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Howard at Tennessee State

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Tennessee State beat Howard 24–⁠7. It was their second meeting; Tennessee State leads the series 2–⁠0.

AwayHoward5–⁠7 in 2025
7
HomeTennessee State2–⁠10 in 2025
24

Final at Nissan Stadium, NashvilleTV: ESPN+Attendance 14,056

At kickoff
79°F, wind 10 mph from the south, gusts to 18 mphWeather: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network hourly; Nashville Wbo, 1 km from the stadium, 20 minutes after kickoff
Official
Matt JonesGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Howard07007
Tennessee State777324

Standouts

  • PassingByron McNair18 of 22, 174 yards, 3 TDTennessee State
  • DefenseMicah Gay2 INTTennessee State

Player stats

Howard

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Tyriq Starks14/2711602
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Anthony Reagan Jr.1244127
Billy Roberson II82808
Breylin Smith1303
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
C.J. Neely456027
Billy Roberson II330011
Ke’Untae Mosley112012
Breylin Smith41108

Tennessee State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Byron McNair18/2217430
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Byron McNair647040
Zack Simmons-Brown725013
Taveon Porter1606
Kendric Rhymes11403
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Kendric Rhymes246048
Devaughn Slaughter742119
Tyson Edwards124024
Lelan Wilhoite123023
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Micah Gay0002

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

HowardTennessee State
183Total yards262
116Passing yards174
67Rushing yards88
4.3Yards per pass7.9
2.0Yards per rush3.1
10First downs7
7–⁠16Third downs4–⁠12
0–⁠2Fourth downs0–⁠0
2Turnovers1
6–⁠61Penalties4–⁠45
31:37Possession28:23

Efficiency

HowardTennessee State
27%Success rate26%
−0.28EPA per play0.06
1.31Explosiveness1.91
−0.08Rushing EPA−0.15
−0.46Passing EPA0.29
17%Passing-down success27%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Tennessee State 55% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

Howard −2, over/under 41.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Every drive

