Eddie and Eriq George talk about TSU’s season-opening win
Tennessee State celebrated its first season-opening victory in the coach Eddie George era on Saturday when the Tigers beat Mississippi Valley State.
Eddie George didn’t have to waste many words on his Tennessee State football team when he pointed out the challenge that awaits them on Saturday when the Tigers (1-0) visit North Dakota State (0-1) at the Fargodome (2:30 p.m., CST, ESPN+).
North Dakota State opened the season in the national spotlight as the Bison scared Deion Sanders and Colorado in one of the first college football games of the season Thursday night. North Dakota State ultimately let a halftime lead slip away in the 31-26 loss, but showed why it has been an FCS power for many years.
Tennessee State watched Colorado-North Dakota State on ESPN
The No. 2 Bison, who have won 17 national championships, including nine since 2011, certainly caught TSU’s attention.
“Everyone watched the game,” TSU quarterback Draylen Ellis said. “I think a lot of people wanted to see North Dakota State beat Colorado, and they almost did.”
The Colorado-North Dakota State game drew an average of 4.8 million viewers, making it ESPN’s most-watched Thursday season opener since 2017 (Ohio State vs. Indiana). The game peaked at 5.6 million viewers, according to ESPN.
Watching the game gave Ellis a preview of what to expect Saturday when TSU attempts to open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2018.
“They’re very physical, they rush the ball,” Ellis said. “Their defense plays like a unit. Everyone on defense does their job. That means we just have to go in there and not try to force too many plays. We just have to let the plays come to us. We have to play a perfect game.”
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TSU’s Draylen Ellis poses different challenges than Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders
Ellis played the best game of his career last Saturday, leading the Tigers to a 41-21 victory over Mississippi Valley State, completing 21 of 33 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns.
Ellis’ performance caught the attention of North Dakota State coach Tim Polasek, who said the game against Ellis would be much different than the one against Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who completed 26 of 34 passes for 445 yards and three touchdowns against the Bison.
“It’s a lot different,” Polasek said. “Colorado dropped back and threw like I expected. Dropped back and passed, like old times. Hitch and throw. This guy (Ellis) is all RPO (run/pass option). He’s all screens. Even on third downs, they’re not afraid to throw screens to keep the ball one (step) or two (steps) out, that sort of thing. That’s where he’s really effective and precise. This kid is precise, skilled and has a good arm. I respect him.”
The key for North Dakota State’s defense will be to hold TSU in third-and-long situations, where shorter pass completions would make it difficult for the Tigers to gain first downs, Polasak said.
How did North Dakota State get into TSU’s schedule?
George, who is in his fourth year at TSU, has never shied away from tough games. Last year the Tigers started at Notre Dame and the year before that at Eastern Washington, which was ranked 12th in the FCS at the time.
In George’s first season, TSU started against Grambling before playing Jackson State, which was then coached by Deion Sanders and quarterbacked by Shedeur Sanders.
So it probably came as no surprise to Tigers fans that a national FCS powerhouse like North Dakota State was on the schedule. North Dakota State will play TSU on September 6, 2025 at Nissan Stadium.
“A few years ago, their AD (Matt Larsen) called and said, ‘Hey, do you want to be on our schedule for a home-and-away?'” George said. “I said, ‘Hey, let’s do it. Absolutely. Why not?’ We’ll play any team anywhere.”
Is North Dakota State’s Cam Miller the best player TSU has faced under Eddie George?
Four-year starting quarterback Cam Miller’s 7-yard touchdown run gave North Dakota State a 17-14 lead in the second quarter against Colorado. Miller added a 20-yard touchdown run in the second half and completed 18 of 22 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.
Miller, a 2023 Walter Payton (FCS Best Offensive Player) finalist, has led North Dakota State to a 31-10 record as a starter. He has passed for 6,747 yards and 49 touchdowns and rushed for 1,727 yards and 38 touchdowns in his career.
“He’s the best player we’ve seen during my tenure here,” George said. “Cam is a remarkable leader. He can run, he can throw. He’s got a lot of experience. He just makes the right plays at the right time. Because of that position, they’re always in the playoffs or competing for a national championship.”
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or at X @MikeOrganWriter.
