American college football season
The 2018 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season . They were led by ninth-year head coach Rod Reed and played their home games at Nissan Stadium and Hale Stadium . Tennessee State finished the season 4–5 overall and 3–4 in OVC play to place fifth.
On July 20, 2018, the media covering the OVC released their preseason poll with the Tigers predicted to finish in fourth place.[ 1] On July 23, the OVC released their coaches poll with the Tigers predicted to finish in sixth place.[ 2]
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Jacksonville State
134 (14)
2
Austin Peay
114 (1)
3
UT Martin
96
4
Tennessee State
91
5
Eastern Illinois
83
6
Eastern Kentucky
64
7
Murray State
39
8
Southeast Missouri State
35
9
Tennessee Tech
19
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Jacksonville State
126 (14)
2
Austin Peay
112 (4)
3
UT Martin
95
4
Eastern Illinois
73
5
Eastern Kentucky
69
6
Tennessee State
64
7
Southeast Missouri State
62
8
Murray State
24
9
Tennessee Tech
23
Preseason All-OVC team [ edit ]
The Tigers had three players selected to the preseason all-OVC team.[ 3]
Offense
Steven Newbold – WR
Defense
Vincent Sellers – DB
Dajour Nesbeth – DB
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 6:00 p.m. Bethune–Cookman * ESPN+ W 34–314,069
September 8 6:00 p.m. vs. Jackson State * FSS Cancelled [ a]
September 15 5:00 p.m. at Hampton * Cancelled [ b]
September 22 2:00 p.m. at Eastern Illinois ESPN+ W 41–407,670
September 29 3:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt * SECN L 27–3127,340
October 6 6:00 p.m. at Austin Peay ESPN3 L 34–4912,201
October 13 1:00 p.m. at Murray State ESPN+ L 21–453,318
October 20 4:30 p.m. Tennessee Tech Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN ESPN+ W 41–1417,283
November 3 1:00 p.m. at No. 25 Southeast Missouri State ESPN+ L 21–383,481
November 10 2:00 p.m. No. 8 Jacksonville State ESPN+ L 14–416,718
November 17 2:00 p.m. UT Martin Hale Stadium Nashville, TN ESPN+ W 31–28 OT 3,618
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
^ The Jackson State game was cancelled due to inclement weather.
^ The Hampton game was cancelled in anticipation of Hurricane Florence .
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
3
0
0
3
Tigers
14
7
3
10
34
At Eastern Illinois [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
0
13
13
15
41
Panthers
17
7
7
9
40
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
0
13
7
7
27
Commodores
0
10
14
7
31
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
7
14
6
7
34
Governors
7
14
21
7
49
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
14
0
0
7
21
Racers
3
21
14
7
45
1
2
3
4
Total
Golden Eagles
0
0
0
14
14
Tigers
17
10
14
0
41
At Southeast Missouri State [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
0
14
7
0
21
No. 25 Redhawks
3
21
14
0
38
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 8 Gamecocks
20
7
0
14
41
Tigers
7
0
0
7
14
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Skyhawks
0
3
7
15 3
28
Tigers
0
12
3
10 6
31
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