Tennessee State end zoneHoward end zoneQ1 Tennessee StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ1 HowardPunt, 5 playsQ1 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 playsQ1 HowardPunt, 3 playsQ1 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 playsQ1 HowardPunt, 6 playsQ2 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 HowardTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 HowardResult not recorded, 3 playsQ2 Tennessee StateResult not recorded, 1 playQ2 HowardInterception, 3 playsQ2 Tennessee StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 HowardEnd of half, 1 playQ3 HowardPunt, 7 playsQ3 Tennessee StatePunt, 6 playsQ3 HowardPunt, 5 playsQ3 Tennessee StateTouchdown, 6 playsQ3 HowardPunt, 3 playsQ3 Tennessee StatePunt, 6 playsQ4 HowardInterception, 5 playsQ4 Tennessee StatePunt, 4 playsQ4 HowardTurnover on downs, 4 playsQ4 Tennessee StateField goal, 4 playsQ4 HowardTurnover on downs, 9 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Tennessee State drives left to right, Howard right to left.
  1. Q1 Tennessee StateTouchdown, 7 plays, 76 yards
  2. Q1 HowardPunt, 5 plays, 7 yards
  3. Q1 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  4. Q1 HowardPunt, 3 plays, −6 yards
  5. Q1 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 plays, 1 yard
  6. Q1 HowardPunt, 6 plays, 21 yards
  7. Q2 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 plays, −2 yards
  8. Q2 HowardTouchdown, 9 plays, 29 yards
  9. Q2 Tennessee StatePunt, 3 plays, 6 yards
  10. Q2 HowardResult not recorded, 3 plays, −2 yards
  11. Q2 Tennessee StateResult not recorded, 1 play, 0 yards
  12. Q2 HowardInterception, 3 plays, −5 yards
  13. Q2 Tennessee StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 29 yards
  14. Q2 HowardEnd of half, 1 play, 0 yards
  15. Q3 HowardPunt, 7 plays, 18 yards
  16. Q3 Tennessee StatePunt, 6 plays, 29 yards
  17. Q3 HowardPunt, 5 plays, 12 yards
  18. Q3 Tennessee StateTouchdown, 6 plays, 48 yards
  19. Q3 HowardPunt, 3 plays, 4 yards
  20. Q3 Tennessee StatePunt, 6 plays, 22 yards
  21. Q4 HowardInterception, 5 plays, 35 yards
  22. Q4 Tennessee StatePunt, 4 plays, 9 yards
  23. Q4 HowardTurnover on downs, 4 plays, 4 yards
  24. Q4 Tennessee StateField goal, 4 plays, −1 yard
  25. Q4 HowardTurnover on downs, 9 plays, 37 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Tennessee State 7, Howard 0
Tennessee State Touchdown, 7 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 21Trevor Pearson II run for 3 yds to the TNST 24
15:002nd & 7 at own 24Byron McNair run for 40 yds to the HOW 36 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 36Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for no gain to the TNST 36 Tennessee State Penalty, illegal block (Veguer Jean-Jumeau) to the TNST 49
15:001st & 25 at own 49Byron McNair sacked by Ja’Quavion Smith for a loss of 6 yards to the TNST 43
15:002nd & 31 at own 43Byron McNair pass complete to Kendric Rhymes for 48 yds to the HOW 9 for a 1ST down
15:001st & goal at opp 9Kendric Rhymes run for a loss of 1 yard to the HOW 10
15:001st & 10 at own 42Billy Roberson II run for 7 yds to the HOW 49
14:531st & 10 at own 35Matt Conord kickoff for 65 yds , Amari Southall return for 21 yds to the TNST 21
10:592nd & goal at opp 10B. McNair pass to S. Reed for 10 yds for a TD (F.Perez KICK)Tennessee State 7, Howard 0
Howard Punt, 5 plays
10:531st & 10 at own 35Freddy Perez kickoff for 57 yds , Breylin Smith return for 18 yds to the HOW 26
10:531st & 10 at own 26Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 27 yds to the TNST 47 for a 1ST down
10:531st & 10 at opp 47Tyriq Starks pass complete to Andre Cooper II for no gain to the HOW 47 Howard Penalty, illegal block (Ibrahim Giwa) to the HOW 38
10:531st & 25 at own 38Tyriq Starks sacked by Lathun Snipes and Jayden Cook for a loss of 1 yard to the HOW 37
10:532nd & 26 at own 37Tyriq Starks pass complete to Breylin Smith for a loss of 4 yards to the HOW 33
10:533rd & 30 at own 33Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to CJ Neely
