The Pacer

Featured Image: Graduate Wide Receiver Makhia Sherrard prepares for the game against Chicago State on Sep. 5, 2026, at the Hardy M. Graham Stadium in Martin, Tenn. (Photo Credit / Chloe Kent) The UT Martin Skyhawks earned their first win of the season against the Chicago State Cougars, defeating them 45-7.

Graduate goalkeeper Mac Titus sending a floating pass into the opponent’s box for her teammates to attack on Aug. 30, 2026 at Skyhawk Soccer Field. (Pacer Photo / Cody Hamilton) The UT Martin Skyhawks women’s soccer team went undefeated through their first five games of the season, a first for the program. With a current record of 1-1-5, the Skyhawks are having a completely different season compared to last year’s.

Featured Image: Construction on UT Martin’s Browning Hall on Sep. 3, 2026. (Pacer Photo / Evangeline Wilson) Students have hit the ground running to start off the semester, and so has construction around campus. The University of Tennessee at Martin has over five different construction projects currently in progress, with two of the biggest being the demolition of Browning Hall and the building of the new TEST Hub.

Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Sophia Phillips) E-scooters are not only a growing trend for on-campus transportation, but also tools that have the potential to cause dangerous accidents. UT Martin witnessed an accident of its very own when senior football player and interdisciplinary studies major Chris Franklin of Little Rock, Arkansas, was hit by a vehicle when riding his scooter across a sidewalk Wednesday, Aug. 26, near the Hardy Graham Football Stadium in Martin, Tenn.

Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Rasheika Gel B. Toledo) Artificial intelligence has created an uncomfortable question for college students and professors. If a machine can do the work, what exactly are students supposed to learn? The easy answer is to ban AI; the harder answer is to teach students how to use it. After speaking with students and faculty at the University of Tennessee at Martin, I think the harder answer is the correct one.

(Pacer Graphic / Sophia Phillips) When speaking about the most important directors in Hollywood today, it would be remiss to not include Christopher Nolan in the conversation. From the out-of-this-world phenomenon ‘Interstellar’ to the explosive drama ‘Oppenheimer’, Nolan has carved a name for himself on the walls of film history. His most recent project, however, may just be the greatest of them all. ‘The Odyssey’ is a 2026 action-fantasy film based on ancient Greek poet Homer’s classic epic poem.

Featured Image: Green Briar Coffee Co. in Martin, Tennessee, on Aug. 29, 2026. (Pacer Photo / Miranda Conrad) On July 20, 2026, Vantage Coffee Roasters, a locally owned coffee shop in Martin, Tennessee, became Green Briar Coffee Co. under its new owner, local businessman Nassar Nassar, with plans to keep the same coffee with minimal changes to the business. Kevin and Stacie Herrell, the previous owners, opened Vantage Coffee Roasters in Martin, Tennessee, in 2021.

Featured Image: Junior running back Tommy Ansley (39) pushes through the defense during the UT Martin vs. Central Arkansas football game on Aug. 27, 2026, at Hardy M. Graham Stadium in Martin, Tennessee. (Pacer Photo/ Kaniya Anthony) College football has returned, and with that, the UT Martin Skyhawks opened their season at home against the Central Arkansas Bears.

Featured Image: Students cheer at the Hunter Hayes concert in the Elam Center on Aug. 22, 2026. (Photo Credit / Preston Pooler / University Relations) On Saturday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Elam Center, the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Flight Crew and First Year Experience hosted the university’s very first Welcome Weekend Concert. The show’s opening act featured UT Martin’s own Houston Kelly before switching over to the headline act of five-time Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes.

UT Martin women’s soccer team huddles ahead of matchup against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at Skyhawk Soccer Field. (Photo Credit / UTM Athletics) UT Martin Skyhawks women’s soccer is back in action and off to a hot start through four games. The season opener took place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, against the UT Chattanooga Mocs.