone, scoring two touchdowns from inside the goal line against Lindenwood. In limited action, Carter carried the ball 3 times for 6 yards, averaging 2.0 yards per attempt, but his ability to punch the ball in during crucial moments proved vital for the Tigers.
3: TSU secondary showcased its strength by effectively containing Jeff Caldwell, the top Big South-OVC wide receiver, to just 3 receptions for 45 yards and 1 touchdown. Caldwell's longest catch was an early first quarter reception for 34 yards, highlighting TSU's ability to limit his impact on the game. This marked the first time Caldwell had fewer than four catches since a loss at Kansas.
8: Tennessee State's defense was relentless at Lindenwood, recording multiple tackles for loss and sacks that disrupted the Lions' offense throughout the game. Notably, Chris Walker and Tyler Jones led the charge with 2 tackles for loss each, totaling 4 yards lost for the opponent. Eriq George made a significant impact as well, contributing 2 sacks for 22 yards, showcasing his ability to penetrate the backfield effectively. Ahmad Nelson also made his presence felt with a total of 8 tackles, including a tackle for loss. Additionally, Spencer Roof added another sack, further emphasizing TSU's defensive dominance.
63: Jaden McGill delivered his best performance as a Tiger against Lindenwood, rushing for 63 yards on 15 carries. McGill's longest run of the day was 12 yards, showcasing his ability to gain consistent yardage and contribute to the team's ground game.
196: Draylen Ellis showcased his passing prowess despite facing pressure with four sacks during the game. He threw for a total of 196 yards on 14 completions out of 26 attempts, including a pivotal 74-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Evans.
