On Friday the OVC announced the complete list of football student-athletes scheduled to be in Nashville for the 2026 Football Media Day presented by
Shaw Sports Turf.
The event will be held at the BNA Hilton Airport Terminal on Friday, July 17. Each school will participate in a variety of media activities, including a live ESPN+ show, taped interviews and social media content.
Make sure to follow the OVC on social media for a behind-the-scenes look at the everything from Media Day:
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Facebook
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Instagram
The 2026 season marks a return to the OVC identity for the football brand. The return to the OVC identity follows three successful years of partnership with the Big South Conference under the names Big South-OVC Football Association (2023, 2024) and OVC-Big South Football Association (2025). The move reflects the league’s continued evolution and its commitment to providing a unified, streamlined home for its football programs.
Schools who will play OVC football in 2026 are Charleston Southern University (Charleston, SC), Eastern Illinois University (Charleston, IL), Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC), Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO), Southeast Missouri State University (Cape Girardeau, MO), Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN), University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN) and Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL).
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Gabe Giardina (Head Coach)
Steve Zayachkowsky (LB)
Taivon Snipe (LB)
EASTERN ILLINOIS
Chris Wilkerson (Head Coach)
Charles Kellom (RB)
Ja’Wuan Nickson (LB)
GARDNER-WEBB
Kris McCullough (Head Coach)
Cole Pennington (QB)
Josiah Harris (DB)
LINDENWOOD
Jed Stugart (Head Coach)
Steve Hall (RB)
Jacob Waller (LB)
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Tom Matukewicz (Head Coach)
Jobe Bryant (WR)
McCoy Casey (OLB)
TENNESSEE STATE
Reggie Barlow (Head Coach)
Zack Simmons-Brown (RB)
Sammy Taylor (LB)
UT MARTIN
Jason Simpson (Head Coach)
Tommy Ansley (RB)
Broderick Tommie Jr. (DT)
WESTERN ILLINOIS
Joe Davis (Head Coach)
James Durand (OL)
Keshawn Harrington-McKinney (DL)