September 13, 2025 – Tennessee State (1-3, 0-0) dropped a heartbreaking 21-23 decision to Alabama A&M (3-1, 1-0) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, squandering a 21-13 halftime lead in front of 10,208 fans.
The Tigers dominated the second quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to take control of the game. Kendric Rhymes capped off a 75-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run, followed by Zack Simmons-Brown’s explosive 27-yard scoring dash that put TSU ahead 14-10.
Quarterback Statistics
| Player | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Long | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byron McNair | TSU | 17/27 | 157 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 4 |
| Cornelious Brown | A&M | 21/33 | 329 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
McNair connected with Rhymes for a 22-yard touchdown pass with just 11 seconds left in the first half, giving Tennessee State what appeared to be commanding momentum heading into the break.
Running Back Statistics
| Player | Team | Attempts | Yards | TD | Long | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kendric Rhymes | TSU | 24 | 111 | 1 | 20 | 4.6 |
| Zack Simmons-Brown | TSU | 9 | 75 | 1 | 27 | 8.3 |
| Maurice Edwards | A&M | 10 | 38 | 0 | 12 | 3.8 |
The Tigers’ ground game outpaced Alabama A&M 179-67, with Rhymes and Simmons-Brown combining for 186 rushing yards and both touchdowns. However, the offense stalled in the second half, managing no points while Alabama A&M scored 10 to steal the victory.
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