Saturday, October 10
Nashville, Tenn.
2:30 p.m.
UT Martin
at
Tennessee State
Skyhawks Opens OVC Play With Sgt. York Trophy Clash At TSU
10/5/2026 2:44:00 PM | Football
MARTIN, Tenn. – Following an open week, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team returns to action with its Ohio Valley Conference opener against in-state rival Tennessee State on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff from Nissan Stadium in Nashville is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. with the contest streaming on ESPN+.
The Skyhawks (1-4) are looking to turn the page following a tough non-conference slate and shift focus to league action where the squad has flourished in recent history. The bye week came at a perfect time, splitting up a grueling four-game road swing and serving as a reset heading into league action. Since 2006, the Skyhawks have posted a 12-5 record when coming off a bye week – including an 11-3 mark against conference foes.
UT Martin has seen unparalleled success for the program over the last five seasons dating back to 2021. During that stretch, the Skyhawks have racked four conference championship titles and posted a 27-6 record against conference members. A part of the team's success has been its ability to win games within the state of Tennessee where they are 26-9 against in-state FCS opponents since 2014.
Saturday's contest marks the first head-to-head showdown in the 20th annual Sgt. York Trophy Series. When the Sgt. York Trophy was first created before the 2007 season, four teams completed for the traveling trophy. Now with just two schools from the state of Tennessee in the OVC with Tennessee State and UT Martin, the winner of the annual Sgt. York Trophy will be decided directly on the field with a head-to-head matchup for the first time. The Skyhawks have claimed the Sgt. York Trophy 11 times overall and boasts a 38-15 record in the series while hoping to bring the trophy back to Martin for the first time since 2023.
UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson enters league action with 99 career victories and is looking to become just the third coach in OVC history to eclipse the 100-win mark against conference opponents. Simpson has found success against the Tigers throughout his career, boasting a 13-6 record in head-to-head meetings.
Tennessee State (1-4, 0-1 OVC) returns home for the first time since Week 0 following a four-game road trip of its own. The Tigers have gotten off to a similar slow start while most recently falling to Western Illinois by a 28-21 margin coming off their bye week. Under second-year head coach Reggie Barlow, the Tigers are seeking their first conference victory since 2024.
The contest marks the 36th meeting between the programs, with UT Martin holding an 18-17 advantage in the series. The Skyhawks have won five straight matchups in the series, including a 26-7 victory in Martin last season.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while locally fans can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play) and Chuck Hammer (analyst) call the action. Games are broadcast on WCMT Talk and News You Can Use! with simulcasts on 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
The Skyhawks (1-4) are looking to turn the page following a tough non-conference slate and shift focus to league action where the squad has flourished in recent history. The bye week came at a perfect time, splitting up a grueling four-game road swing and serving as a reset heading into league action. Since 2006, the Skyhawks have posted a 12-5 record when coming off a bye week – including an 11-3 mark against conference foes.
UT Martin has seen unparalleled success for the program over the last five seasons dating back to 2021. During that stretch, the Skyhawks have racked four conference championship titles and posted a 27-6 record against conference members. A part of the team's success has been its ability to win games within the state of Tennessee where they are 26-9 against in-state FCS opponents since 2014.
Saturday's contest marks the first head-to-head showdown in the 20th annual Sgt. York Trophy Series. When the Sgt. York Trophy was first created before the 2007 season, four teams completed for the traveling trophy. Now with just two schools from the state of Tennessee in the OVC with Tennessee State and UT Martin, the winner of the annual Sgt. York Trophy will be decided directly on the field with a head-to-head matchup for the first time. The Skyhawks have claimed the Sgt. York Trophy 11 times overall and boasts a 38-15 record in the series while hoping to bring the trophy back to Martin for the first time since 2023.
UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson enters league action with 99 career victories and is looking to become just the third coach in OVC history to eclipse the 100-win mark against conference opponents. Simpson has found success against the Tigers throughout his career, boasting a 13-6 record in head-to-head meetings.
Tennessee State (1-4, 0-1 OVC) returns home for the first time since Week 0 following a four-game road trip of its own. The Tigers have gotten off to a similar slow start while most recently falling to Western Illinois by a 28-21 margin coming off their bye week. Under second-year head coach Reggie Barlow, the Tigers are seeking their first conference victory since 2024.
The contest marks the 36th meeting between the programs, with UT Martin holding an 18-17 advantage in the series. The Skyhawks have won five straight matchups in the series, including a 26-7 victory in Martin last season.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while locally fans can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play) and Chuck Hammer (analyst) call the action. Games are broadcast on WCMT Talk and News You Can Use! with simulcasts on 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
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