No. 5 Tennessee Tech Travels to Eastern Illinois with OVC-Big South Championship in Sights

By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations

CHARLESTON, Ill. – No. 5 Tennessee Tech (9-0, 6-0) travels to Eastern Illinois (3-6, 2-4) with sights set on an OVC-Big South Championship for the first time since the conference merged in February of 2022.

The Golden Eagles are looking to become the first-ever team to start 7-0 in Association games during the league's existence. Tennessee Tech is 9-0 for the second time in program history (1952). Tech has won the last two matchups against Eastern Illinois, 23-6 in 2024 and 20-17 on the road in 2022. Most recently, the FCS Playoff Committee released its second rankings of the season, picking Tech as the No. 7 team in the nation.

TTU has a chance to clinch an outright OVC-Big South Championship, for the first time since 2011, with a win over Eastern Illinois and a loss by UT Martin to Tennessee State. Tech would grab back-to-back OVC-Big South Championships after tying for the top of the league last season. 

Tech's 14-straight wins is the longest winning streak in program history. The Golden Eagles are 6-0 in conference play for the first time ever. Tech has scored in 29 of 36 quarters, with the following by-quarter scoring breakdown: 104-27 (1st); 137-51 (2nd); 98-30 (3rd); 92-29 (4th).

TTU is 9-21 all-time against Eastern Illinois, but has won the last two matchups, taking last year's contest 23-6 to close out the 2024 campaign 7-5 and on a five-game winning streak. Since then, the Golden Eagles have won 9 straight adding to the five straight to end the 2024 season for the longest active winning streak in the nation and program history.

In 2024, the Golden Eagles scored 16 unanswered points to grab a 16-0 lead and pull away from EIU 23-6. The run game was a big part of the victory, with Jalen Mitchell rushing for 131 yards on 20 carries and Jordan Yates and Tyler Wilson recorded one rushing touchdown apiece. Kicker Dom LeBlanc played a huge role for the Golden Eagles, making 3-of-4 field goals with a long of 46 yards, and 2-of-2 extra points for 11 total points.

In last week's win over Gardner-Webb, Tech outscored GWU, 24-7, after trailing 14-3 with 5:16 left in the 2nd quarter.  The 11-point deficit was the largest of the season. Tennessee Tech leads the FCS in scoring offense (47.9 points per game) and rushing defense (52.4 yards allowed), ranks fourth in total defense (273.9) and ninth in total offense (466.8).

Tennessee Tech at Eastern Illinois | Game Notes

Tech's offense leads the nation in points per game (47.9), in part due to the nation's seventh-best rushing attack that averages 226.4 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Eagles are 9th in the country in total offense, averaging 466.8 yards per contest.

QB Kekoa Visperas is tied for seventh in FCS with 21 touchdown passes this season, a mark that is tied for the most in a single season in program history.

The Golden Eagles have been strong defensively, leading the OVC-Big South in sacks (28), interceptions (9), and fifth in the conference in fumbles recovered (7). Tech has led the nation in rush defense since the beginning of the season, allowing just 43.0 yards per game on the ground.

The game can be listened to on 106.1 The Eagle with Dylan Vazzano (PxP), Frank Harrell (Analyst), and Noah McKay (Sideline) on the call and watched on ESPN+. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT in Charleston, Ill.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION 

Matchup: No. 5 Tennessee Tech (9-0, 6-0) at Eastern Illinois (3-6, 2-4)
Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. CT
Venue: O'Brien Field
Location: Charleston, Ill.   
TV: ESPN+ - Mike Bradd (PxP), Dave Kidwell (Analyst), and Kayle Unrue (Sideline)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle – Dylan Vazzano (PxP), Frank Harrell (Analyst), and Noah McKay (Sideline)

BY THE NUMBERS

• 1st – No. 1 scoring offense in the nation among FCS teams (47.9)
• 1st – Leading the nation in point differential, scoring 47.9 ppg and allowing just 16.0 (4th in FCS)
• 4th – No. 4 total defense in the nation, allowing just 273.9 yards per game.
• 5th – AFCA Coaches Poll and StatsPerform Top 25 rankings are the highest in FCS/DI AA program history.
• 6-0 – Tech is the first team to start conference play 6-0 in OVC-Big South existence.
• 7th – Tech averages 226.4 rushing yards per game, the 7th most in the nation.
• 7th – Picked 7th in the second FCS Playoff Committee Rankings (11/5)
• 9-0:  Opened the season 9-0 for the first time since 1952
• 14 –  Holds the longest active winning streak in FCS (14 games)
• 60 –  Scored more than 60 points in three games this season (65, 72, 66)
• 72 – 72 points against Davidson marks the most points scored by Tech in the modern era (since 1928).

