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It is a light week of OVC action as four teams have a bye. But the week marks the return of Conference play, with Charleston Southern hosting Gardner-Webb in the North/South BBQ Bowl and Western Illinois entertaining Tennessee State.
Saturday, October 3
*Tennessee State at Western Illinois, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Tennessee State Tigers (1-3, 0-0 OVC) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (2-3, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday, October 3 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Hanson Field (16,368) • Macomb, Ill.
Video (ESPN+): https://bit.ly/4yiKjb1
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3Pyfr2i
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
Last Meeting: Western Illinois won 17-16 (10/25/25)
Noteworthy: Tennessee State and Western Illinois meet for the third-time ever, this time to kick off Conference play. TSU won the first matchup in 2024 while WIU won last year in Nashville ... Tennessee State is looking to snap an eight-game OVC losing streak. The team was winless in Conference play last year after sharing the OVC crown in 2024 ... Prior to its open date, TSU won its first road game of the season, besting Florida A&M as freshman Brenton Paul ran for 92 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 36 yards and two more scores ... The Leathernecks outgained North Alabama by 107 yards and held a lead until late in the game before falling in the final minute. Tight end David Hargro caught two touchdown passes while Ihson E. Jackson-Anderson accounted for 213 all-purpose yards ... Western Illinois leads the OVC and ranks fourth nationally in total defense (245.2 yards/game allowed) and sixth nationally in passing yards defense (137.4 yards/game allowed).
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (1-4, 0-0 OVC) at Charleston Southern Buccaneers (2-2, 0-1 OVC)
Saturday, October 3 • 5:00 p.m. CT
Buccaneer Field (4,000) • Charleston, S.C.
Video (ESPN+): https://bit.ly/4yeg7Oh
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/4yj3OjM
Series Record: Gardner-Webb leads 14-9
Last Meeting: Gardner-Webb won 30-27 (10/4/25)
Noteworthy: The North/South BBQ Bowl will take place on Saturday in Charleston. Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb have played 25 previous times, with GWU leading the all-time series (which includes a pair of vacated victories). The Runnin' Bulldogs have won four-straight in the series ... GWU led FBS foe Marshall by as many as seven in the first half and were up eight with just over six minutes to play in the second half before eventually falling 36-35 ... QB Cole Pennington was 22-of-33 for 298 yards and four touchdowns, completing seven passes (for 179 yards) and two scores to Giovanni Adopte. Pennington ranks first nationally in passing yards (1,483) ... CSU is coming off an opening date which came after a 65-0 win over Point. The 65 points were the third-most in school history, it was the first shutout for the team since 2018 and the team allowed the fewest-ever yards to an opponent (41) ... Charleston Southern is first in the OVC (and 10th nationally) in fewest penalties per game (4.5).
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