NASHVILLE – Tennessee State returned from Athens with film to review, corrections to make and another road test immediately ahead.

The Tigers (0-2) will visit Alabama A&M (1-1) at 6 p.m. CT Saturday at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville. This is the second installment of the four-year Legacy Series and will stream on SWAC TV and radio on 102.1 FM The Ville. 

Georgia scored on its first five possessions and carried a 35-0 lead into the closing minutes of the first half.

Head coach Reggie Barlow said the experience provided TSU's players with a firsthand view of the speed and physicality required at the highest level of college football.

"They all want the opportunity to go pro and they want the opportunity to play in the SEC," Barlow said. "So now you get a first hand look at what that looks like, feel like, and how fast that game moves. So we came here with the right mindset, but unfortunately, it was a little bit too much firepower for us."

Despite the result, TSU produced several areas to build upon. The Tigers did not commit a turnover, were penalized only once for 10 yards and held the ball for 31 minutes, 33 seconds. Their lone scoring possession covered 55 yards in 14 plays and consumed 5:29 before Preston Hurless made a 37-yard field goal late in the second quarter.

"So we'll look at it, we'll take the positives and give these guys a pat on the back," Barlow said. "And then, of course, the stuff that we need to clean up, we'll do that as well."

The Tigers now turn their attention to an Alabama A&M team coming off a 38-23 victory over Miles. The Bulldogs accumulated 471 yards, including 279 on the ground, in their first win of the season.

Troy Bruce led the Alabama A&M rushing attack with 145 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Kolton Nero added 87 yards and two scores on 18 attempts, while quarterback Cornelious Brown IV completed 15 of 21 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.

Saturday's game continues a Legacy Series created to celebrate the football traditions and cultural impact of the two HBCU programs. The four-year agreement began in Nashville in 2025 and alternates between Nashville and Huntsville through 2028.

Alabama A&M won the inaugural Legacy Series game 23-21 at Nissan Stadium. TSU scored all 21 of its points during the second quarter and led 21-13 at halftime, but the Bulldogs answered with 10 third-quarter points. Victor Barbosa's 45-yard field goal with 51 seconds remaining in the period provided the final margin.

Tennessee State leads the series 21-9, according to TSU records, with the matchup dating to 1930. Saturday will mark the Tigers' first appearance at Louis Crews Stadium since a 34-13 victory on Aug. 30, 2008.

Barlow's message in Athens centered on handling each moment independently, an approach that now extends from the Georgia game into preparation for Alabama A&M.

"We talked about one snap and clear," Barlow said. "Let's play one play, let it have a life of its own, and then we were clear to go to the next play, if it was good or bad."

Saturday provides the first opportunity to show how quickly the lessons and corrections from Athens can carry into the next game.