For the first time since 2022, Tennessee State and Jackson State will clash again on the gridiron, renewing a rivalry dating back to the 1940s. It should be classic.
But it won’t be The Southern Heritage Classic.
The John A. Merritt Classic kicks off this year in Nashville on Aug. 29 at Nissan Stadium. A 2027 game is already set to be played in Jackson. TSU formally announced the news on Jan. 13, calling the matchup with Jackson State “a renewal of tradition.”
“The John A. Merritt Classic provides the perfect stage to renew our rivalry with Jackson State,” said TSU Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen. “Hosting the game in 2026 and returning to Jackson in 2027 reflects the tradition and excitement this matchup brings to both programs.”
The announcement all but cements what many Memphis football fans have suspected for some time: the days of seeing both schools face off at the Southern Heritage Classic appear to be over.
Fred Jones Jr., founder of the Southern Heritage Classic, declined to comment specifically on TSU or JSU’s decision or on the new Nashville game. “No comment at this time,” he said in a brief phone interview with The Tri-State Defender. “We have no current announcements about the Southern Heritage Classic.”
Founded in 1990, the Southern Heritage Classic grew into a Memphis institution and one of the largest annual HBCU events in the nation, drawing tens of thousands of fans to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (now Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium).
For decades, the event featured TSU vs. JSU as its centerpiece, flanked by concerts, fashion shows, the Battle of the Bands, and a festival-like atmosphere.
But recent years brought change. Jackson State, under then-head coach Deion Sanders, announced in 2022 it would exit the Classic. Tennessee State followed suit the next season. And for the first time in more than 30 years, the 2025 Classic did not feature either team, instead showcasing a SWAC matchup between Alcorn State and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB).
Meanwhile in Nashville, the Tennessee Titans will serve as presenting sponsor, bringing NFL‑level marketing and resources to the event — creating a scale of backing that an independent event like the Southern Heritage Classic might find difficult to match.
In a 2025 TSD exclusive, Jones said that last year’s event was closer to being cancelled than most realize, but he was able to convince Alcorn and UAPB to relocate an already scheduled matchup to Memphis for the 2025 Classic.
He also noted during the interview that the Southern Heritage Classic has dates reserved at SimmonsBank Stadium through 2029, but no commitments from any schools to participate.
But he also was optimistic, insisting the Classic could still thrive even without TSU and JSU.
“The Classic has always been bigger than one game,” he said. “It’s something Memphis can be proud of. Doesn’t matter where you live — Frayser, Germantown, South Memphis, West Memphis — it brings people together.” This year’s matchup marks the first-ever meeting between Tennessee State and Jackson State at the John A. Merritt Classic, adding a new chapter to a rivalry that spans more than seven decades. TSU holds a 30–23–2 all-time advantage in the series, which began in 1949.
As part of a home-and-home agreement, the two programs are scheduled to meet again in 2027, when TSU travels to Jackson, Mississippi.
“We are excited to renew our rivalry with Tennessee State in Nashville and next year at home,” Jackson State Vice President and Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson said in a news release. “This is a great opportunity for our football program and our fans as we kick off the season at the John A. Merritt Classic.”
