Saturday, September 5
Chattanooga, Tenn.
6 PM
Chattanooga
vs
Tennessee Tech
Keyshawn Jackson
Photo by: Laura O'Dell
PREVIEW: Football Eyes Home Opener on Saturday
9/2/2026 2:35:00 PM | Football
Keyshawn Jackson and the Chattanooga Mocs take on Tennessee Tech in the home opener Saturday evening at Finley Stadium.
The Chattanooga Mocs football team is home for the first time in 2026 this Saturday evening against in-state rival Tennessee Tech. The Mocs and Golden Eagles meet at 6 p.m., at Finley Stadium on Future Fans Night. All 12 and under Mocs get free admission into the contest.
Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
No. 12 Tennessee Tech (1-0) at Chattanooga (1-0)
Sept. 5 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | Finley Stadium (20,668)
Scheduled Start Time: 6 p.m.
Series
Meetings: 42nd | Series: 30-11 (Home: 20-6/Road: 10-5) | Streak: -1
First Meeting: 9-23-1938, W, 27-6 (Home) | Last Meeting: 9-6-2025, L, 17-45 (Away)
Media
TV: ESPN+/Nexstar (PxP: Pete Yanity, Analysis: Cole Neely; Sideline: Dave Friedman)
Radio: WFLI Chattanooga (96.1/100.3 FM & 1070 AM) - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com & Varsity Network app.
Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 43-34 (8th season) | Overall: Same
TTU: Bobby Wilder (Maine '86) | Record at TTU: 19-7 (3rd) | Overall: 96-63 (14th)
Openers
A Look at Tennessee Tech
3 Notes to Know
Coach Rusty Wright on…
Lalin's 30 carries in game 1:
"You guys saw what I've seen since he's been here. There was no doubt in my mind that young man was going to go play hard and run the football hard and do the things we asked him to do. We had three other guys that made that trip that really hadn't played in a college football game. A couple of them got in there. TJ Worthy spelled him, but hopefully we get a couple other guys back, and those guys continue to keep getting better."
Tennessee Tech:
"It's a very quality opponent. They've got really, really good players at every level on both sides of the football, and in the kicking game. This may be the best FCS team we play this year."
The focus this week:
"We need to be more consistent in everything we do. We have to be better at finishing some things. We were close last week, but there are little minute things that have to be corrected to get us in a spot to be successful. Just the technique and fundamental details."
Football Ticket Quick Links – Season Tickets | Mini-Plans | Game
As always, for all Mocs and McKenzie Arena events go to GoMocs.com/tickets. All football options are available with season tickets on sale as well for men's and women's basketball. The Arena also has Leanne Morgan's "The Time of Our Lives" Tour available.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Wear what the teams wear in our BSN Team Store or go to the bookstore's official True Spirit Stop. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook, X & Instagram accounts. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here & by checking out NIL possibilities here.
Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
No. 12 Tennessee Tech (1-0) at Chattanooga (1-0)
Sept. 5 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | Finley Stadium (20,668)
Scheduled Start Time: 6 p.m.
Series
Meetings: 42nd | Series: 30-11 (Home: 20-6/Road: 10-5) | Streak: -1
First Meeting: 9-23-1938, W, 27-6 (Home) | Last Meeting: 9-6-2025, L, 17-45 (Away)
Media
TV: ESPN+/Nexstar (PxP: Pete Yanity, Analysis: Cole Neely; Sideline: Dave Friedman)
Radio: WFLI Chattanooga (96.1/100.3 FM & 1070 AM) - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com & Varsity Network app.
Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 43-34 (8th season) | Overall: Same
TTU: Bobby Wilder (Maine '86) | Record at TTU: 19-7 (3rd) | Overall: 96-63 (14th)
- Last year's matchup was the first for both coaches against their opponent.
- 43-26 (.623) against FCS opposition during Wright's tenure: Home: 21-12 (.636) | Road: 22-14 (.611).
- Wilder built the program at Old Dominion before landing at Tennessee Tech in 2024.
Openers
- Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech are two of six SoCon schools that started 1-0.
- This is a non-conference matchup. The Southern Conference is playing an 8-game schedule in 2026. Both the Mocs and Golden Eagles face each of the other eight league members. Due to scheduling conflicts, not all schools could go to a 9-game slate so this one was kept "off the books".
- 119th season of collegiate football at Chattanooga. 50th as a DI program and in the SoCon.
- 79-36-3 (.682) in home openers all-time...17-11 (.607) in Finley Stadium.
- 62nd time starting the season 1-0. Last time at 2-0? 2022 (3-0). 1-1? 2023 (4-1).
- 42nd meeting all-time in the series (30-11) but just the 9th of the 2000s (4-4).
- The Golden Eagles enter the game ranked No. 13 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 12 in the Stats Perform Top 25. Chattanooga is receiving votes in both polls. Last ranked win? Oct. 5, 2024; 17-10 at No. 23 ETSU.
- The Mocs have at least one ranked win in five of Rusty Wright's previous seven seasons.
A Look at Tennessee Tech
- Opened the season with a 38-14 win over #22 Monmouth in Cookeville.
- 42nd meeting with the Golden Eagles ties for 6th most frequent opponent: 59-The Citadel, 56-Furman, 51-Western Carolina, 50-Samford, 48-ETSU, 42-TTU/Jacksonville State.
- Tech is one of four opponents the Mocs have beaten 30 or more times: 36-The Citadel, 35-Samford, 31-Western Carolina, 30-TTU.
- Won 18 of their last 20 games.
- RB M.J. Flowers is on the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award.
- QB Jax Leatherwood is 2nd nationally in TD passes after four in the win over Monmouth.
- After more than 75 years in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), Tennessee Tech officially joined the SoCon) on July 1, 2026.
3 Notes to Know
- RB Kevin Lalin is 114 rushing yards away from 2,500 for his career and 133 all-purpose yards shy of 3,000.
- WR Ashton Schumann's 100-yard effort at West Georgia was the 10th of his career. He needs five catches for 150 and 91 yards for 2,000 in his collegiate career (145-1,909).
- CB Keyshawn Jackson is tied with nine others for the national lead in pass breakups with three. CB DJ Adams is tied for 11th (2).
Coach Rusty Wright on…
Lalin's 30 carries in game 1:
"You guys saw what I've seen since he's been here. There was no doubt in my mind that young man was going to go play hard and run the football hard and do the things we asked him to do. We had three other guys that made that trip that really hadn't played in a college football game. A couple of them got in there. TJ Worthy spelled him, but hopefully we get a couple other guys back, and those guys continue to keep getting better."
Tennessee Tech:
"It's a very quality opponent. They've got really, really good players at every level on both sides of the football, and in the kicking game. This may be the best FCS team we play this year."
The focus this week:
"We need to be more consistent in everything we do. We have to be better at finishing some things. We were close last week, but there are little minute things that have to be corrected to get us in a spot to be successful. Just the technique and fundamental details."
Football Ticket Quick Links – Season Tickets | Mini-Plans | Game
As always, for all Mocs and McKenzie Arena events go to GoMocs.com/tickets. All football options are available with season tickets on sale as well for men's and women's basketball. The Arena also has Leanne Morgan's "The Time of Our Lives" Tour available.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Wear what the teams wear in our BSN Team Store or go to the bookstore's official True Spirit Stop. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook, X & Instagram accounts. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here & by checking out NIL possibilities here.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 08
Saturday, September 05
Tuesday, September 01
Tuesday, September 01
