Tennessee State got a rare early season pause in its schedule last week, and head coach Reggie Barlow made sure the Tigers used it wisely. After a demanding start that featured two classics and the top ranked opponent in the first three games, the bye week offered time to heal, refocus and reset ahead of a critical rivalry showdown Saturday at Nissan Stadium against #11 Tennessee Tech.

"Coming off of a bye week, we had a chance to get some work in," Barlow said. "We practiced about three days, really tried to get some guys back healthy and healed up, but also improve our skill set and personnel. The guys came in and worked hard. Coaches did a good job, and we were able to get out and do some recruiting too."

The early slate — which included top-ranked powerhouse North Dakota State, North Carolina A&T and a matchup with Alabama A&M — tested TSU immediately. While the results were mixed, Barlow believes that kind of competition will pay off as the Tigers move into conference play.

"All these guys want to know how they measure up against the better teams," Barlow said. "We got a chance to play against North Dakota State, obviously they're a really solid program. Now we get another opponent in the top 25. All these games are challenging, but our group will be ready to rock and roll."

On the field, the Tigers have leaned on their ground game to establish rhythm. Running back Kendric Rhymes leads TSU with 228 rushing yards through three games, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Fellow back Zack Simmons-Brown has chipped in 104 yards and a touchdown, helping the offense surpass 500 total rushing yards.

The passing game has split between quarterbacks. Byron McNair has completed 19 of 31 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown since taking over as starter, while Jonathan Palmer, who opened the season under center, has gone 16-for-34 for 161 yards. On the outside, Devaughn Slaughter leads the team with 121 receiving yards, while Rhymes has doubled as a reliable target with 77 yards and a touchdown reception.

Special teams have provided consistency as well. Punter Mark Shenouda is averaging 41.9 yards per kick, while kicker Freddy Perez has connected on two field goals from beyond 40 yards.

The Tigers now turn their attention to Tennessee Tech, a team off to one of the hottest starts in the country. The Golden Eagles are 3-0 and have outscored opponents by an average of 60.7 to 10.3, the best scoring margin nationally. They lead the FCS in scoring offense and rank seventh in scoring defense — fourth among teams that have played at least three games.

Tennessee Tech quarterback Kekoa Visperas has directed the offense with efficiency, throwing for 736 yards and eight touchdowns on 68 percent passing with just one interception. The run game has been just as dynamic, with Quintell Quinn averaging 80.7 yards per game and four touchdowns, and Q'Daryius Jennings adding 65 yards per outing with four more scores. Freshman Maurice Sims has contributed 119 yards, highlighted by a 78-yard run. The Golden Eagles' depth has been evident, with nine different receivers catching touchdown passes; Luke Shields leads with two, while Maury Sullivan has a team-high 14 receptions for 162 yards.

"They've been outstanding this season in terms of scoring the ball and defense," Barlow said. "They're a solid football team, and we've got to get ourselves prepared to play. Their quarterback is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes with eight or nine touchdowns and just one interception. He's doing a good job with the ball."

The rivalry only raises the stakes. Since 1984, TSU and Tennessee Tech have met 38 times, with the Golden Eagles holding a 22-16 edge in the all-time series. The Tigers have delivered statement wins of their own, including a 63-13 rout in 2001, a 44-16 victory at Nissan Stadium in 2016 and a 24-10 road win in the spring 2021 season. But Tech has claimed the last two meetings, including a 35-0 shutout in 2023 and a 24-14 win last year in Cookeville.

This matchup also plays into the Sgt. York Trophy race, which is awarded annually to the team with the best head-to-head record among Tennessee's OVC programs: TSU, Tech and UT Martin. The Tigers have captured the trophy five times, with back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008 followed by a three-year run from 2011 to 2013. More than a decade later, they are eager to reclaim that honor, and a win over Tech would provide a valuable foothold.

Still, Barlow remains confident in his team's direction. McNair is settling into the starting role, Rhymes has emerged as a reliable playmaker, and the defense has shown the ability to force opponents into long-yardage situations.

"Byron did some good things," Barlow said. "Obviously, there are things he needs to improve on, but I trust he'll work on those as we prepare for our next opponent. He's a solid player, loves football, hardworking guy. We expect him to make all the necessary adjustments."

The mission is clear: break through against a high-powered Tennessee Tech squad and prove that lessons learned against ranked opponents can translate into wins in the OVC-Big South race. The bye week offered time to regroup. Now the Tigers look to carry that preparation onto the field.