SERIES HISTORY: No. 5 Tennessee Tech is 9-21 all-time against Eastern Illinois but has won the last two matchups, taking last year's contest 23-6 to close out the 2024 campaign 7-5 and on a five-game winning streak. Since then, the Golden Eagles have won 14 straight, marking the longest active winning streak in the nation and program history. In 2024, the Golden Eagles scored 16 unanswered points to grab a 16-0 lead and pull away from EIU 23-6. The run game was a big part of the victory, with Jalen Mitchell rushing for 131 yards on 20 carries and Jordan Yates and Tyler Wilson recording one rushing touchdown apiece. Kicker Dom LeBlanc played a huge role for the Golden Eagles, making 3-of-4 field goals with a long of 46 yards, and 2-of-2 extra points for 11 total points.

LAST GAME: No. 8 Golden Eagles take down Gardner-Webb 27-21 to start 9-0 for the first time since 1952, and second time in program history. The Golden Eagles (9-0, 6-0) join the 1952 team in the record books as the only two teams to begin a season 9-0, and they become the first program in OVC-Big South Association history to open conference play 6-0 with the six-point victory. Tech won its 14th consecutive game, dating back to last season, marking the longest active winning streak in the nation and the longest in program history. Tech outgained Gardner-Webb (5-4, 3-2) 360-to-295 in total offense and used two touchdown passes from QB Kekoa Visperas, both to Tre' Holloway, to come back from trailing 14-3 with 5:16 left in the second quarter and outscore GWU 24-7 after falling behind in the first quarter and hold off the Bulldogs 27-21 on Saturday. The 11-point deficit was the largest that Tech has faced this season. The Golden Eagles outscored the Bulldogs 17-7 in the fourth quarter.  Visperas completed 17-of-25 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns and has posted back-to-back games without an interception, moving his passing touchdown total to 21 for the season, which ties the single-season passing touchdown program record set by Bailey Fisher (21 in 2019). Holloway finished with 129 yards receiving and two touchdowns, marking his first 100-plus-yard receiving game with the Golden Eagles this season. He averaged 32.3 yards per reception with a long of 60 yards. Maury Sullivan pulled in four catches for 87 yards, averaging 21.8 yards per reception. Sullivan posted a long of 29 yards. LB Aaron Swafford made 11 tackles (8 solo, 3 asts) with one sack for a loss of eight yards and forced a fumble. DL/LB Theron Gaines was second on the team with eight tackles (6 solo, 2 asts), one sack, and one tackle for loss. Gavin Bryson made five tackles and broke up one pass. Maurice LaPierre recorded four tackles, three of them were sacks for a loss of 25 yards, three quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble. It is the second time in program history that the Golden Eagles have started a season 9-0. The last team to accomplish this feat was the 1952 team. In 1952, the Golden Eagles dropped the 10th game to Middle Tennessee (L, 9-17).

HOW IT HAPPENED: Gardner-Webb scored the first two touchdowns of the game on a pair of Carson Gresock runs to make it 14-3 GWU with 5:16 left in the second quarter. From then, it was all Golden Eagles, outscoring the Bulldogs 24-7 after Quintell Quinn raced into the end zone from 10 yards out, Tre' Holloway made one of his two touchdown grabs, and Dom LeBlanc kicked one of his two field goals to help Tech erase the deficit and pull away. Tech allowed just seven points in the fourth quarter, on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Cole Pennington to Anthony Lowe for GWU. The Golden Eagles then ran out the clock and clinched their 14th consecutive win, marking the longest active winning streak in the nation and the longest in program history.

