FirstBank Stadium to Host 2026 John A. Merritt Classic
Tennessee State and Jackson State will face off in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic at Vanderbilt University’s FirstBank Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m., according to organizers. The game will be played at Vanderbilt because the Tennessee Titans’ preseason finale at Nissan Stadium conflicts with the scheduled date.
Vanderbilt stepped forward to host the event, ensuring the classic remains in Nashville. The Titans will continue their support as the presenting sponsor, alongside ONE Community, the event’s co-presenter.
“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,” said Tennessee State athletic director Dr. Mikki Allen. “We appreciate Vanderbilt University and the Tennessee Titans for helping make this event possible for our student-athletes, alumni and fans.”
Merritt, Tennessee State’s legendary coach, posted a 14-4-1 record at Vanderbilt’s Dudley Field, including a 2-1 mark against Jackson State. His first game at the venue was in 1965, when Tennessee State beat Florida A&M 50-8. One of his most notable victories was a 20-3 win over top-ranked Florida A&M in 1979.
During Merritt’s tenure, Tennessee State won 23 games at Vanderbilt, defeating opponents such as Florida A&M, Middle Tennessee State, Grambling State, Southern, and Nicholls State. The Tennessee State-Jackson State rivalry also played out at Vanderbilt, with Tennessee State holding a 2-1 record in those matchups during Merritt’s coaching era.
Merritt coached at Jackson State for 11 seasons before leading Tennessee State. At Jackson State, he compiled a 63-37-5 record and led the Tigers to an Orange Blossom Classic victory in 1962. The rivalry between Tennessee State and Jackson State has been mostly played in Memphis in recent years, with the last Nashville game occurring in 2001, when Tennessee State defeated Jackson State 64-33. The 2026 game will be Tennessee State’s first at Vanderbilt as the home team since 1996.
Fans attending the game can purchase parking in Vanderbilt’s 25th Avenue Garage and West Garage, with tailgating prohibited inside parking structures. Additional details about tailgating, hospitality options, and festivities will be announced later.
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