| Year: | 1972 |
| Team: | Tennessee State Tigers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 11–1 |
| Head Coach: | John Merritt |
| Hc Year: | 10th |
| Stadium: | Hale Stadium |
| Bowl: | Pioneer Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 29–7 vs. Drake |
The 1972 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their tenth season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled an 11–1 record, defeated Drake in the Pioneer Bowl (the Midwest region final of the NCAA College Division), and outscored all opponents by a total of 431 to 107.[1]