POSSIBLE FCE PLAYOFF BIDS IN WEEK 11:

MVFC: NDSU will clinch the outright title and automatic playoff bid with a win at North Dakota

OVC-Big South: Tennessee Tech will clinch the outright title and an auto-bid with a win at Eastern Illinois and UT Martin loss to Tennessee State

SoCon: Mercer will clinch the outright title and an auto-bid with a win at Western Carolina

LEADERS OF THE OVC: RB Quintell Quinn has emerged as the rushing leader for the Golden Eagles, and he is tied for second with his teammate Q'Daryius Jennings in the OVC-Big South in rushing touchdowns (9) fourth in the OVC-Big South in rushing yards (607), second-longest rush (67 yards), and fourth in the conference in yards per game (67.4). Other conference leaders are listed below. Theron Gaines is 10th in tackles (60) in the OVC-Big South which leads the team.

OVC-Big South Passing Yards Leaders (Top 5)
Pos.      Player                             Yards                Team
1             Nate Glantz                   1,967                 Lindenwood
2             Kekoa Visperas            1,953                Tennessee Tech
3             Zolten Osborne              1,795                 Charleston Southern
4             Jax Leatherwood            1,665                Southeast Missouri
5             Jase Bauer                    1,548                UT Martin

OVC-Big South Scoring Leaders
Pos        Player                              Points                 Team
1             Dom LeBlanc                  75                       Tennessee Tech
2             Carson Gresock                66                      Gardner-Webb
3             Charles Viorel                  57                      Gardner-Webb
4             Justin Keller                    57                      Southeast Missouri
5             Antonio Chadha               57                       Western Illinois

OVC-Big South Punt Returns Yardage Leaders (Top 5)
Pos        Player                                      Yards                    Avg.                   Team
1             Tre' Holloway                         266                       16.6                   Tennessee Tech
2             William Cooper                         176                       10.4                   Eastern Illinois
3             Anthony Lowe                          149                       11.5                   Gardner-Webb
4             Christopher Bennett Jr.              90                        11.3                   Lindenwood
5             Duece Oliver                            87                         5.4                    UT Martin

OVC-Big South Total Offense Leaders (Top 5)
Pos        Player                              Yards                 Team
1             Kekoa Visperas              2339                  Tennessee Tech
2             Nate Glantz                     2191                   Lindenwood
3             Jase Bauer                      1897                   UT Martin
4             Zolten Osborne               1786                   Charleston Southern
5             Jax Leatherwood            1636                    Southeast Missouri

OVC-Big South All-Purpose Yards Leaders (Top 5)
Pos        Player                           Yards (Avg.)                 Team
1             Anthony Lowe               1047 (116.3)                  Gardner-Webb
2             Quasean Holmes           962 (106.9)                    Gardner-Webb
3             Markell Holman             851 (94.6)                      Western Illinois
4             Tre' Holloway             706 (78.4)                      Tennessee Tech
5             Cole Ruble                   685 (76.1)                       Southeast Missouri

FCS PLAYOFF SELECTION COMMITTEE RANKINGS: The 2025 FCS playoffs will be here in no time, with just 18 days until the postseason bracket is revealed. It's time for a look at how the Division I Football Championship Committee has evaluated the action so far as it reveals its second in-season top-10 rankings.  The rankings were announced shortly after 2 p.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 5 on ESPN2's "College Football Live" broadcast. The committee used results of games played through Nov. 1, and these in-season rankings serve as a snapshot as to where the committee has teams ranked heading into the final three weeks of the regular season. The committee's top-10 rankings give insight into which teams are in contention for the first round byes given to the eight seeded teams in the FCS playoff bracket. Like last year, teams seeded Nos. 9-16 will also be seeded, increasing the importance of the last two teams ranked in the committee's rankings. Click or tap here for more on this year's FCS Championship.

Here are the top 10 rankings below, along with a breakdown of each team.

Rank    School                             Record (As of 11/1/25)
1             North Dakota                 9-0
2             Montana State               7-2
3             Montana                        9-0
4             Lehigh                           9-0
5             Tarleton State                 9-1
6             South Dakota State         7-2
7             Tennessee Tech            9-0
8             Monmouth                      8-1
9             Harvard                          7-0
10           UC Davis                        6-2

6-0 IN CONFERENCE: The Golden Eagles are 6-0 in conference play for the first time in program history. Tech has opened with wins over Tennessee State (W, 35-8), Western Illinois (W, 66-20), Charleston Southern (W, 27-13), Lindenwood (W, 52-28), SEMO (W, 42-23), and Gardner-Webb (W, 27-21). It is the first time in OVC-Big South Association history (Since 2022) that a team has started 6-0.

