By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a season that saw the Tennessee Tech football team bounce back from consecutive 1-10 seasons and put together the second-best turnaround in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Golden Eagles will look to continue that progress in 2020.
Tech opens the slate with a return trip to Birmingham to take on Samford on Thursday, Sept. 3. The Golden Eagles topped the Bulldogs in a thrilling 59-58 double-overtime win at Tucker Stadium. Samford finished 5-7 this season, including a 4-4 mark in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs were 3-2 this year at home.
On Sept. 12, the Golden Eagles will load up for their annual foray against the Football Bowl Subdivision, heading to TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to take on the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers currently have a 10-2 record, including a 7-2 record against the Big Ten – falling only to Iowa and Wisconsin.
Minnesota will wrap up its season on New Year's Day in the Outback Bowl against Auburn. It will be Tech's third visit to the Big Ten after facing Iowa in 2011 and Wisconsin in 2013.
Tech will open up its home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 19, as the Golden Eagles entertain North Carolina Central. NCCU finished 4-8 this past season, including 3-5 in the MEAC. They fell 41-10 to Austin Peay in the season opener.
With the non-conference portion in the books, the Golden Eagles will open Ohio Valley Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26, with a visit from Eastern Kentucky.
Tech opens up October with a trip to Jacksonville State (Oct. 3), then home against Murray State (Oct. 10), a trip to Cape Girardeau, Mo., to take on Southeast Missouri (Oct. 17), then back at Tucker Stadium to take on Tennessee State (Oct. 24). The Golden Eagles will enjoy their open date on Oct. 31.
A visit to UT Martin on Nov. 7 kicks off the final month of the regular season, before the Golden Eagles return to Tucker Stadium on Nov. 14 against Austin Peay. Tech closes out the regular-season slate on the road on Nov. 21 as it travels to Eastern Illinois.
Special events and start times will be announced at a later date.
