The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles will move from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Southern Conference beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Tennessee Tech plays football in the OVC-Big South Football Association. The Golden Eagles joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 1949.
Tennessee Tech won or shared 9 OVC football titles between 1952 and 1975. The Golden Eagles then experienced a drought lasting more than 35 years, with the next title coming in 2011 when a three-way split occurred among them, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State. The school’s lone FCS playoff appearance came in 2011, which resulted in a 34-14 loss against Central Arkansas in the first round.
Tennessee Tech won a share of the 2024 title along with Southeast Missouri State, UT Martin, and Tennessee State. The Golden Eagles were the only school in that quartet not to make the FCS Playoffs. Heading into the 2025 season, Tennessee Tech is regarded as a top 25 team and the favorite to win the OVC-Big South title.
The Southern Conference will expand to 10 teams with the addition of Tennessee Tech. Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Furman, Mercer, Samford, The Citadel, VMI, Western Carolina, and Wofford will contest the 2025 season. The OVC-Big South will drop to 8 teams in 2026, assuming no further changes: Charleston Southern, Eastern Illinois, Gardner-Webb, Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, UT Martin, and Western Illinois.
Tennessee Tech’s final OVC-Big South season will begin with a home game against the NAIA’s Cumberland Phoenix on Saturday, August 30. The second game will be at home against future SoCon member Chattanooga, while the regular season will end at home versus UT Martin on Saturday, November 22.
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