Tennessee State Big Blue to Face Vanderbilt, Georgia State

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State football announced the addition of a pair of FBS opponents to future schedules. The Tigers will face Southeastern Conference opponent Vanderbilt and Sun Belt member Georgia State in the upcoming years.

“Vanderbilt is a good opportunity for our players to compete against an FBS opponent without having to leave the city,” said Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips. “Georgia State is an opportunity for us to get back to Atlanta. We played in the Atlanta Classic for so many years, and we have a lot of alumni in that area. It’s a good recruiting base for us student wise, and we’re excited for the opportunity to go back to Atlanta.”

TSU will face the Commodores twice in the next three years. The first matchup is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2016, with the second matchup set for 2018. Both games are slated to be played at Vanderbilt. The Tigers last faced the Commodores in 2006, a 38-9 loss.

The Big Blue will travel to Atlanta to open the 2017 season at Georgia State. It will be the first meeting between the two programs. The game is scheduled for Sept. 2, 2017 with a venue to be determined.

The Tigers last played an FBS opponent in 2011 when they faced Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo. TSU fell to the Falcons, 63-24.

The 2016 slate is in the finalization stage and will be released in the following weeks.



COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS