Tennessee State Faces Western Illinois in OVC Opener
- Tennessee State will play Western Illinois at Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois, on Saturday, Oct.
- Tennessee State enters the matchup following an open date and a 29-26 road victory against Florida A&M, tsutigers.com reported.
- Western Illinois hosts the conference opener with a 2-3 record after suffering a 23-20 loss at North Alabama, tsutigers.com reported.
Tennessee State will play Western Illinois at Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois, on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3 p.m. The game opens conference play for both programs in the Ohio Valley Conference, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and radio broadcasts.
Tennessee State Seeks Momentum After Florida A&M Victory
Tennessee State enters the matchup following an open date and a 29-26 road victory against Florida A&M, tsutigers.com reported. Quarterback Daylin Lee connected with Brenton Paul on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 51 seconds remaining to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive for the Tigers’ first win of the season. Lee finished the game with 259 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while Paul accounted for three total offensive touchdowns and 128 yards from scrimmage.
Western Illinois Enters Conference Opener Following Narrow Defeat
Western Illinois hosts the conference opener with a 2-3 record after suffering a 23-20 loss at North Alabama, tsutigers.com reported. The Leathernecks held a 20-16 lead with less than two minutes remaining before giving up the game-winning touchdown with 51 seconds left on the clock. ESPN coverage notes the historical context between the two schools, as Saturday marks the third meeting in a series currently tied 1-1. The road team has won each of the first two games. Tennessee State won the inaugural matchup 45-20 at Hanson Field on Nov. 9, 2024, outgaining the Leathernecks with Draylen Ellis passing for 197 yards and three scores. Western Illinois leveled the series with a 17-16 victory at Nissan Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, when Antonio Chadha kicked a 51-yard field goal after TSU had taken a brief lead on a Freddy Perez field goal.
Fans Can Watch or Listen to the Game
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois. Fans can watch the game via ESPN+ with Josh Dillon on play-by-play and Redrick Terry providing analysis, or listen locally on 102.1 FM The Ville with Greg Pogue and Nick Guerriero calling the action, according to tsutigers.com game information. Satellite radio listeners can tune in via SiriusXM channel 984 or through the SiriusXM app.