UT Martin Scottie Alexander (15) celebrates during UT Martin’s game against Charleston Southern on Nov. 15, 2025, at Hardy M. Graham Stadium. (Pacer Photo / Kaniya Anthony)

And it all comes down to Week 13: go big or go home.

After the UT Martin Skyhawks escaped an upset loss to the Charleston Southern Buccaneers 17-14 in Week 12, the team earned the right to battle for the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference crown and a playoff spot. Now only one team stands in their way: the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. It is as simple as it can be; whoever wins this matchup will win the Big South-OVC and earn that playoff spot. 

TN Tech will be by far the toughest conference opponent UT Martin has played all season. Up until Week 12, TN Tech was undefeated at 10-0–now 10-1 after a 42-10 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 12. In only one of the seven conference games that TN Tech has played this season did they have a one-score win–Week 10 versus the Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs 27-21. Every other game, they have blown out their opponents: Week 5 at the Tennessee State Tigers, 35-8; Week 6 versus the Western Illinois Leathernecks, 66-20; Week 7 at Charleston Southern, 27-13; Week 8 at the Lindenwood Lions, 52-28; Week 9 versus the SEMO Redhawks, 42-23 and Week 11 at the Eastern Illinois Cougars, 21-9. 

Offensively, TN Tech is led by senior quarterback Kekoa Visperas. This is Visperas’ first year with TN Tech after three seasons with the Eastern Washington Eagles. In his senior season, Visperas has a career-high 23 touchdown passes to just five thrown interceptions. Visperas has shown off a dual-threat ability with a career high rushing yards of 484 and three rushing touchdowns. However, Visperas has thrown interceptions in back-to-back games and failed to throw over 160 passing yards in each game, something the UT Martin secondary should look to take advantage of. 

While Visperas has added some rushing yards of his own, UT Martin will need to watch out for TN Tech’s impressive running back duo. 

Up first is senior Quintell Quinn. Quinn has rushed for 688 yards and nine touchdowns this season, including three 100-yard plus rushing games on the season. Similar to Visperas though, Quinn seems to have struggled as of late after he failed to rush for over 50 yards or find the endzone in either of the team’s previous two games.

Quinn’s partner-in-crime is fellow senior Q’Daryius Jennings. Jennings has rushed for less yardage than Quinn (511) but has one more touchdown (10). Like the other two, Jennings has also struggled with 30 and 22 rushing yards in the past two games, but did have a touchdown in Week 11. 

Through the air, there have been two standout wide receivers for TN Tech this season: senior Noah Robinson and junior Maury Sullivan. Robinson leads the team in touchdowns (six) while Sullivan leads in yards (535) and receptions (41). The team also features four other pass catchers who have each caught three touchdowns: junior wide receiver Tre’ Holloway, senior tight end Brian Courtney, junior wide receiver Luke Shields and sophomore running back Aidan Littles. Littles has also added another four touchdowns on the ground game. 

Now, what about the defense? 

The team features three senior defensive linemen that UT Martin’s offensive line will need to hold off. Maurice Lapierre leads the team in sacks (seven), Theron Gaines–who also has a pick-six on the season–adds another 5.5 sacks, and Chima Iwuagwu comes in with five sacks of his own. 

Even with the threat those three pose, it is the secondary UT Martin should be worried about the most. Starting with interceptions, senior defensive back Andrew Smith has three, including two returned for touchdowns, while five other defensive backs and one linebacker–senior Aaron Swafford–have all snagged one interception each. The standouts in pass deflections include senior defensive backs Tim Courtras and Gavin Bryson, who each have five. 

This will be a tough matchup and a true test for UT Martin. Will they sink or swim?

UT Martin travels to Cookeville, Tenn. at Tucker Stadium to face Tennessee Tech on Nov. 22 at 12 p.m.