1970 Tennessee State Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1970 Tennessee State Tigers football Independent 10–0 John Merritt 8th Hale Stadium Black college football national champion Grantland Rice Bowl W 26–25 vs. Southwestern Louisiana The 1970 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. In their eighth season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a perfect 10–0 record, defeated Southwestern Louisiana in the 1970 Grantland Rice Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 396 to 144. The team was also recognized as the 1970 black college national champion and was ranked No. 5 in the final small college rankings issued by both the Associated Press and United Press International.Javelinas Ranked 7th In Final AP Poll The Corpus Christi Caller-Times Corpus Christi, Texas December 3, 1970 8-G https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11160241/poll_1970_1203_small_ap_final/ Newspapers.com May 21, 2017Arkansas State Led Small Poll The Brownsville Herald Brownsville, Texas December 2, 1970 8-B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11090987/poll_1970_1202_small_upi_final/ Newspapers.com May 5, 2017 Tackle Vernon Holland received first-team honors on the 1970 Little All-America college football team.A.P.'s Little All-American The Morning News December 10, 1970 42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88983288/aps-little-all-american/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1970 small college AP y y y September 11 vs Alcorn A&M Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (Freedom Classic) W 24–14 43,772 Tennessee's Early Thrusts Too Much for Alcorn, 24-14 Los Angeles Times Mal Florence September 12, 1970 III-1, III-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40257020/tennessees_early_thrusts_too_much_for/ Newspapers.com September 19 vs 1970 Kentucky State Thorobreds Kentucky State Crump Stadium Memphis, TN W 62–7 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-the-big-blue-drink/142829898/ The Commercial Appeal The Big Blue drinks again from the Jug September 20, 1970 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 vs 1970 Albany State Golden Rams Albany State 10 Porter Stadium Macon, GA (Central City Classic) W 54–7 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-rams-lose-classic-5/142830147/ The Macon Telegraph & News Rams lose Classic, 54–7 September 27, 1970 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 Texas Southern 10 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 41–9 11,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-big-blue-routs-southern-b/127162198/ The Nashville Tennessean Big Blue routs Southern by 41–9 count, now 4–0 October 4, 1970 June 26, 2023 Newspapers.com October 10 at Grambling 6 Grambling Stadium Grambling, LA W 34–27 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121838449/tigers-nudge-grambling-on-sims-pass-int/ The Tennessean Tigers nudge Grambling on Sims' pass interception October 11, 1970 March 28, 2023 Newspapers.com October 24 at Florida A&M 5 Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL W 21–10 13,500-14,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-tennessee-state-strikes/142830372/ St. Petersburg Times Tennessee State strikes late to overtake Rattlers 21–10 October 25, 1970 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 Southern 5 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 38–7 11,000–14,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tsu-rambles-to-387-win/130029796/ TSU rambles to 38–7 win The Nashville Tennessean November 1, 1970 August 14, 2023 Newspapers.com Final 1970 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Southern) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/665/stats/13329 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 15, 2023 November 7 1970 Morris Brown Wolverines Morris Brown 6 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 36–14 9,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-gilliam-too-muc/142830570/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Gilliam too much for Morris Brown November 8, 1970 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 vs 1970 Parsons Wildcats Parsons 5 Busch Memorial Stadium St. Louis, MO (Gateway Classic) W 21–3 7,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-tennessee-state/142830779/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Tennessee State rips Parsons in Gateway November 22, 1970 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 26 1970 Bishop Tigers Bishop 4 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 39–21 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tennessee-state-topples-b/142830966/ The Nashville Tennessean Tennessee State topples Bishop November 27, 1970 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com December 12 vs No. 10 Southwestern Louisiana 5 Memorial Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (Grantland Rice Bowl) W 26–25 17,000 Tennessee State Nips USL Ragin' Cajuns The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana) December 13, 1970 57 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40257130/tennessee_state_nips_usl_ragin_cajuns/ Newspapers.com Final 1970 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Tennessee State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/691/stats/13329 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 11, 2022 Tennessee State Media Guide 2019 https://tsutigers.com/documents/2020/10/7/2019FootballMediaGuide.pdf Tennessee State University Athletics 117 May 7, 2026 References Tennessee State Category:Tennessee State Tigers football seasons Category:Black college football national champions Category:Grantland Rice Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Tennessee State Tigers football Category:1970s in Nashville, Tennessee