No. 7 Golden Eagles Travel to Charleston Southern for OVC-Big South Road Contest

CHARLESTON, S.C. – No. 7 Tennessee Tech football is 5-0 for the third time in program history, and leaves the state of Tennessee for the first time with a Week 7 matchup against Charleston Southern (1-5, 0-2) at Buccaneer Field in Charleston, S.C.

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Matchup: No. 7/10 Tennessee Tech (5-0, 2-0) at Charleston Southern (1-5, 0-2)
Date & Time: Saturday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. CT
Venue: Buccaneer Field
Location: Charleston, S.C.
TV: ESPN+ - Justin Biegel (PxP) and Ford Werness (Analyst)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle – Dylan Vazzano (PxP) and Frank Harrell (Analyst)

SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee Tech leads Charleston Southern 1-0 after matching up for the first time on the gridiron last season at Tucker Stadium. The Golden Eagles and the Buccaneers match up for the second time in series history after Tech won the first meeting 28-23 in 2024. Tech held off a second-half comeback from Charleston Southern after leading 19-7 at the half. CSU outscored Tech 16-9 in the second half but the Golden Eagles held on to the five-point win to move to 1-0 in the series. D.J. Linkins led the Golden Eagles with 106 yards receiving and one touchdown. Jalen Mitchell rushed for 94 yards on 15 carries. Tremel Jones rushed for one touchdown and caught another TD. Aaron Swafford led the way with 11 tackles (3 solo, 8 assists) in the win.

LAST GAME: Tennessee Tech took down Western Illinois 66-20 to improve to 5-0 to start a season for the third time in program history on Saturday at Tucker Stadium. The Golden Eagles (5-0, 2-0) improve to 5-0 with a 66-20 victory over the Leathernecks (1-5, 0-2) from Western Illinois to win 10 straight games, marking the longest active winning streak in FCS. Tech has also reached uncharted waters, becoming just the third team in program history to begin a season 5-0, and the first since 1977. QB Kekoa Visperas led an offense that was clicking on all cylinders, racking up 618 yards of total offense, the most in a game this season. Visperas threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns on 24-38 passing with no interceptions and was unstoppable all game. Visperas also led the Golden Eagles in rushing yards with 73 on eight carries, averaging 9.1 yards per carry with a long of 29 yards. Aidan Littles (22 yards), Quintell Quinn (13 yards), and Obie Sanni (9 yards) accounted for three rushing touchdowns for Tech. WR Noah Robinson made just seven catches but averaged 18.0 yards per catch for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Robinson is the first Tech wide out since 2012 to make three touchdown receptions in a single game (Da'Rick Rodgers vs. SEMO, 2012). The Golden Eagles scored eight offensive touchdowns in a single game for the first time in program history. It marks the second-most offensive touchdowns this season, after scoring nine against Davidson (72 total points) on Sept. 13. On the defensive side of the ball, Tech held WIU to just 18 first downs. The Leathernecks managed just 32 yards rushing on 23 attempts (1.4 yards per rush). The Golden Eagles did allow 375 total yards, marking the most allowed to an opponent this season and the first time the opposition had more than 290 total yards of offense. LB Aaron Swafford led the Golden Eagles with six tackles (3 solo, 3 assists) and two QB hurries. DB Tim Coutras made five tackles (4 solo, 1 assist), recovered one fumble that he returned for 14 yards and almost took to the house, and two pass breakups. Andrew Smith picked off a pass and took it 16 yards for a touchdown, marking his second straight game with a pick six and the Golden Eagles' third straight contest with an interception returned for a TD. The Golden Eagles recorded 10 tackles for a loss of 43 yards, 4 sacks (-25), one fumble, and one interception. Tennessee Tech has started the season 5-0 for the third time in program history (1952, 1977, and 2025).

