By Steve Irvine
November 7, 2026
SAMFORD VS. EAST TENNESSEE STATE
Day, site, kickoff time: Saturday, William B. Greene Jr. Stadium, Noon CST
Records: Samford 3-6 overall, 3-3 SoCon; East Tennessee State 6-3 overall, 4-1 SoCon
Five storylines
How long can Samford keep ETSU out of the end zone?: The Bulldogs have not allowed a touchdown since early in the second quarter of a loss to Mercer on Oct. 17 at Pete Hanna Stadium. Since the Samford defense allowed six field goals over 10 quarters of football. Now, there has been some bend to the Samford defense during that time but there has been no break when it comes to allowing touchdowns. But they are facing one of the best offenses in the Southern Conference on Saturday. The Bucs are second in the SoCon in total offense (405 yards per game) and scoring offense (31.6 points per game).
Is there a more important category on Saturday than turnover margin?: Let’s put it this way, Samford is plus-eight in its three victories this season and minus-eight in the six losses. There is your answer. East Tennessee State quarterback Mason Mims has gone three consecutive games without throwing an interception, which is a streak that’s lasted 79 passes thus far. Overall, the Bucs have the third fewest interceptions thrown in FCS.
Can Samford get the offense fully back on track? Statistically speaking the Bulldogs haven’t performed well on offense during the back-to-back wins. But Samford head coach John Grass sent a message in the postgame press conference after the win over Wofford last week by balling up the stat sheet and throwing it across the room. The message was that finding a way to win is more important than building gaudy numbers on the stat sheet. Samford’s offense found a way to contribute by erasing a 9-0 fourth quarter deficit on a 41-yard touchdown run by Ken Cherry and a quick drive that set up the walk-off field goal by Ty Ippolito. At some point, though, the offense is going have to score more points to win a game. That could be the case this week.
Will Samford safety Max Steve and linebacker Spencer Conn continue to pile up big numbers in the total tackle category? First off, it’s been a team effort for the Samford this year with contributions coming throughout. But no one is playing at a higher level right now than Conn and Steve. Conn has double digit tackles in three of the past four games and has 47 total tackles over that span. Sixteen of those tackles came at Chattanooga. Steve has double digit tackles in the past two games, including 20 last week in the win over Wofford. Finding the football has been a strength for both.
Who will win the coin toss? You say this probably has nothing to do with predicting a winner to this game. The counter argument to that is East Tennessee State is strangely 4-0 this season when losing the coin toss and 2-3 when the coin toss goes the Bucs way.