What Is 2017 Tennessee State Tigers football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University in the NCAA Division I FCS football season, finishing with a 5–6 overall record under head coach Rod Reed. They competed in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), where they posted a 3–5 conference record.

Key Facts

The 2017 Tennessee State Tigers finished the season with a 5–6 overall record
They played in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), finishing 3–5 in conference play
Head coach Rod Reed was in his first full season leading the team
The team played home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
Quarterback Devon Johnson threw for 1,207 yards and 9 touchdowns during the season

Overview

The 2017 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University during the 2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) season. Competing as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), the Tigers were led by head coach Rod Reed in his first full year at the helm after taking over midway through the 2016 season.

The team struggled to find consistency, finishing with a 5–6 overall record and a 3–5 mark in conference play. Despite missing the FCS playoffs, the season provided valuable experience for a rebuilding program aiming to reestablish itself in the competitive OVC landscape.

Overall record: The Tigers finished the 2017 season with a 5–6 win-loss record, falling just short of postseason eligibility.
Conference performance: In the Ohio Valley Conference, they went 3–5, placing them in the lower half of the league standings.
Home stadium: The team played home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, a 69,143-seat NFL venue shared with the Tennessee Titans.
Head coach:Rod Reed served as head coach in his first full season, tasked with stabilizing and modernizing the Tigers’ program.
Quarterback stats: Senior quarterback Devon Johnson led the offense, throwing for 1,207 yards and 9 touchdowns over 11 games.

Season Performance

The 2017 campaign was marked by narrow losses and offensive inconsistency, as the Tigers failed to win consecutive games after their season opener. Despite flashes of potential, particularly on defense, the team could not string together enough wins to qualify for the FCS playoffs.

Season opener: The Tigers began with a 31–21 win over Edward Waters, a non-Division I opponent, setting early optimism.
Close losses: Tennessee State suffered four losses by one possession, including a 24–21 defeat to Eastern Kentucky.
Defensive effort: The defense recorded 18 sacks and 9 interceptions, led by linebacker DaShaun Davis’ 75 tackles.
Offensive struggles: The team averaged 22.5 points per game, hampered by a lack of deep passing threats and red-zone efficiency.
Key win: A 31–28 victory over Murray State in October provided a highlight, showcasing late-game resilience.
Final game: The season concluded with a 45–10 loss to Tennessee Tech, underscoring ongoing challenges in closing out the year.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2017 season can be better understood by comparing its results to recent years and conference peers. Below is a performance comparison across key metrics:

Team	Overall Record	OVC Record	Points Per Game	FCS Playoffs
2017 Tennessee State	5–6	3–5	22.5	No
2016 Tennessee State	5–6	4–4	24.1	No
2018 Tennessee State	7–4	6–2	27.3	No
Eastern Kentucky (2017)	7–5	5–3	28.2	Yes
Murray State (2017)	3–8	2–6	19.8	No

The data shows that while the 2017 Tigers were slightly worse than the previous year in conference play, they remained competitive within the OVC. The team improved in subsequent seasons, suggesting 2017 was a transitional year under new leadership. Compared to rivals, they outperformed struggling programs like Murray State but fell short of playoff teams like Eastern Kentucky.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season was a foundational year for Tennessee State football as it marked the beginning of a broader rebuilding effort under Rod Reed. While the record was underwhelming, the season provided critical evaluation opportunities for roster development and coaching adjustments.

Program transition: The year served as a bridge between coaching regimes, helping Reed implement his offensive and defensive systems.
Player development: Young players gained valuable game experience, contributing to improved performance in 2018 and beyond.
Recruiting impact: A stable coaching staff helped stabilize recruiting efforts after previous instability.
Stadium advantage: Playing at Nissan Stadium offered exposure and professional game-day experience for student-athletes.
Conference competitiveness: Remaining competitive in the OVC kept the program relevant in regional college football.
Foundation for improvement: The lessons from 2017 contributed to a 7–4 record in 2018, marking clear progress.

Ultimately, the 2017 Tennessee State Tigers season may not stand out in the record books, but it played a crucial role in setting the stage for future growth and stability within the program.