2025 Week 9 - at Tennessee State

[ST_Lawson]

AT 
Saturday, October 25 at 1:30 PM
@ Nissan Stadium (the Tennessee Titans Home Stadium), Nashville, TN

Heading back to Tennessee for the third time this season, hopefully with a slightly more favorable result that the last two times. Tennessee State is currently 2-5 overall and like us, are winless (0-3) in the conference. The opened the season with a 24-21 win over North Carolina A&T, followed up by home losses against #1 North Dakota State (59-3), Alabama A&M (23-21), and Tennessee Tech (35-8) before finally hitting the road, losing 31-7 at Eastern Illinois and 28-12 at Southeast Missouri State. Last weekend was also their Homecoming, where they beat the Howard Bison, 24-7.

Comparing common opponents:
We lost to Tennessee Tech by 46. They lost to Tennessee Tech by 27.
We lost to Eastern Illinois by 8. They lost to Eastern Illinois by 24.

Massey has us as the #109th team in the FCS, while they are 94th. That system has TSU with a 57% chance of a win, with a predicted score of 31-28 for the Tigers: https://masseyratings.com/game.php?gid=1838000

[rocki]

Biggest question right now for me is how is their passing game?????? Long passes have really stung us.

[ST_Lawson]

Biggest question right now for me is how is their passing game?????? Long passes have really stung us.


 

Overall, 99th in the FCS in passing offense (169.4 ypg), 119th in the FCS in rushing offense (86 ypg), 120th in total offense.
Looks like their defense is the stronger side of things, ranking 49th in the FCS in total defense (allowing 365 ypg overall).
Based on FCS rank, our offense is roughly about as good as their defense, and our defense is about as good as their offense.

They average 14.1 ppg on offense while giving up 29.1 ppg on defense. They have also not played any FBS teams, although NDSU is almost as good as Northwestern, according to Massey Ratings. We have the 66th toughest SoS in FCS and TN State has the 80th.

I know that doesn't really answer the question about long passes, but that's a little hard to find data on without looking through every game's play-by-play log. In their last game (24-7 win over Howard), QB Bryon McNair had one long pass (48 yards) in the first quarter, one for 19 yards in the second quarter, 24-yard and 23-yard passes in the 3rd quarter, and a 14-yard pass in the 4th. Everything else was under 10 yards. Overall 18 out of 22 for 174 yards and 3 TDs passing. He also ran for 47 yards on 6 attempts.

Overall, I'd say it doesn't feel like a big passing threat, but then again, neither was Charleston Southern.

[Wiufan87]

Just watched Coach Davis on weekly media day.  We are getting closer to a win maybe this week we will break through.  Freshman QB is doing good he needs some help.  Defense did well against run last week.  Go WIU.

[wiu712]

Game Day Forecast:
Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon.
High 73.
Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
UV Index:  4 of 11
 
 
 

[4EverPurple&Gold]

We better not lose today, I know we are going on the road but come on boys. 

[jtrinaldi]

Carswell looks like a stud inspite of the play calling that rivals the coaching at Bishop Sycamore 

[wiu712]

Western wins 17-16

Cason Carswell was 14 of 31 for 133 yards.  1 Touchdown.  0 Interceptions.  Sacked once.

Western had 196 Total Yards:  133 yards Passing.  63 yards Rushing.

Tennessee State had 351 Total Yards:  187 yards Passing.  164 yards Rushing.

Western had 10 First Downs.  Tennessee State had 21.

Time of Possession:  Western = 20:47.  Tennessee State = 39:13

Western had 6 Sacks.
 

[Wiufan87]

Great hard fought win today.  Defense bailed us out with sacks, tfls and interceptions.  At home for 2 of last three.  

[4EverPurple&Gold]

Should of beat TSU by a lot more, but hey win is a win. Play calling needs to be addressed this offseason. 

Think we have our QB for next couple seasons.