POINT SCORERS: Tech has scored more than 40 points five times this season, with a high of 72 against Davidson. That production has led to the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation (47.9 ppg).

Points                 Opponents                      Date                     Game                  
72                           Davidson                            Sept. 13               Game 3
66                           Western Illinois               Oct. 4                   Game 5
65                           Cumberland                     Aug. 30                Game 1
45                           Chattanooga                    Sept. 6                 Game 2
42                           SEMO                                   Oct. 25                 Game 8

A BIG DIFFERENTIAL: Tech leads the nation in scoring differential scoring 431 total points and allowing 144 points (+287) through eight games.

FCS Point Differential Leaders (Top 5; Per Stats Perform)

Rk          Team                                    Points Scored                 Points Allowed               Differential
1             Tennessee Tech                  431                                 144                                 +287
2             North Dakote State                381                                107                                 +274
3             Tarleton State                       436                                177                                  +259
4             Montana                               370                                147                                  +223
5             Harvard                               290                                 79                                    +211

OVC-BIG SOUTH PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Tennessee Tech has earned five OVC-Big South Player of the Week honors, with Kekoa Visperas taking home Offensive Player of the Week in Week 3 and Week 6 and most recently, defensive lineman Maurice LaPierre made three sacks to earn Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

2024 vs. 2025: The Golden Eagles have made a significant step forward across major statistical categories.

AIR RAID: QB Kekoa Visperas has thrown 21 touchdown passes which is tied for the 7th most touchdown passes in the nation at the FCS level, a mark that is tied for first in program history during a single season. Visperas threw three touchdowns against Lindenwood (2nd most in a single game this season) and added two TD passes against Gardner-Webb to total five touchdown passes in the last two weeks.  

Passing TD National Leaders (Top 10)
Rank    Name                                                   Pass TD              Team                        
1             Derek Robertson                                27                       Monmouth
2             Taron Dickens                                    26                       Western Carolina
3             Braden Atkinson                                 25                       Mercer
4             Eddie Lee Marburger                           23                       UTRGV
5             Collin Hurst                                        22                       Presbyterian
               Jerry Kaminski                                   22                       North Dakota
7             Tommy Rittenhouse                           21                        Illinois State
               Kekoa Visperas                                21                        Tennessee Tech
9             Andrew Body                                     20                       Alabama State
               Tyler Riddell                                      20                        Duquesne

Single Season Program Pass TD Standings
TD          Name                           Year                     
21           Bailey Fisher                 2019
21           Kekoa Visperas          2025
19           Grant Swallows             2001
19           Jeremiah Oatsvall          2022
18           Mike Jones                   1993
              Michael Birdsong           2016
              Tre Lamb                      2012
              Tre Lamb                      2011
              Lee Sweeney                2006

GOLDEN MILESTONES: The Golden Eagles have started 9-0 for the second time in program history (1952 and 2025), and the first time in FCS history. Tech has won 14 straight games, marking the longest active winning streak in FCS and setting the longest winning streak in program history. Tennessee Tech enters today's contest ranked No. 5 by the AFCA Coaches Poll, No. 5 by the Stats Perform Top 25, and No. 7 by the FCS Playoff Committee. The No. 5 ranking is the highest ranking in FCS/DI AA program history.

Program Rankings All-Time
College Division Era (1958-1974)
1960: UPI (10/6, No. 14; 10/27, No. 20; 11/17, No. 19)
1963: UPI (10/2, No. 13; 10/9, No. 11)
1971: AP (9/22, No. 20) UPI (11/3, No. 19)
1972: UPI (Preseason, No. 21; 9/13, No. 11; 9/27, No. 18; 10/25, No. 16; 11/1, No. 11; 11/8, No. 8; 11/15, No. 8; 11/22, No. 8

Division II Era (1975-1977)
1976: AP (10/20, No. 9; 10/27, No. 6)
1977: AP (9/21, No. 10; 9/28, No. 7; 10/5, No. 11; 10/12, No. 9; 10/19, No. 7; 10/26, No. 6; 11/2, T-No. 3; 11/9, No. 7)

