Tennessee State, Jackson State Open 2026 Season in Nashville

Tennessee State hosts Jackson State in the John A. Merritt Classic on Saturday at FirstBank Stadium, featuring new Tigers QB Daylin Lee in his debut.

Two Historically Black College and University football programs will open the 2026 season in Nashville this weekend when Tennessee State welcomes Jackson State to FirstBank Stadium for the John A. Merritt Classic. The matchup, scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Central Time, represents the first game for both teams and brings together programs from different conference structures seeking early-season momentum.

Tennessee State competes in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Jackson State represents the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Week 0 contest will showcase both teams' rosters and coaching approaches as each looks to establish rhythm before diving into conference play.

A Rivalry Renewed

The history between these institutions spans decades of competition. Tennessee State holds a 30-23-2 advantage in the all-time series, a record that underscores the closely matched nature of the rivalry. Their most recent encounter occurred in 2022 when Jackson State prevailed 16-3. Before that meeting, the programs had not faced each other for several years, making this weekend a significant renewal of the rivalry.

The last time these teams played in Nashville dates to September 10, 1988, when they battled to a 26-26 stalemate at Hale Stadium. Tennessee State will add another layer of historical significance to this weekend by hosting the classic at Vanderbilt's facility. This marks the first time since August 31, 1996-when the Tigers hosted Florida A&M-that Tennessee State has designated Vanderbilt as its home venue for a game.

Jackson State Brings Recent Momentum

Jackson State arrives with recent success and confidence. The Tigers finished their previous campaign with a 9-3 overall record and a 7-1 conference mark within the Southwestern Athletic Conference. That combination of strong performance and consistency positions the program as a formidable opponent for Tennessee State's season debut.

New Leadership at Quarterback

Tennessee State's offense will operate under new leadership. Daylin Lee, a transfer from Winston-Salem State, inherits the starting role after establishing himself as one of the more productive quarterbacks in his former conference. Over three seasons at his previous school, Lee accumulated 55 career touchdown passes and 15 rushing touchdowns.

In his most recent season, Lee's production remained high. He completed 149 passes in 238 attempts for 2,046 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions, resulting in a 62.6 completion percentage. Lee also showcased dual-threat capability, rushing for 89 yards and five additional touchdowns.

Several performances stood out during Lee's previous season. He registered a season-high 338 passing yards against Virginia State and produced four passing touchdowns along with 326 total offensive yards against Virginia Union. Eight different contests featured multiple touchdown passes from Lee, highlighted by four-touchdown efforts against both Lincoln and Bowie State.

Beyond his athletic achievements, Lee has earned academic recognition. He received All-CIAA Second Team honors as a true freshman in 2023 and was named CIAA Male Scholar of the Year that same year. The following year, he made the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.

Proven Contributors in the Backfield

Tennessee State's skill positions feature proven contributors ready to support Lee. Zach Simmons-Brown assumes the primary running back duties. The previous season saw Simmons-Brown participate in all 12 games, carrying the football 101 times for 456 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. His receiving production added 12 catches for 56 yards, bringing his total yards from scrimmage to 512.

Simmons-Brown demonstrated both consistency and the ability to produce explosive plays. His season-best rushing performance came against Western Illinois with 98 yards on 18 carries, resulting in 124 total offensive yards that game. He scored touchdowns in contests against Alabama A&M and Southeast Missouri, with the Southeast Missouri game featuring a 50-yard run among his contributions.

The receiving rotation will include Brock Montgomery at the Z-receiver position. Montgomery appeared in all 12 games the previous season with seven starts, catching 20 passes for 203 yards. His average reception gained 10.2 yards, and he averaged 16.9 receiving yards per game. Montgomery posted season highs of three receptions and 40 yards against Western Illinois, featuring a 27-yard catch. He concluded the season with three catches for 32 yards in the final contest.

Information for Fans

The classic will broadcast on ESPN+ with radio coverage on 102.5 and 106.3 FM locally. Satellite radio and the TSU Tigers App will also carry the game for interested fans. Fans planning to attend can participate in tailgating activities beginning at noon, with the official Revel XP Tailgate opening at 3:30 p.m. Tennessee State's team will arrive at 5 p.m., and the ticket office will open at that time as well. Stadium gates open at 6 p.m., allowing fans time to settle in before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

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