Savannah State Routs Lynchburg 35-0 in Finale
The Tigers closed a 2-8 first season under Thomas Howard with a shutout win on Senior Night at T.A. Wright Stadium.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football
Savannah State defeated Virginia University of Lynchburg 35-0 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, in the regular-season finale. The win came on Senior Night at T.A. Wright Stadium and gave the Tigers a 2-8 overall record and a 1-7 mark in the SIAC.
Why it matters
The result capped the first season under head coach Thomas Howard, whose team rotated young players through the lineup as the program looks ahead. For Savannah readers, the game closed out the home schedule for the local college football program.
The final score of 35-0 came from a game where Savannah State led 21-0 after two rushing touchdowns and a blocked punt, then added 14 fourth-quarter points without a third-quarter score by either team. The Tigers finished the season at 2-8 overall and 1-7 in the SIAC, and the extraction does not indicate how the record compares with prior seasons.
The players
Savannah State University
Savannah State is a historically Black public university in Savannah, Georgia, whose Tigers compete in the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Thomas Howard
Thomas Howard is the head football coach of Savannah State, leading the program through its first season in 2026.
The details
Savannah State played four quarterbacks and 11 different players carried the ball as head coach Thomas Howard rotated young players into the game. Howard said the team wanted to get young players into the game and give everyone an opportunity to play.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Savannah State beat Virginia University of Lynchburg 35-0 in the regular-season finale on Senior Night.
Season Trajectory
Savannah State's 1-7 finish in the SIAC places the Tigers near the bottom of the conference standings in Thomas Howard's first season as head coach. The 2-8 overall record marks the program's starting point under his leadership.
The 2-8 finish leaves Savannah State with a 1-7 conference mark to build from as the program enters the offseason. Fans tracking the program's development will look to the roster changes Howard makes after rotating young players through this season.
The takeaway
Savannah State's first season under Thomas Howard ended with a shutout win and a clear view of the young players who played extended minutes. Readers following the program can track how those players develop as the team returns to the field.
Further reading
For more on the program's schedule and results, see Football coverage across Savannah.
