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Tennessee State football vs. Jackson State live updates: Start time, TV channel
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- Tennessee State football vs. Jackson State live updates: Start time, TV channel
Tennessee State football begins its second season under coach Reggie Barlow on Aug. 29 against Jackson State in the John Merritt Classic at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium at 7:30 p.m. CT. on ESPN+ .
Barlow's inaugural season did not go well. TSU posted a 2-10 record, its worst since 2002, when coach James Reese went 2-10 in his third season.
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Jackson State is coming off a 9-3 season heading into coach T.C. Taylor's fourth season. JSU advanced to the SWAC championship game in 2025, where it lost to Prairie View A&M 23-21.
WILL TSU BE BETTER IN 2026? Can Tennessee State football improve on 2-10 season in 2025? Three storylines for 2026
WHY TSU IS PLAYING JSU AT VANDERBILT: TSU football to play Jackson State at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State. QB battle is nearly equal
The teams' quarterbacks each enjoyed similar first-half performances.
TSU's Daylin Lee completed 12-of-21 passes for 146 yards. JSU's Jared Lockhart was 10-of-15 for 151 yards and a touchdown.
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Lee also rushed for 20 yards on eight carries and scored a touchdown.
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: Halftime score: TSU 17, JSU 10
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: JSU kicks late first half FG
After missing a 25-yard field goal early in the game, Jackson State's Andrew Ivaniciuc connected on a 38-yarder with 26 seconds left in the first half. It made the score TSU 17, JSU 10.
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: TSU FG puts Tigers up 17-7
Tennessee State's third unanswered score came when Preston Hurless kicked a 47-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the first half. It put TSU up 17-7.
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Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: TSU takes first lead on Daylin Lee TD
TSU quarterback Daylin Lee, who set up the Tigers' first touchdown, scored the second on a 2-yard run around left end. It gave TSU its first lead at 14-7 with 6:49 remaining in the first half.
Lee also set this score up. His 45-yard pass to Jayden Guy put the ball on the JSU 21.
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: JSU misses chip shot FG
After driving to the Tennessee State 8, Jackson State kicker Andrew Ivanisiuc attempted a 25-yard field goal that sailed wide left with 11:38 left in the first half.
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: TSU scores on 9-yard run
Tennessee State answered Jackson State's first touchdown with a 75-yard, 13-play, scoring drive. Paul Benton ran 9-yards up the middle for a touchdown to cap the drive.
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It was set up by quarterback Daylin Lee, who scrambled out of the pocket and tossed a 29-yard pass to Jayden Guy on the right sideline at the JSU 8.
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: JSU strikes first with 88-yard bomb
Facing a third-and-six at its own 8, Jackson State quarterback Jared Lockhart found a wide-open Jabari Jones in the middle of the field who took a 40-yard pass 88 yards for a touchdown. It came on JSU's third offensive play with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter, putting JSU up 7-0.
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: TSU starts in a hole
Tennessee State struggled covering the ball on the Jackson State kickoff to start the game, giving Jackson State possession at the 1. TSU also had trouble getting its offense going and lined up to punt on 4th-and-6 from the 22. Jackson State was offsides on fourth down, giving TSU a first down.
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The TSU offense then got into a groove and is currently approaching Jackson State territory.
Former TSU Coach Rod Reed is analyst for Jackson State game
Rod Reed, who spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Tennessee State, will be the radio analyst for this game. Greg Pogue will handle play-by-play on The Game 102.5-FM and The Ville 106.3-FM.
Reed posted a 57-60 record as TSU's coach from 2010-20. He was replaced by former Titans All-Pro running back Eddie George in 2021.
Reed was also an outstanding player at TSU. He was a middle linebacker who set the Tigers' all-time tackles record from 1985-88.
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The analyst for TSU home games through the season will be a special guest.
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State: Daylin Lee will start at QB for Tennessee State
After battling the 2025 starter Byron McNair in the preseason, Daylin Lee has been named the starting quarterback for Tennessee State in the season opener against Jackson State.
Lee is a transfer from Winston-Salem State. In three seasons, he threw for 5,616 passing yards, second on Winston-Salem State's all-time list, and 55 passing touchdowns, the most. He also rushed for 15 touchdowns.
McNair, who transferred from Kansas Wesleyan before the 2025 season, completed 153-of-244 passes for 1,558 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions for TSU. He recorded five games with multiple touchdown passes or at least 170 passing yards.
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What time does Tennessee State vs. Jackson State start?
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Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
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Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
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Where: FirstBank Stadium, Vanderbilt
What channel is Tennessee State vs. Jackson State on today?
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Streaming: ESPN+
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How to watch online: Watch ESPN+ ( here's how to stream it live )
Watch Tennessee State vs. Jackson State
Tennessee State vs. Gardner-Webb live score
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State prediction
Jackson State 24, Tennessee State 14:TSU's offense, one of the worst in the FCS in 2025, should get a boost from Lee, but not enough to outscore JSU's potent attack.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State football vs. Jackson State live updates: Start time, TV channel
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