NASHVILLE — Tennessee State and Jackson State will play in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will be held there because the Tennessee Titans are scheduled to host a preseason finale against the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium that weekend.
The Tennessee Titans and ONE Community will serve as presenting sponsors for the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic. Mikki Allen, Director of Athletics at Tennessee State, said, "We are excited to bring the John A. Merritt Classic to FirstBank Stadium and honor Coach John Merritt's legacy at a venue where he enjoyed tremendous success." Candice Lee, Athletic Director, said, "We are honored to partner with Tennessee State University to host the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic at FirstBank Stadium."
The 2026 game marks the first time since Sept. 21, 1996 that the team will play at Vanderbilt Stadium as the designated home team. Tennessee State leads the all-time football series against Jackson State with a 30-23-2 record. The previous 19 football meetings between the two teams were played in Memphis as part of the Southern Heritage Classic.
Single-game tickets for the 2026 season will go on sale on June 15 at 9 a.m. CT. Parking for the event will be available through advance purchase at the 25th Avenue Garage and on game day at the West Garage. Tailgating will not be permitted inside the parking garages.