HOW IT HAPPENED: Dom LeBlanc opened the scoring for the Golden Eagles with a 36-yard field goal, capping a seven-play 50-yard drive that took 2:40 on the first drive of the game for Tech. It was the first time this season that an opening drive for the Golden Eagles did not result in a touchdown. Western Illinois responded and grabbed the lead with a passing touchdown by Cason Carswell, putting the Golden Eagles in unfamiliar territory, trailing for the first time this season, 7-3. Tech trailed for just 1:50 as a six-play 75-yard drive was capped with a touchdown pass from Visperas to Robinson, moving the home team back in front 10-7 through one quarter. After the Golden Eagles' defense forced a three-and-out, making the Leathernecks punt on their second possession, Visperas once again connected with Robinson for a 31-yard touchdown pass to cap a five-play 48-yard drive, extending the lead to 17-7. Western Illinois got as close as seven points twice (17-10; 11:23 in 2Q and 24-17; 7:25 in 2Q), but Tennessee Tech outscored the visitors 28-3 in the second half to walk away to a 66-20 victory.

2-0 IN CONFERENCE PLAY: The Golden Eagles have begun OVC-Big South Play 2-0 for the second consecutive year under Head Coach Bobby Wilder. Last season, conference play began with wins over Tennessee State (24-14) and Gardner-Webb (52-21) and this year the conference slate has begun with wins over Tennessee State (35-8) and Western Illinois (66-20), avenging the last loss against WIU prior to the active 10-game winning streak. Tech has allowed 28 points in two conference games in 2025, compared to 31 points in three non-conference games with one shutout (65-0 over Cumberland, 9/30).

GIVE HIM THE GAME BALL: Tennessee Tech quarterback Kekoa Visperas has been given a Walter Camp Game Ball following the 66-20 victory over Western Illinois, as announced by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Visperas led an offense that was clicking on all cylinders for 618 yards of total offense, the most in a game this season. Visperas threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns on 24-38 (63.2%) passing with no interceptions and was unstoppable all game. In all, Visperas went off for 431 yards of total offense (358 passing, 73 rushing). This is the first honor of its kind for Visperas since joining Tennessee Tech. Visperas also led the Golden Eagles in rushing yards with 73 on eight carries, averaging 9.1 yards per carry with a long of 29 yards. Aidan Littles (22 yards), Quintell Quinn (13 yards), and Obie Sanni (9 yards) accounted for three rushing touchdowns for an offense that scored eight touchdowns, the third most in a single game in program history.  The redshirt senior from Eatonville, Washington, completed the most passes (24) on the most attempts (38), for the most yards (358) and most touchdowns (4) in a single game this season. Visperas has been outstanding at the quarterback position for Tennessee Tech, throwing for 13 touchdowns with just one interception this year. Visperas' 13 passing touchdowns are tied for fourth nationally. He has thrown for 1,197 yards this season, marking the 22nd-most in FCS.

OVC-BIG SOUTH OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tennessee Tech quarterback Kekoa Visperas has been named OVC-Big South Offensive Player of the Week following the 66-20 victory over Western Illinois, as announced today by the conference.  Visperas led an offense that was clicking on all cylinders for 618 yards of total offense, the most in a game this season. Visperas threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns on 24-38 (63.2%) passing with no interceptions and was unstoppable all game. In all, Visperas went off for 431 yards of total offense (358 passing, 73 rushing). Visperas threw the fourth-most passing yards in FCS during Week 6. This is the second honor of its kind for Visperas since joining Tennessee Tech, and it is the fourth overall OVC-Big South Player of the Week selection for the Golden Eagles.

Tennessee Tech's OVC-Big South Players of the Week | 
Week | Player                          | Honor | 
1  | Tre' Holloway              | Special Teams Player of the Week | 8/30 vs. Cumberland
2                      | Theron Gaines             | Defensive Player of the Week | 9/6 vs. Chattanooga
3 | Kekoa Visperas | Offensive Player of the Week | 9/13 vs. Davidson
6 | Kekoa Visperas | Offensive Player of the Week | 10/4 vs. Western Illinois

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2024 vs. 2025: The Golden Eagles have taken a large step forward in major statistical categories from 2024 to 2025. 

