REPORT: Nashville's Lipscomb Academy banned from state playoffs

Nashville’s Lipscomb Academy has been handed a two-year postseason ban from the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), per a report from The Tennessean’s Tom Kreager.

According to the report, a letter from Lipscomb’s head of school Brad Schultz and athletic director Jake House says that the program is being punished due to “what the TSSAA deems a recruiting violation.”

The Mustangs’ roster features multiple college prospects, including a pair of Tennessee commitments in four-star cornerback Kaleb Beasley and four-star linebacker Edwin Spillman. A total of seven Lipscomb players in the 2024 or 2025 cycles are ranked in the On3 Industry Ranking.

Cmon @TSSAA let us play.

— Kaleb beasley (@kalebbeasley) October 27, 2023

Lipscomb has already been a part of recruiting headlines this fall, as 2025 quarterback Deuce Knight transferred from the school to Lucedale (Miss.) George County after playing just three games at the beginning of the season. Knight is the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle and has since committed to Notre Dame.

“It was a family deal for him,” Lipscomb head coach Kevin Mawae told The Tennessean’s Tyler Palmateer. “He did everything we wanted him to do. It had nothing to do with football, it had everything to do with him wanting to be with his family.”

Back in February, all of Lipscomb’s athletic programs were placed on a one-year probation and handed a $1,000 fine due to a social media post that broke a TSSAA recruiting rule.

Lipscomb has a 4-5 record this season following a win over Nashville Brentwood Academy on Oct. 20. It’s regular-season finale against Chattanooga (Tenn.) McCallie is scheduled for tonight, Oct. 27, while the first round of the playoffs is set for Nov. 3.

The Mustangs are back-to-back Division II-AA state championships, having done so under former head coach and Super Bowl champion quarterback Trent Dilfer, who is now the head coach of UAB. Lipscomb opted to move up to DII-AAA this season and is currently fourth in the East division. Mawae, an NFL Hall of Famer who finished his career with the Tennessee Titans, is in his first season as head coach at Lipscomb.

Lipscomb began the season 0-2, losing to respective powerhouse programs Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Saraland (Ala.) High. Since then, the Mustangs have won four games by an average of 16.5 points and are currently on a two-game winning streak.

Lipscomb is planning to appeal the TSSAA Board of Control’s decision, according to the report.