Division I-AA (1978-2005)
1990: 1-AA (10/16, No. 18; 10/23, No. 18)
1993: 1-AA (11/17, No. 24; 11/24, No. 22; 12/1, No. 22)
1994: TSN (Preseason, No. 18; 9/7, No. 16; 9/14, No. 18; 9/21, No. 16; 9/28, No. 11; 10/5, No. 20)
1999: TSN (10/26, No. 23)
2000: TSN (11/14, No. 24; 11/21, No. 22; Final, No. 22)
2001: TSN (11/20, No. 23; 11/27, No. 23; Final, No. 23)

Football Championship Subdivision (2006-present)
2011: TSN (10/3, No. 23; 10/10, No. 19; 10/24, No. 25; 10/31, No. 20; 11/14, No. 23)

FCS Coaches (10/3, No. 23; 10/10, No. 19; 10/17, No. 23; 10/24, No. 19; 10/31, No. 15; 11/7, No. 20; 11/14, No. 21; 11/21, No. 20) 2020-21

STATS Perform (2/22, No. 23)

2025: Stats Perform (9/6; No. 17, 9/13; No. 15; 9/27; No. 13, 10/6; No. 10, 10/13; No. 8, 10/18; No. 9;

10/25, No. 9; 11/3, No. 5)

AFCA Coaches Poll: (9/6; No. 20, 9/13; No. 16, 9/27; No. 11, 10/6; No. 7, 10/13; No. 8, 10/18; No. 8; 10/25; No. 8; 11/3, No. 5)

FCS Playoff Committee: (10/15; No. 10); (11/5; No. 7)

SCOARING EAGLES: The Tennessee Tech offense has scored more points than any team in program history through eight games (404 points). The Golden Eagles have scored over 60 points three times in five games played this season, and 35-plus points in all five games. In five wins to begin the season, Tech has scored 283 points, and during the 2024 season-ending five-game winning streak, the Golden Eagles scored 140 points. That's 450 total points over 11 consecutive wins (40.9 ppg), while allowing 127 total points during that run (11.5 ppg).

Scoring Offense National Leaders (Top 5)
Rk          Team                                                PPG     
1             Tennessee Tech                              47.9
2             Tarleton State                                   43.6
3             UTRGV                                             42.9
4             North Dakota State                           42.3
5             Monmouth                                        42.2

LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAK IN FCS: Tech currently holds the longest active winning streak in FCS (14 games), marking the longest winning streak in program history. For perspective, North Dakota State holds the longest winning streak in FCS history, 39 games from 2017 to 2020. The longest winning streak in OVC history was 18 wins by Eastern Kentucky from 1982-83.

FCS Longest Active Winning Streaks
Overall
14 – Tennessee Tech
13 – North Dakota State
9 – Lehigh, Montana

Home
20 – Villanova
17 – North Dakota State
13 – Rhode Island

Road
6 – Harvard
5 – North Dakota State, Tennessee Tech

DOMINANT DEFENSE: Tech has allowed just 16 TDs this season, which are the fourth fewest allowed by a program in FCS. Tech has held its opponents under 20 points in five of nine contests, allowing 16 points per game. The Golden Eagles are first nationally in yards allowed per play, surrendering just 3.97 yards on each play to the opposition. Tech is fourth nationally in total yards allowed per game, surrendering just 271.3 total yards. TTU is tied for first nationally with four defensive touchdowns, including a fumble recovered in the end zone by Chima Iwuagwu against SEMO (10/25). Tech is second in sacks per game among FCS teams with 4.0 and 36.0 total sacks on the season (-218). TTU has allowed just 372 (52.4 ypg) total yards on the ground and only four rushing touchdowns this season, leading the nation in both of those categories.

Scoring Defense National Leaders (Top 5)
Rk          Team                                           Points Allowed Per Game   
1             Harvard                                      11.29
2             North Dakota State                      11.89
3             Lehigh                                        13.89
4             Tennessee Tech                           16.00
               Yale                                            16.00

Defensive TDs Nationally Leaders (Top 5)
Rk          Team                                             TD         
1             Eastern Kentucky                            4
               Rhode Island                                  4
               Tarleton State                                 4
               Tennessee Tech                             4
5             Dayton                                           3
               8 others                                         3

Team Sacks (Top 6)
Rk          Team                                        Avg.
1             Mercer                                     4.14
2             San Diego                                3.50
               Tennessee Tech                      3.50
4             Lehigh                                     3.25
               Sacramento State                    3.25
6             Monmouth                               3.12

PFF RANKINGS: Golden Eagles boast the second-highest rated defensive line among FCS teams per PFF's rankings.

