The 1971 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented

Tennessee State University Tennessee State University (Tennessee State, Tenn State, or TSU) is a public historically black land-grant university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, it is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennes ...

as an independent during the

1971 NCAA College Division football season The 1971 NCAA College Division football season was the 16th season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the NCAA College Division level. Conference standings Rankings College Di ...

. In their ninth season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a 9–1 record, defeated McNeese State in the

Grantland Rice Bowl The Grantland Rice Bowl was an annual college football bowl game held from 1964 through 1977. The game originated as an NCAA College Division regional final, then became a playoff game for Division II. It was named in honor of Grantland Rice, an ...

, and outscored all opponents by a total of 403 to 151. The team was also recognized as the 1971 black college national champion and was ranked No. 5 in the final small college rankings issued by the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

and No. 14 in the final poll issued by the

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Schedule

References

{{Black college football national champion navbox Tennessee State Tennessee State Tigers football seasons Black college football national champions Grantland Rice Bowl champion seasons

Tennessee State Tigers football The Tennessee State Tigers football program represents Tennessee State University in the sport of American football. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as member of the OVC–Big South Football Asso ...