SEC Stadium to Host HBCU Rivals Jackson State, Tennessee State

John A. Merritt Classic Moves to Vanderbilt as TSU Hosts Jackson State – The Tennessee Tribune

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State and Jackson State will renew one of HBCU football’s most storied rivalries at Vanderbilt University’s FirstBank Stadium when the teams meet in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic, presented by the Tennessee Titans and ONE Community, on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tennessee State 2026 single-game tickets, including the John A. Merritt Classic, will go on sale Monday, June 15, at 9 a.m. CT. Th…

SEC stadium to host HBCU rivals Jackson State, Tennessee State

An SEC stadium will host one of the storied HBCU non-conference rivalries when Jackson State travels to play Tennessee State at the home stadium of Vanderbilt this fall. Tennessee State and Jackson State will meet in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be played at FirstBank Stadium, home of the Vanderbilt Commodores, and presented by the Tennessee Titans and ONE Community.The move gives the rivalry a…

FirstBank Stadium to Host 2026 John A. Merritt Classic

NASHVILLE — Tennessee State and Jackson State will renew one of HBCU football's most storied rivalries at Vanderbilt University's FirstBank Stadium when the teams meet in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic, presented by the Tennessee Titans and ONE Community, on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m.

Jackson State-Tennessee State rivalry football game has location change

One of HBCU football’s longest rivalries, which had a brief hiatus, will be played at a different location than originally planned. Monday morning, Tennessee State announced that its game with Jackson State, the John L. Merritt Classic, will take place at Vanderbilt University’s FirstBank Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 29. “We are excited to bring the John A. Merritt Classic to FirstBank Stadium and honor Coach John Merritt’s legacy at a venue where …