Category | 2024 | vs. | 2025
Total Offense | 87th (327.5) |   | 3rd (532.2)
Rushing Offense | 41st (165.3) |   | 4th (250.8)
Passing Offense | 103rd (162.3) |   | 8th (281.4)
Scoring Offense | 70th (24.0) |   | 1st (56.6)
Total Defense | 30th (330.4) |   | 4th (249.8)
Scoring Defense | 26th (21.8) |   | 2nd (11.8)
Rush Defense | 2nd (82.9) |   | 1 (48.8)
Pass Defense | 105th (247.5) |   | 42nd (201.0)
Red Zone Offense | 39th (84.8) |   | t-21 (91.3)
Red Zone Defense | t-55th (81.3) |   | t-35 (77.8)

GOLDEN MILESTONES: The Golden Eagles have started 5-0 for the third time in program history (1952, 1977, and 2025). Tech opened the 1977 campaign with eight straight wins and finished 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the OVC. Tech has won 10 straight games marking the longest active winning streak in FCS and setting the longest winning streak in program history. Tennessee Tech enters today's contest ranked No. 7 by the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 10 by the StatsPerform Top 25. The No. 7 ranking is the highest in FCS/DI AA program history.

Program Rankings All-Time
College Division Era (1958-1974)
1960 - UPI (10/6, No. 14; 10/27, No. 20; 11/17, No. 19)
1963 - UPI (10/2, No. 13; 10/9, No. 11)
1971 - AP (9/22, No. 20) UPI (11/3, No. 19)
1972 - UPI (Preseason, No. 21; 9/13, No. 11; 9/27, No. 18; 10/25, No. 16; 11/1, No. 11; 11/8, No. 8; 11/15, No. 8; 11/22, No. 8

Division II Era (1975-1977)
1976 - AP (10/20, No. 9; 10/27, No. 6)
1977 - AP (9/21, No. 10; 9/28, No. 7; 10/5, No. 11; 10/12, No. 9; 10/19, No. 7; 10/26, No. 6; 11/2, T-No. 3; 11/9, No. 7)

Division I-AA (1978-2005)
1990 - 1-AA (10/16, No. 18; 10/23, No. 18)
1993 - 1-AA (11/17, No. 24; 11/24, No. 22; 12/1, No. 22)
1994 - TSN (Preseason, No. 18; 9/7, No. 16; 9/14, No. 18; 9/21, No. 16; 9/28, No. 11; 10/5, No. 20)
1999 - TSN (10/26, No. 23)
2000 - TSN (11/14, No. 24; 11/21, No. 22; Final, No. 22)
2001 - TSN (11/20, No. 23; 11/27, No. 23; Final, No. 23)

Football Championship Subdivision (2006-present)
2011 - TSN (10/3, No. 23; 10/10, No. 19; 10/24, No. 25; 10/31, No. 20; 11/14, No. 23) | FCS Coaches (10/3, No. 23; 10/10, No. 19; 10/17, No. 23; 10/24, No. 19; 10/31, No. 15; 11/7, No. 20; 11/14, No. 21; 11/21, No. 20)
2020-21 - STATS Perform (2/22, No. 23)
2025 - StatsPerform (9/6, No. 17, 9/13, No. 15, 9/27, No. 13, 10/6, No. 10) | AFCA Coaches Poll (9/6, No. 20, 9/13, No. 16, 9/27, No. 11, 10/6, No. 7)

COMPLETE GAME: Tech outscores its opponents 87-10 in the first quarter and 86-24 in the second quarter for a resounding 173-34 advantage in the first half this season. The Golden Eagles outscored the opposition 110-25 in the second half for a total of 283-59 for four quarters of football. The nation's No. 1 scoring offense (56.6 ppg) and No. 2 scoring defense (11.8 papg) have allowed the Golden Eagles to record one of the best starts in program history. 