PFF Defensive Line Rankings (Top 5)
Pos        Team                            Rank
1           South Dakota State         98.2
2           Tennessee Tech             951
3           Mercer                            94.3
4           Stephen F. Austin             92.9
5           NC Central                      90.7

PFF Special Teams Rankings (Top 5)
Pos        Team
1             Dayton
2             Mercer
3             Tennessee Tech
4             Butler
5             NC Central

PFF Cornerbacks Rankings (Top 5)
Rank    Name                                             Grade              Team
1          Damien Henderson                       90.9                 Harvard
2          Vincent Nwachi                              89.9               Maine
3          Carsten Mamaril                            89.8                Portland
4          Andrew Smith                              89.7                Tennessee Tech
5          Mark Dorsey                                  89.5               Central Arkansas

PFF Safeties Rankings (Top 12)
Rank    Name                                               Grade                  Team
1             Vincent Firenze                               92.1                    Dayton
2             Cam Chapa                                    91.5                    Northern Colorado
3             Mekhai Smith                                 90.5                    Lehigh 
4             Maximus Pulley                              90.0                    Wofford
5             Colin Douglas                                 89.9                    St. Francis
6             Nick Hand                                      89.3                    St. Thomas
7             Micah Harper                                 89.3                     Montana
8             Christopher Jean                            89.2                    Central CT ST
9             Harrison Keith                               88.5                     Dartmouth
10           C.J. Coombes                                87.7                     Wofford
11           Nic Yatsko                                    86.3                      Indiana State
12           Tim Coutras                                86.2                      Tennessee Tech

GIVE HIM THE GAME BALL: Tennessee Tech quarterback Kekoa Visperas was given the Walter Camp Game Ball following the 66-20 victory over Western Illinois, as announced today by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Visperas led an offense that was clicking on all cylinders for 618 yards of total offense, the most in a game this season. Visperas threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns on 24-38 (63.2%) passing with no interceptions and was unstoppable all game. In all, Visperas went off for 431 yards of total offense (358 passing, 73 rushing). This is the first honor of its kind for Visperas since joining Tennessee Tech. Visperas also led the Golden Eagles in rushing yards with 73 on eight carries, averaging 9.1 yards per carry with a long of 29 yards. Aidan Littles (22 yards), Quintell Quinn (13 yards), and Obie Sanni (9 yards) accounted for three rushing touchdowns for an offense that scored eight touchdowns, the third most in a single game in program history.  The redshirt senior from Eatonville, Washington, completed the most passes (24) on the most attempts (38), for the most yards (358) and most touchdowns (4) in a single game this season. Visperas has been outstanding at the quarterback position for Tennessee Tech, throwing for 13 touchdowns with just one interception this year. Visperas' 13 passing touchdowns are tied for fourth nationally. He has thrown for 1,197 yards this season, marking the 22nd-most in FCS.

STATE 16: The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles have 41 players on their roster from the great state of Tennessee. Clayton Harris (DL), Tayton Swift (DB), Timothy Jones (DB), Jay'un Smith (DB), Mason Goree (DB), Alex Delk (OL), Wes Delk (OL), Thomas Johnson (DB), Mason Taylor (DB), Branson Turnbow (WR), Aaron Swafford (LB), Kade Butler (QB), D.J. Curll (LB), Dom Reed (LB), Luke Meyer (DL), Torin Baker (RB), Tyler Nix (TE), Jameson Wharton (DB), Robbie Jacobs (WR), Seth Vaughn (DL), Keilan Harris (LB), Aja Jones (WR), Xavier Randolph (DL), Cameron Booker (WR), Theron Gaines (DL), Armaan Lehal (OL), Ethan McLaurin (DL), Eric Taylor (DB), Richard Bryant (DB), Derrick Burroughs (DB), D'Arious Reed (WR), Tim Coutras (DB), Zion Tamaska (RB), Coby Walton (QB), Xavier Hickman (DL), Nick Owns Jr. (WR), Aidan Littles (RB), Isaac Knowles (WR), Isaac Jackson (RB), C.J. Wyller (DL), Tucker Kyne (TE).

