The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles are in the midst of one of the best seasons in school history. With last week’s 27-21 win over Gardner-Webb at home, this fall’s TTU squad became just the second team in its program’s 103-year history to reach the 9-0 mark. The last time it was done? 1952. Dating back to last season, the Golden Eagles are also now boasting a 14-game winning streak; another program best. Even more significant than that collection of milestones, though, is the fact that Tennessee Tech is on the cusp of winning the Big South-OVC championship. All it will take is a win against Eastern Illinois and a UT Martin loss on Saturday. The Golden Eagles can practically taste it.
For a team that has only ever been to the FCS playoffs once before (2011), wrapping up the conference auto bid would be a milestone but it is, of course, not the ultimate goal. TTU has legitimate aspirations of making a deep playoff run. On Monday when the updated STATS Perform rankings were released, the Golden Eagles checked in at #5 nationally; the highest ranking they’ve ever held. This group is for real and their success ought not to be overlooked any longer.
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How did a team that, just four years ago, went 3-8 end up here?
When head coach Bobby Wilder got hired prior to the 2024 season, it was clear that the program was moving in the right direction and Wilder made it evident last fall that his vision for the team could be realized sooner rather than later. The Golden Eagles strung together seven wins a season ago, marking the first time they’d had a winning record in 14 years. They also nabbed a share of the conference championship but were left out of playoff contention.
Over the offseason, Wilder and his staff made the necessary changes to vault the program from a good one to a great one. A lot of those changes came via the transfer portal with the perhaps the most notable being under center. Kekoa Visperas came over from Eastern Washington and was an immediate difference maker for the offense. Visperas has thrown for 1,953 yards and has a staggering 21-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio right now. He averages 217 passing yards per game and has done all that while rushing for another 386 yards and three scores.
Visperas, however, is not the only transfer who has made a splash… not by a long shot. Ex Robert Morris receiver Noah Robinson has been equally as important to the offensive success. He leads the team with 31 catches for well over 400 yards and has six touchdowns. Quintell Quinn, who left Texas Southern, has been the primary workhorse on the ground, rushing for 607 yards and nine touchdowns. His fellow back, Q’Daryius Jennings, also came in over the offseason from Murray State and has posted nine TDs as well. No one utilized the portal quite as effectively as Tennessee Tech it seems and the numbers speak for themselves.
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The Golden Eagles are among one of the best offenses in the nation. They average 7.4 yards per play (third best in the FCS) and have 54 total offensive touchdowns this season (best in FCS). The chemistry on that side of the ball has been off the charts and the confidence has to be as high as it’s been for this group all season. The explosiveness and sheer skill from TTU’s offense will make them a tough out down the line but the defense has also been playing extremely well.
Under first-year defensive coordinator Chase Mummau, Tennessee Tech’s D is the best in the country when it comes to the ground game. Right now they are allowing only 52.4 rush yards per contest and the next closest team in that category is Stephen F. Austin at 72.6. No one is coming close to what Mummau’s defensive front is doing to opposing rushers and quarterbacks for that matter. They also lead the FCS in total sacks with 36 and tackles for loss with 86.
That tenacious unit is also led by some big name transfers including ex-Alabama State defensive end Maurice Lapierre who has six sacks. Theron Gaines has been instrumental in that department as well with a team-high 11.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 4.5 sacks and 60 total stops.
Front to back, Tennessee Tech is loaded and thus far has had no trouble blowing its way through its 2025 slate. It has all resulted in the chance for this weekend’s game against Eastern Illinois to be a crowning moment for the program. Wilder’s team is one win (and a little outside help) away from wrapping up the first of its major goals for the season.
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Assuming they once again handle business this Saturday, the Golden Eagles will officially enter uncharted territory at 10-0. From there the conversation about where they belong in the playoffs can really begin. A home postseason game seems almost assured at this point and a first-round bye is certainly on the table. As exciting as the times have been at TTU all season, it feels as though it might only be the beginning of what could be a magical next couple of months for fans in Cookeville.
Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois will kick off at 1:00 PM (ET) on Saturday. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.
