The 2024 football schedule has finally been set.
Who’s ready for Saturdays in Roar City?
Mark your calendars, the schedule is set.#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/VYrXSGAvgs
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) May 24, 2024
The 12-game docket features five home games and seven road contests. The season kicks off Aug. 31 at home when the Tigers will face Mississippi Valley State in the 26th John A. Merritt Classic.
Tennessee State and the Delta Devils last met in 2019, and the Tigers won 26-20.
On Sept. 7, the Tigers will head to Fargo, North Dakota, to take on perennial FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in the first meeting between the schools.
The following week, Tennessee State meets Arkansas Pine Bluff in the 35th Southern Heritage Classic. The Tigers hold a 3-1 series edge over the Lions, including a 24-14 victory last season.
Eddie George and the Tigers will be on the road again on Sept. 21 to take on Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles handily dispatched TSU 35-0 a season ago.
After completing their three-game road trip, Tennessee State returns home on September 28 to face Charleston Southern. Beset with four turnovers, the Buccaneers handed the Tigers a 35-21 in their inaugural meeting in 2023.
On Oct. 5, Tennessee State then plays at Lindenwood. TSU won their initial matchup last season, 43-20, led by a monster game from Terrell Allen, who had 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and forced two fumbles.
The Tigers return to Nissan Stadium on Oct.12 to face Eastern Illinois. In their last meeting, EIU defeated TSU 30-17.
Tennessee State’s next trip is to the nation’s capital on Oct. 19, where they will be the homecoming opponent for Howard University. In their last meeting in 2001, the TSU shut out the Bison 45-0.
After a week off, the Tigers return to action with a home matchup with the UT Martin Skyhawks. Martin won 20-10 in their meeting last season.
On Nov. 9, the Tigers will travel to Macomb, Illinois, to take on Western Illinois in their first-ever matchup against the Leathernecks.
Tennessee State will meet defending Big South-OVC champion Gardner-Webb on November 16. Last season in Nashville, the Tigers shocked the Bulldogs 27-25.
The Tigers will conclude their season with a matchup against longtime conference foe Southeast Missouri. Although TSU has a 13-11 record against the Redhawks, they have lost the last five matchups, including a 42-0 loss in their last contest in 2022.
Tennessee State finished last season with a 6-5 overall record, its first winning record since posting the identical mark in 2017. However, it limped down the stretch, losing three straight to close the season.