TSU football to play Jackson State at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium
· Yahoo Sports
Tennessee State football will open the 2026 season against Jackson State at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium.
The longtime rivals will meet in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic, presented by the Tennessee Titans and ONE Community, on Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Visit moryak.biz for more information.
The game will be played at FirstBank Stadium due to NFL scheduling, which has the Tennessee Titans hosting the Chicago Bears in their preseason finale at Nissan Stadium on Aug. 29. Vanderbilt officials agreed to host the John Merritt Classic, ensuring the game could remain in Nashville.
The Tennessee Titans agreed to continue to serve as a presenting sponsor alongside ONE Community.
TSU 2026 single-game tickets, including the John A. Merritt Classic, will go on sale on June 15, at 9 a.m. CT.
"We are excited to bring the John A. Merritt Classic to FirstBank Stadium and honor Coach John Merritt's legacy at a venue where he enjoyed tremendous success," TSU athletic director Mikki Allen said in a release. “We appreciate the partnership of Vanderbilt University and the Tennessee Titans in helping make this special event possible for our student-athletes, alumni and fans."
The move returns TSU to the venue where John Merritt coached many times during his career.
“We are honored to partner with Tennessee State University to host the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic at FirstBank Stadium," Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Lee said. "Coach Merritt led many memorable victories at Dudley Field, making it especially meaningful to welcome this game and TSU back to campus. We are proud to support an event that celebrates Coach Merritt's legacy and the rich tradition of HBCU football, and we look forward to welcoming Tennessee State and Jackson State fans for what promises to be a special evening."
Merritt posted a 14-4-1 record at Vanderbilt’s Dudley Field, including a 2-1 mark against Jackson State. His first game at the facility came on Oct. 23, 1965, when Tennessee State defeated Florida A&M, 50-8. Among the most memorable victories was a 20-3 triumph over top-ranked Florida A&M on Oct. 20, 1979.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSU will play Jackson State at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium