Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, November 17
Bowling Green, KY
7:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
Western Kentucky University
What to watch for against WKU
11/16/2017 3:02:00 PM | Football
Rivalry gets renewed on Friday
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A lot will be at stake Friday night at 7 p.m. when Middle Tennessee travels to WKU for a special edition of the 100 Miles of Hate rivalry.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
The winner won't only get bragging rights. It'll also reach six wins and become bowl eligible.
"It's a great opportunity for us," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said at Monday's weekly press conference. "We're playing a really good football team in WKU. They've got some really special and dynamic players on both sides of the ball.
"It's going to be an important game. We've got to have a great week of preparation, especially being on a short week coming off the Charlotte game. We've got to get going in a hurry, and we're looking forward to it."
Middle Tennessee (5-5, 3-3) heads into the game with the momentum advantage over WKU (5-5, 3-3).
The Blue Raiders have won two games in a row over Conference USA bottom feeders UTEP and Charlotte, while the Hilltoppers have dropped three straight against C-USA leader FAU, Vanderbilt and 7-3 Marshall.
The momentum factor didn't matter much in last year's contest, as MT went into that game on a three-game win streak against a WKU team fresh off a loss to LA Tech and was defeated.
It was a game that has come to define the rivalry, as the teams were never separated by more than a touchdown and the final was decided on a blocked extra point in overtime.
The Hilltoppers blocked a Canon Rooker PAT on Middle Tennessee's second overtime possession, then scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to escape with a 44-43 road win.
Middle Tennessee will try to change those fortunes Friday night and rise above .500 for the first time this season.
Here's what to watch for:
WKU passing attack vs. MT defense
The Hilltoppers haven't been quite the explosive offense that was expected this season, though their passing attack hasn't taken a step back.
Redshirt senior quarterback Mike White is having the type of season most thought he would when he was named C-USA's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He's currently atop the conference with 2,986 yards, and he's thrown for 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Last season against MT, he threw for 391 yards and two TDs, though he was picked once.
"He's a special player," Stockstill said. "He can make all the throws, he's tough, he's played a lot of games, so, he's a really good quarterback. He understands their offense and what they're trying to do."
Middle Tennessee's passing defense, which ranks fourth in C-USA (193.9 yards per game allowed), won't necessarily have one or two big-time threats to contend with on the outside like it's seen in previous years against WKU. It'll see a cast of guys get involved.
The Hilltoppers' top two statistical receivers in program history, Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris, dominated the looks outside last season. This year, they've used more of a committee.
White has completed at least 23 passes to six different players, led by Nacarius Fant's 46, and eight different guys have recorded a TD catch.
"We know they have a good receiving corps," MT senior safety Jovante Moffatt said, "so just getting hits on the quarterback will be big. We know he's pretty good, too, so that'll be the main focus going into the game."
Blue Raiders should have running game advantage
One way to try and slow down WKU's passing attack will be utilizing a surging Blue Raider rushing game. They should, at least, hold the advantage in the rushing department.
Middle Tennessee should expect the Hilltoppers to be almost solely a passing offense – they average just 69.4 yards per game on the ground, the worst mark in the nation. That means WKU will likely have some quick possessions, so getting good work on the ground offensively could go a long way in helping MT control the pace.
The Blue Raiders average just 127.3 yards per game on the ground, but have gone over 200 in back-to-back contests. A lot of that has fallen on the big shoulders of junior Tavares Thomas, who may be down a backfield mate this week because of an injury to freshman Brad Anderson.
Thomas has rushed for 263 yards and three TDs over the last two games, capped by a 195-yard and two-TD performance last week after Anderson was lost early in the game.
"I said it a few weeks ago, as it gets to November, when it starts getting colder, you've got to be able to control the ball, control the clock and be able to run the ball," Stockstill said. "We've been able to do that the last two weeks pretty efficiently.
"Being able to run the ball is going to be critical for both teams in this game."
Who'll win at the line of scrimmage?
Neither MT nor WKU features a great line on either side of the ball. Those units could be big determining factors in the outcome, though.
Middle Tennessee's defense has been good of late at getting into the backfield. The Raider stoppers rank tied for fifth in C-USA with 20 sacks and have come up with five in the last two games to go with a combined 13 tackles for loss.
They'll face a WKU line that has given up a C-USA most 32 sacks this season.
"They have different blocking schemes, so they try to stop pressure coming from different angles," Moffatt said. "We are just going to have to get to the quarterback and do what we can."
On the other side, the Blue Raider offensive line, which ranks tied for 11th in the conference with 21 sacks allowed, will square off against a Topper defense that's struggled getting to opposing QBs.
They've recorded only nine sacks this season to rank 13th in the league, two of which came last week against Marshall.
Anticipate a close one
Last season's overtime thriller is just the latest in a long line of close matchups between the two teams, which have met on the field 66 times (MT leads the series 34-31-1).
Of the last six matchups, five have been decided by five points or less, with three going into overtime. Middle Tennessee owns a 3-2 advantage in those five-points-or-less games.
"This has been a really good rivalry since I've been here," Coach Stockstill said. "They're a good football team … our players understand the importance of this game for a lot of different reasons, so I have no doubt we'll be excited and be ready to play this game."
Second Friday night game for both teams
Playing under the Friday night lights is usually reserved for high schoolers. This is the second Friday night contest these two teams have played this season, though.
The Blue Raiders dropped their other Friday bout this season, 38-10, against Marshall on Oct. 20. That game was at home.
WKU's other Friday contest came on that same day, when it traveled to Old Dominion and went home with a 35-31 win.
"The preparation is definitely different," Moffatt said of the Friday night game. "You have a shorter week getting ready for the game. I just feel like being focused, really, is key. Being focused and staying mentally ready."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
The winner won't only get bragging rights. It'll also reach six wins and become bowl eligible.
"It's a great opportunity for us," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said at Monday's weekly press conference. "We're playing a really good football team in WKU. They've got some really special and dynamic players on both sides of the ball.
"It's going to be an important game. We've got to have a great week of preparation, especially being on a short week coming off the Charlotte game. We've got to get going in a hurry, and we're looking forward to it."
Middle Tennessee (5-5, 3-3) heads into the game with the momentum advantage over WKU (5-5, 3-3).
The Blue Raiders have won two games in a row over Conference USA bottom feeders UTEP and Charlotte, while the Hilltoppers have dropped three straight against C-USA leader FAU, Vanderbilt and 7-3 Marshall.
The momentum factor didn't matter much in last year's contest, as MT went into that game on a three-game win streak against a WKU team fresh off a loss to LA Tech and was defeated.
It was a game that has come to define the rivalry, as the teams were never separated by more than a touchdown and the final was decided on a blocked extra point in overtime.
The Hilltoppers blocked a Canon Rooker PAT on Middle Tennessee's second overtime possession, then scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to escape with a 44-43 road win.
Middle Tennessee will try to change those fortunes Friday night and rise above .500 for the first time this season.
Here's what to watch for:
WKU passing attack vs. MT defense
The Hilltoppers haven't been quite the explosive offense that was expected this season, though their passing attack hasn't taken a step back.
Redshirt senior quarterback Mike White is having the type of season most thought he would when he was named C-USA's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He's currently atop the conference with 2,986 yards, and he's thrown for 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Last season against MT, he threw for 391 yards and two TDs, though he was picked once.
"He's a special player," Stockstill said. "He can make all the throws, he's tough, he's played a lot of games, so, he's a really good quarterback. He understands their offense and what they're trying to do."
Middle Tennessee's passing defense, which ranks fourth in C-USA (193.9 yards per game allowed), won't necessarily have one or two big-time threats to contend with on the outside like it's seen in previous years against WKU. It'll see a cast of guys get involved.
The Hilltoppers' top two statistical receivers in program history, Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris, dominated the looks outside last season. This year, they've used more of a committee.
White has completed at least 23 passes to six different players, led by Nacarius Fant's 46, and eight different guys have recorded a TD catch.
"We know they have a good receiving corps," MT senior safety Jovante Moffatt said, "so just getting hits on the quarterback will be big. We know he's pretty good, too, so that'll be the main focus going into the game."
Blue Raiders should have running game advantage
One way to try and slow down WKU's passing attack will be utilizing a surging Blue Raider rushing game. They should, at least, hold the advantage in the rushing department.
Middle Tennessee should expect the Hilltoppers to be almost solely a passing offense – they average just 69.4 yards per game on the ground, the worst mark in the nation. That means WKU will likely have some quick possessions, so getting good work on the ground offensively could go a long way in helping MT control the pace.
The Blue Raiders average just 127.3 yards per game on the ground, but have gone over 200 in back-to-back contests. A lot of that has fallen on the big shoulders of junior Tavares Thomas, who may be down a backfield mate this week because of an injury to freshman Brad Anderson.
Thomas has rushed for 263 yards and three TDs over the last two games, capped by a 195-yard and two-TD performance last week after Anderson was lost early in the game.
"I said it a few weeks ago, as it gets to November, when it starts getting colder, you've got to be able to control the ball, control the clock and be able to run the ball," Stockstill said. "We've been able to do that the last two weeks pretty efficiently.
"Being able to run the ball is going to be critical for both teams in this game."
Who'll win at the line of scrimmage?
Neither MT nor WKU features a great line on either side of the ball. Those units could be big determining factors in the outcome, though.
Middle Tennessee's defense has been good of late at getting into the backfield. The Raider stoppers rank tied for fifth in C-USA with 20 sacks and have come up with five in the last two games to go with a combined 13 tackles for loss.
They'll face a WKU line that has given up a C-USA most 32 sacks this season.
"They have different blocking schemes, so they try to stop pressure coming from different angles," Moffatt said. "We are just going to have to get to the quarterback and do what we can."
On the other side, the Blue Raider offensive line, which ranks tied for 11th in the conference with 21 sacks allowed, will square off against a Topper defense that's struggled getting to opposing QBs.
They've recorded only nine sacks this season to rank 13th in the league, two of which came last week against Marshall.
Anticipate a close one
Last season's overtime thriller is just the latest in a long line of close matchups between the two teams, which have met on the field 66 times (MT leads the series 34-31-1).
Of the last six matchups, five have been decided by five points or less, with three going into overtime. Middle Tennessee owns a 3-2 advantage in those five-points-or-less games.
"This has been a really good rivalry since I've been here," Coach Stockstill said. "They're a good football team … our players understand the importance of this game for a lot of different reasons, so I have no doubt we'll be excited and be ready to play this game."
Second Friday night game for both teams
Playing under the Friday night lights is usually reserved for high schoolers. This is the second Friday night contest these two teams have played this season, though.
The Blue Raiders dropped their other Friday bout this season, 38-10, against Marshall on Oct. 20. That game was at home.
WKU's other Friday contest came on that same day, when it traveled to Old Dominion and went home with a 35-31 win.
"The preparation is definitely different," Moffatt said of the Friday night game. "You have a shorter week getting ready for the game. I just feel like being focused, really, is key. Being focused and staying mentally ready."
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
S
/ Football
PK
/ Football
RB
/ FootballMTSU Football at Nevada highlights – 9/13/25
Sunday, September 14
MTSU Football at Nevada Full Game Highlights – 9/13/25
Saturday, September 13
MTSU Football Postgame Press Conference @ Nevada on 09-13-25
Saturday, September 13
Raider Report Week 3 - MTSU vs. University of Nevada
Friday, September 12