8:264th & 30 at own 33Liam Allen IV punt for 42 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the TNST 25 , Anthony Taylor returns for no gain to the TNST 25
Tennessee State Punt, 3 plays
8:261st & 10 at own 25Kendric Rhymes run for 3 yds to the TNST 28
8:262nd & 7 at own 28Byron McNair run for 5 yds to the TNST 33
8:263rd & 2 at own 33Kendric Rhymes run for 1 yd to the TNST 34
6:174th & 1 at own 34Mark Shenouda punt for 47 yds , Zuri Watson returns for 6 yds to the HOW 25
Howard Punt, 3 plays
6:171st & 10 at own 25Tyriq Starks pass complete to Breylin Smith for no gain to the HOW 25
6:172nd & 10 at own 25Tyriq Starks run for a loss of 6 yards to the HOW 19
6:173rd & 16 at own 19Anthony Reagan Jr. run for no gain to the HOW 19 Howard Penalty, Offensive holding (Xavier Ricks) to the HOW 19
4:344th & 16 at own 19Liam Allen IV punt for 51 yds , Anthony Taylor returns for 5 yds to the TNST 35
Tennessee State Punt, 3 plays
4:341st & 10 at own 35Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for no gain to the TNST 35
4:342nd & 10 at own 35Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for 2 yds to the TNST 37
4:343rd & 8 at own 37Byron McNair pass complete to Anthony Taylor for 4 yds to the TNST 41
4:344th & 4 at own 41Tennessee State Penalty, false start (Kyle Hicks) to the TNST 36
2:194th & 9 at own 36Mark Shenouda punt for 38 yds , Antonio Hunter returns for no gain to the HOW 25
Howard Punt, 6 plays
2:191st & 10 at own 25Billy Roberson II run for 8 yds to the HOW 33
2:192nd & 2 at own 33Billy Roberson II run for a loss of 3 yards to the HOW 30
2:193rd & 5 at own 30Tyriq Starks pass complete to CJ Neely for 12 yds to the HOW 42 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:002nd & 3 at own 49Billy Roberson II run for a loss of 3 yards to the HOW 46
Q2 15:003rd & 6 at own 46Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to Antonio Hunter, broken up by Byron Davis
Q2 15:001st & 10 at own 26run for a loss of 2 yards to the TNST 35
Q2 13:564th & 6 at own 46Liam Allen IV punt for 50 yds
2nd quarter6 drives, then Tennessee State 14, Howard 7
Tennessee State Punt, 3 plays
13:561st & 10 at own 4Zack Simmons-Brown run for no gain to the TNST 4
13:562nd & 10 at own 4Zack Simmons-Brown run for a loss of 2 yards to the TNST 2
13:563rd & 12 at own 2Byron McNair pass incomplete to Zack Simmons-Brown
12:174th & 12 at own 2Mark Shenouda punt for 40 yds , Antonio Hunter returns for 10 yds to the TNST 32
Howard Touchdown, 9 plays
12:171st & 10 at opp 32Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 3 yds to the TNST 29
12:172nd & 7 at opp 29Anthony Reagan Jr. run for no gain to the TNST 29
12:173rd & 7 at opp 29Tyriq Starks run for 11 yds to the TNST 18 for a 1ST down
12:171st & 10 at opp 18Breylin Smith run for 3 yds to the TNST 15
12:172nd & 7 at opp 15Tyriq Starks run for 4 yds to the TNST 11
12:173rd & 3 at opp 11Tyriq Starks pass complete to Breylin Smith for 8 yds to the TNST 3 for a 1ST down
12:171st & goal at opp 3Anthony Reagan Jr. run for no gain to the TNST 3
12:172nd & goal at opp 3Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 1 yd to the TNST 2
7:013rd & goal at opp 2Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 2 yds for a TD (Matt Conord KICK)Tied at 7
Tennessee State Punt, 3 plays
6:561st & 10 at own 35Matt Conord kickoff for 62 yds , Amari Southall return for 23 yds to the TNST 26
6:561st & 10 at own 26Kendric Rhymes run for 1 yd to the TNST 27
6:562nd & 9 at own 27Byron McNair pass complete to Kendric Rhymes for a loss of 2 yards to the TNST 25
6:563rd & 11 at own 25Byron McNair pass complete to Snap Reed for 7 yds to the TNST 32
6:562nd & 8 at own 18Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to John Simmons III, broken up by Jayden Cook
4:014th & 4 at own 32Mark Shenouda punt for 37 yds Howard Penalty, face mask (15 yards) (AJ Smith-Jones) to the HOW 16
Howard Result not recorded, 3 plays
4:013rd & 8 at own 18Tyriq Starks sacked by Stephon Shivers and James Stewart for a loss of 11 yards to the HOW 7
3:104th & 19 at own 7Liam Allen IV punt for 31 yds
3:041st & 10 at opp 38Byron McNair sacked by CJ Wesley for a loss of 2 yards to the HOW 40 Byron McNair fumbled, recovered by HOW Kaleb Gallop , return for 0 yards
