Tennessee State football earns second-highest ranking since 1999

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State climbed to No. 20 in both FCS national polls on Monday, which is the second-highest ranking for the Tigers since being No. 1 in 1999.

After defeating Florida A&M 24-13 on Saturday in the Tampa Classic at Raymond James Stadium, the Tigers improved to 3-0 and moved up in both the STATS FCS and Coaches polls.

The Tigers were 22nd in the STATS poll and 24th in the Coaches poll heading into that game.

"What I like about the ranking is that it's not only recognition for the football team and the athletic program, but it also puts Tennessee State on the map," coach Rod Reed said. "You can look in the newspaper and all the other media platforms and see TSU there every day for a solid couple of weeks. It's great marketing for the university."

TSU’s highest ranking ever came in 1999 when the Tigers went 11-0 in the regular season under coach L.C. Cole. That team lost in the first round of the national playoffs to North Carolina A&T.

The best ranking since then came in 2012 when Reed led the Tigers to a 7-0 start. That team climbed to No. 17 in the Sports Network (now the STATS) poll and No. 18 in the Coaches poll.



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