SCOARING EAGLES: The Tennessee Tech offense has scored more points than any team in program history through the first three games of a season (182 points). It marks the first time breaking the 100-plus point mark since 2007 (124) and the most since that season. With 66 points against Western Illinois, the Golden Eagles have scored 283 total points, marking the most scored through five games in modern program history since 1977. The Golden Eagles have scored over 60 points three times in five games played this season, and 35-plus points in all five games. In five wins to begin the season, Tech has scored 283 points, and during the five-game winning streak to end 2024, the Golden Eagles scored 140 points. That's 423 total points over 10 consecutive wins (42.3 ppg), while allowing 114 total points during that run (11.4 ppg).

LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAK IN FCS: Tech currently holds the longest active winning streak in FCS (10 games), tying the longest single-season winning streak in program history (1972). For perspective, North Dakota State holds the longest winning streak in FCS history, 39 games from 2017 to 2020. The longest winning streak in OVC history was 18 wins by Eastern Kentucky from 1982-83.

FCS Longest Active Winning Streaks (Per StatsPerform)
Overall
10 – Tennessee Tech
9 – NDSU, Presbyterian
6 – Lehigh, Tarleton St

Home
32 – SDSU
18 – Villanova
15 – NDSU
11 – Rhode Island, South Dakota

Road
5 – Harvard
4 – Presbyterian
3 – NDSU, Tarleton St, Tennessee Tech

DOMINANT DEFENSE: The Golden Eagles' defense went another week without allowing a touchdown to the opposing teams' offense, surrendering just eight points against Tennessee State last week. Tech has allowed just four touchdowns in four games and has held its opponent under 20 points in four of five contests (20 vs. Western Illinois, 10/4). The Golden Eagles are second nationally in yards allowed per play, surrendering just 3.80 yards on each play to the opposition. Tech is fourth nationally in total yards allowed per game, surrendering just 249.8 total yards.

FLY EAGLES FLY: Tech's offense is one of the prolific in the country, leading the nation in scoring offense (56.6 ppg), sitting at No. 3 in total offense, averaging 532.2 yards per game; 4th in rushing offense (250.8), No. 11 in team passing efficiency (106.2), and No. 8 in passing offense (281.4). The Golden Eagles are tied for 21st in red zone offense, converting 91.3% of the time.

OFFENSE/DEFENSE NATIONAL RANKINGS (FCS Through Games 10/4/25)
No. 1     Scoring Offense (56.6)
No. 1     Rushing Defense (48.8)
No. 2     Scoring Defense (11.8)
No. 4     Rushing Offense (250.8)
No. 4     Total Offense (510.8)
No. 4     Total Defense (218.5)
No. 8     Passing Defense (94.10)
No. 12   Passing Efficiency (167.47)

IN THE RANKINGS: The Golden Eagles are No. 7 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll and No. 10 in the StatsPerform FCS Top 25. The No. 7 ranking is the highest in the program's FCS/DI history, since joining the ranks in 1978. The last time the program was ranked in the Top 10 by any poll was during the DII era (1975-77).

STATS PERFORM |  |
TOP 25 RANKINGS |  |
RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | PTS
1 | North Dakota State | 5-0 | 1,398
2 | South Dakota State | 5-0 | 1,340
3 | Tarleton State | 6-0 | 1,285
4 | Montana | 5-0 | 1,221
5 | Montana State | 4-2 | 1,207
6 | UC Davis | 4-1 | 1,036
7 | Lehigh | 6-0 | 1,000
8 | Southern Illinois | 4-1 | 968
9 | Illinois State | 3-2 | 899
10 | Tennessee Tech | 5-0 | 897
11 | Idaho | 2-3 | 779
12 | Monmouth | 4-1 | 768
13 | North Dakota | 3-2 | 764
14 | Northern Arizona | 4-2 | 529
15 | Jackson State | 4-1 | 491
16 | Austin Peay | 4-2 | 473
17 | Rhode Island | 4-2 | 465
18 | Villanova | 3-2 | 389
19 | Abilene Christian | 3-3 | 385
20 | Lamar | 4-1 | 333
21 | West Georgia | 5-1 | 299
22 | Harvard | 3-0 | 280
23 | South Dakota | 3-3 | 233
24 | Presbyterian | 5-0 | 228
25 | Mercer |