Howard Interception, 3 plays
3:041st & 10 at own 40Billy Roberson II run for 5 yds to the HOW 45
3:041st & 10 at own 16Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 2 yds to the HOW 18
3:042nd & 5 at own 45Billy Roberson II run for no gain to the HOW 45 Howard Penalty, Offensive holding (Zaire Cooper) to the HOW 35
1:512nd & 15 at own 35Micah Gay return for no gain to the HOW 32
Tennessee State Touchdown, 5 plays
1:511st & 10 at opp 32Byron McNair pass complete to Snap Reed for 5 yds to the HOW 27
1:512nd & 5 at opp 27Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for 19 yds to the HOW 8 for a 1ST down
1:511st & goal at opp 8Byron McNair run for 3 yds to the HOW 5
0:372nd & goal at opp 5Kendric Rhymes run for a loss of 1 yard to the HOW 6
0:243rd & goal at opp 6Byron McNair pass complete to Connor Ruth for 6 yds for a TD Tennessee State Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (Veguer Jean-Jumeau) to the HOW 0 (Freddy Perez KICK) (Freddy Perez KICK)Tennessee State 14, Howard 7
0:191st & 10 at own 20Freddy Perez kickoff for 72 yds , John Washington III return for 18 yds to the HOW 26
3rd quarter5 drives, then Tennessee State 21, Howard 7
Howard Punt, 7 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 28Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 4 yds to the HOW 32
15:002nd & 6 at own 32Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 2 yds to the HOW 34
15:003rd & 4 at own 34Tyriq Starks pass complete to KD Mosley for 12 yds to the HOW 46 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 46Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 1 yd to the HOW 47
15:002nd & 9 at own 47Tyriq Starks run for 4 yds to the TNST 49
15:003rd & 5 at opp 49Tyriq Starks pass complete to CJ Neely for no gain to the HOW 49 Howard Penalty, illegal formation (De’Eric Mister) to the HOW 46
15:003rd & 10 at own 46Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to KD Mosley
15:001st & 10 at own 25Zack Simmons-Brown run for 2 yds to the TNST 27
14:531st & 10 at own 35Freddy Perez kickoff for 60 yds , John Washington III return for 23 yds to the HOW 28
10:594th & 10 at own 46Liam Allen IV punt for 37 yds , Anthony Taylor returns for 10 yds to the TNST 27
Tennessee State Punt, 6 plays
10:591st & 10 at own 27Devaughn Slaughter run for 4 yds to the TNST 31
10:592nd & 6 at own 31Kendric Rhymes run for no gain to the TNST 31
10:593rd & 6 at own 31Byron McNair pass complete to Tyson Edwards for 24 yds to the HOW 45 for a 1ST down
10:591st & 10 at opp 45Kendric Rhymes run for 1 yd to the HOW 44
10:592nd & 9 at opp 44Byron McNair pass incomplete to Kendric Rhymes
10:593rd & 9 at opp 44Byron McNair pass incomplete to Kendric Rhymes
7:574th & 9 at opp 44Mark Shenouda punt for 44 yds
Howard Punt, 5 plays
7:571st & 10 at own 20Billy Roberson II run for 7 yds to the HOW 27
7:572nd & 3 at own 27Billy Roberson II run for 3 yds to the HOW 30 for a 1ST down
7:571st & 10 at own 30Billy Roberson II run for 4 yds to the HOW 34
7:572nd & 6 at own 34Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to Montrell Walker, broken up by James Stewart
7:573rd & 6 at own 34Tyriq Starks run for a loss of 2 yards to the HOW 32
5:024th & 8 at own 32punt for 19 yds
Tennessee State Touchdown, 6 plays
5:021st & 10 at own 49Zack Simmons-Brown run for 1 yd to the 50 yard line
5:022nd & 9 at the 50Zack Simmons-Brown run for 13 yds to the HOW 37 for a 1ST down
5:021st & 10 at opp 37Byron McNair pass complete to Zack Simmons-Brown for no gain to the HOW 37
5:022nd & 10 at opp 37Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for 6 yds to the HOW 31
5:023rd & 4 at opp 31Byron McNair pass complete to Lelan Wilhoite for 23 yds to the HOW 8 for a 1ST down
1:281st & goal at opp 8Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for 8 yds for a TD (Freddy Perez KICK) (Freddy Perez KICK)Tennessee State 21, Howard 7
Howard Punt, 3 plays
1:231st & 10 at own 35Freddy Perez kickoff for 65 yds , John Washington III return for 21 yds to the HOW 21
