Where They Stand
Year two of the Reggie Barlow era has been a grind, but there's fight in these Tigers. Tennessee State is 1-3, and the losses tell a story of near-misses: a 26-24 heartbreaker to Jackson State in the John Merritt Classic decided by a botched 37-yard field goal attempt, a 63-3 lesson at No. 3 Georgia, and a 30-3 stumble at Alabama A&M. Then came the breakthrough — a 29-26 road win at Florida A&M on September 19, the program's first win of the season and a reminder of what this offense can look like when it clicks.
The click has a name: Daylin Lee. The Winston-Salem State transfer has transformed an offense that ranked next-to-last in the FCS a year ago, throwing for 265 yards against Jackson State and building instant chemistry with sophomore receiver Jayden Guy (nine catches, 148 yards in the opener). Freshman back Brenton Paul and kicker Preston Hurless — who drilled a 47-yarder against JSU — add young pieces. OVC play opens October 3 at Western Illinois, with five of the last eight at Nissan Stadium, including homecoming-adjacent dates with UT Martin (Sgt. York Trophy, Oct. 10) and Eastern Illinois. Barlow even brought Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent back as a special advisor. The standard in Nashville is set by giants; this team is learning to stand tall.
The Story of Tennessee State Tigers
Tennessee State football is built on the most dominant coaching tenure Black college football has ever seen. John Merritt coached the Tigers from 1963 to 1983, winning with a ferocity that made TSU the team nobody wanted to play: his teams lost a total of five games across the four seasons Claude Humphrey played, and the John Merritt Classic — the annual Nashville kickoff event — still bears his name. Merritt's Tigers were a machine, and the NFL noticed.
The pipeline from Nashville to the pros is staggering. Tennessee State alumni have appeared in 32 Super Bowls — more than any other HBCU — and the headliners are royalty: Claude Humphrey, the 1968 No. 3 overall pick and Hall of Fame defensive end; Ed "Too Tall" Jones, the 6-foot-9 Cowboys legend and No. 1 overall pick of the 1974 draft; and Richard Dent, the Super Bowl XX MVP and Hall of Famer who terrorized quarterbacks for 15 seasons. Eldridge Dickey — the first Black quarterback ever drafted in the first round (1968) — and Jim Marsalis, a Super Bowl IV champion, round out a golden age that made TSU the pride of Black college football in the late '60s and '70s.
TSU took a road no other HBCU traveled: the Tigers joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 1986 and remain the lone HBCU competing in that league — now the Big South–OVC Football Association — playing big games at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, as well as historic Hale Stadium on campus. The Aristocrat of Bands provides the soundtrack. Eddie George's 2021–24 tenure returned the program to the FCS playoffs in 2024 with a share of the conference title; Reggie Barlow, who took over in 2025, is tasked with making that the floor, not the ceiling.
Past Coaches
All-Time Team
Eldridge Dickey
The first Black quarterback ever selected in the first round of the NFL draft (1968, 25th overall).
Joe Gilliam
Started for the Steelers in the early '70s; a TSU quarterbacking great.
Claude Humphrey
Hall of Famer; No. 3 overall pick in 1968, 1968 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, six Pro Bowls.
Ed "Too Tall" Jones
The 6-9 No. 1 overall pick in 1974; 15 seasons with the Cowboys, Super Bowl XII champion.
Richard Dent
Hall of Famer; Super Bowl XX MVP; 137.5 career sacks, still among the most in NFL history.
Jim Marsalis
First-round pick in 1969; Super Bowl IV champion with the Chiefs as a rookie.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
First-round pick in 2008; Pro Bowl cornerback, Super Bowl appearance with the Cardinals.
Willie Mitchell
Started at cornerback for the Chiefs in the first Super Bowl.
Names to Know
Daylin Lee
Winston-Salem State transfer; 23-of-41 for 265 yards vs. Jackson State in the opener.
Brenton Paul
Freshman; scored on a 9-yard TD run vs. Jackson State.
Jayden Guy
Sophomore; nine catches for 148 yards vs. Jackson State.
Dylan Rodd
20-yard catch on the final drive vs. Jackson State.
Aaron Duncan II
Big third-down conversion vs. Jackson State.
Preston Hurless
Drilled a 47-yard field goal vs. Jackson State.
Past Seasons
Season Stats
| Season | Record | Conference | Finish | Head coach | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2–10 | 0–8 OVC–Big South | 9th | Reggie Barlow | |
| 2024 | 9–4 | 6–2 Big South–OVC | T–1st | Eddie George | FCS playoffs — lost at Montana 41–27 |
| 2023 | 6–5 | OVC–Big South | Eddie George |
Schedule
Team News
Tennessee State comes up short, but finds resurgent offense in loss
Daylin Lee's 265 yards and Jayden Guy's breakout: the offense finally has a pulse.
Read the story →What to watch for Tennessee State football vs. No. 3 Georgia
Lee and Guy 'brought life to TSU offense' — the test gets no easier in Athens.
Read the story →Jackson State outlasts Tennessee State 26-24 in John Merritt Classic thriller
A botched 37-yard field goal try ends a classic in front of 32,467 in Nashville.
Read the story →Eddie George era over at Tennessee State
The Heisman winner leaves for Bowling Green after four seasons — and a 2024 playoff berth.
Read the story →Tennessee State adds football legend to coaching staff
Super Bowl XX MVP Richard Dent joins Barlow's program as a special advisor.
Read the story →