THE SERGEANT YORK TROPHY: The Golden Eagles began 1-0 in this year's Sr. York Trophy series with a 35-8 win over Tennessee State (9/27). This year marks the 19th year of the Sgt. York Championship presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee. The trophy (founded in 2007 by the Nashville Sports Council and OVC) goes to the winner of the season football series between the three OVC football-playing schools located in the state of Tennessee (Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, and UT Martin). The award is only the second traveling trophy that involves more than two teams in college sports; the other is the Commander in Chief's Trophy, which has been contested between Air Force, Army, and Navy annually since 1972. The award is named in honor of Alvin C. York, the most noted Soldier of World War I. As a corporal in the 2nd battalion, 328th Infantry, in the Battle of the Meuse River-Argonne (Oct. 8, 1918), York and seven other soldiers captured 132 prisoners, was promoted to sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor, the Croce di Guerra of Italy and the War Medal of Montenegro. Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor. The trophy goes to the team with the best record against the other schools (in case of a tie there will be co-champions and the actual trophy will be retained by the defending champion if they are involved in the tie or if the defending champion is not involved in the tie it will go to the institution that has gone the most seasons without winning the trophy).

THE SERGEANT YORK TROPHY WINNERS
2007 - Tennessee State*, Austin Peay
2008 - Tennessee State
2009 - Tennessee Tech
2010 - UT Martin
2011 - Tennessee State*, Tennessee Tech
2012 - Tennessee State*, UT Martin
2013 - Tennessee State
2014 - UT Martin
2015 - UT Martin
2016 - UT Martin*, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State
2017 - Austin Peay
2018 - Austin Peay*, Tennessee State, UT Martin
2019 - Austin Peay*, Tennessee State, UT Martin
2020-21 - Tennessee Tech*, UT Martin
2021 - UT Martin 2022 - UT Martin
2023 - UT Martin
2024 - Tennessee Tech *Took home the trophy due to winning the tiebreaker

GOLDEN EAGLE FOOTBALL HOME TIMES ADJUSTED TO NOON: Progress is being made on the new Tucker Stadium on the Tennessee Tech campus, continuing the spirit of growth and renewal at the University. However, as the construction project continues, the start times for all Tennessee Tech home football games have been adjusted to 12 PM Central starts, with the first six home contests now scheduled to begin at earlier times. The season finale against UT Martin will remain at its originally scheduled noon kickoff. The reasoning is simple – with the construction project continuing and lights being taken down around the facility for the duration of the build, this will allow fans ample time to cheer on the Golden Eagle football team and exit the facility before sunset, keeping them safe as they enter and exit the stadium. Tech was picked first last week in the Ohio Valley Conference/Big South Conference Projected Order of Finish after ending the 2024 campaign in a tie for first place for their 11th league championship in program history. The Golden Eagles open the season on August 30 against Cumberland for the first of seven home games this season at Tucker Stadium as Tech looks to win the OVC-Big South title outright.

PICKED FIRST IN THE OVC-BIG SOUTH: The Tennessee Tech football team made some incredible strides last season under the direction of head coach Bobby Wilder as the Golden Eagles claimed their 11th Ohio Valley Conference championship among a four-way tie. This season, the Golden Eagles are looking for more, and the OVC-Big South coaches agree, as Tech was picked first in the combined conferences' preseason poll on Wednesday. The pick is a huge indicator of growth in just a year's time, but Wilder isn't content to rest on the preseason laurels. The first-place projection is also the first time since 1978 that the Golden Eagles find themselves atop the OVC preseason projection. Tech was projected second in 2001 and third in 1993 and 1994.

PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
Tim Coutras - Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, OVC/Big South Defensive Player of the Year,
Tremel Jones – OVC/Big South Kick returner/all-purpose player and punt returner.

OVC PRESEASON DEFENSIVE WATCH LIST
Hudson Tucker (DL)
Aaron Swafford (LB)
Tim Coutras (DB)
Spencer Ashby (P)
Tremel Jones (KR/PR)

OVC PRESEASON OFFENSIVE WATCH LIST
Kekoa Visperas (QB)
Aidan Littles (RB)
Noah Robinson (WR)
Brian Courtney (TE)
Drew Wilder (OL)
Tremel Jones (All-purpose)
Dom LeBlanc (PK)