1:231st & 10 at own 21Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to Anthony Reagan Jr.
1:232nd & 10 at own 21Tyriq Starks pass complete to CJ Neely for 4 yds to the HOW 25
1:233rd & 6 at own 25Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to CJ Neely
0:254th & 6 at own 25Liam Allen IV punt for 50 yds
4th quarter6 drives, then Tennessee State 24, Howard 7
Tennessee State Punt, 6 plays
15:002nd & 8 at own 27Byron McNair run for 7 yds to the TNST 34
15:003rd & 1 at own 34Taveon Porter run for 6 yds to the TNST 40 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 40Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for a loss of 7 yards to the TNST 33
15:002nd & 17 at own 33Byron McNair pass incomplete to Devaughn Slaughter, broken up by Reggie Reed Jr.
15:003rd & 17 at own 33Byron McNair pass complete to Devaughn Slaughter for 14 yds to the TNST 47
12:044th & 3 at own 47Mark Shenouda punt for 53 yds
Howard Interception, 5 plays
12:041st & 10 at own 20Tyriq Starks pass complete to CJ Neely for 13 yds to the HOW 33 for a 1ST down
12:041st & 10 at own 33Tyriq Starks pass complete to Andre Cooper II for 4 yds to the HOW 37
12:042nd & 6 at own 37Tyriq Starks sacked by Jaylon Price for a loss of 9 yards to the HOW 28
9:553rd & 15 at own 28Tyriq Starks pass complete to CJ Neely for 27 yds to the TNST 45 for a 1ST down
9:061st & 10 at opp 45Tyriq Starks pass intercepted Micah Gay return for no gain to the TNST 26
Tennessee State Punt, 4 plays
9:061st & 10 at own 26Zack Simmons-Brown run for no gain to the TNST 26
9:062nd & 10 at own 26Zack Simmons-Brown run for 11 yds to the TNST 37 Tennessee State Penalty, Offensive holding (Steven Nelson) to the TNST 27
9:062nd & 9 at own 27Kendric Rhymes run for 1 yd to the TNST 28
9:063rd & 8 at own 28Byron McNair pass complete to Zack Simmons-Brown for 7 yds to the TNST 35
6:164th & 1 at own 35Mark Shenouda punt for 44 yds , Antonio Hunter returns for 1 yd to the HOW 36 Howard Penalty, face mask (11 yards) (KD Mosley) to the HOW 11
Howard Turnover on downs, 4 plays
6:161st & 10 at own 11Anthony Reagan Jr. run for 2 yds to the HOW 13
6:162nd & 8 at own 13Tyriq Starks pass complete to Anthony Reagan Jr. for 3 yds to the HOW 16
6:163rd & 5 at own 16Tyriq Starks run for 4 yds to the HOW 20
6:164th & 1 at own 20Howard Penalty, false start (Antonio Hunter) to the HOW 15
4:194th & 6 at own 15Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to Andre Cooper II, broken up by Jaylon Price
Tennessee State Field goal, 4 plays
4:191st & 10 at opp 15Kendric Rhymes run for no gain to the HOW 15
4:192nd & 10 at opp 15Kendric Rhymes run for 2 yds to the HOW 13
3:293rd & 8 at opp 13Kendric Rhymes run for a loss of 3 yards to the HOW 16
3:174th & 11 at opp 16Freddy Perez 34 yd FG GOODTennessee State 24, Howard 7
Howard Turnover on downs, 9 plays
3:171st & 10 at own 35Freddy Perez kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
3:171st & 10 at own 25Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to CJ Neely, broken up by Dominique Dixon
3:172nd & 10 at own 25Tyriq Starks pass complete to Breylin Smith for 7 yds to the HOW 32
3:173rd & 3 at own 32Tyriq Starks run for 6 yds to the HOW 38 for a 1ST down
3:171st & 10 at own 38Tyriq Starks pass complete to Billy Roberson II for 8 yds to the HOW 46
3:172nd & 2 at own 46Tyriq Starks pass complete to Billy Roberson II for 11 yds to the TNST 43 for a 1ST down
2:001st & 10 at opp 43Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to KD Mosley, broken up by Dominique Dixon
2:002nd & 10 at opp 43Tyriq Starks sacked by Caleb Reid and Demetrius Gore for a loss of 6 yards to the TNST 49
2:003rd & 16 at opp 49Tyriq Starks pass complete to Billy Roberson II for 11 yds to the TNST 38
0:434th & 5 at opp 38Tyriq Starks pass incomplete to Antonio Hunter
0:431st & 10 at own 38run for a loss of 1 yard to the TNST 38

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Howard–Tennessee State game

Tennessee State leads 2–⁠0 in two meetings.

Recent meetings
2025Tennessee State 24, Howard 7
2024Tennessee State 27, Howard 14

Around this game

Howard

Tennessee State

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 8