ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — Tennessee Tech defeated Samford 45-19 on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Tucker Stadium. The Golden Eagles improved to 3-0, while the Bulldogs dropped to 0-3. Tennessee Tech scored 17 points in the first quarter, 14 in the second and 14 later. Samford scored six in the first, 10 in the second and three later. Qua Ashley opened the scoring with a 56-yard touchdown run. Tre’ Holloway added a 4-yard scoring run, and Carter Brown kicked a 49-yard field goal. Ty Ippolito made field goals of 54, 22 and 28 yards for Samford and missed a 39-yard attempt. T. Holloway returned a punt 76 yards for a Tennessee Tech touchdown. G. Johnson rushed 7 yards for a Samford touchdown. A Samford punt return touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty. Tennessee Tech’s Jax Leatherwood and Samford’s Gabarri Johnson were among key performers, with Eric Weatherly, Alex Dawkins, Leon Thomas and Hudson Tucker also appearing.