Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Looking ahead to MT and TSU
9/6/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Fresh off a valiant effort against probably its toughest opponent of the season, Middle Tennessee welcomes an old rival to Murfreesboro in Week 2 for a mid-state matchup on the Blue Raiders' home opener.
It'll be the first meeting between MT and Tennessee State since the first game in the newly renovated Floyd Stadium in 1998, the Blue Raiders' last season in Division I-AA (FCS).
"I'm excited to get this week started," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said at Monday's weekly press conference. "They're a really good football team coming in, really in all three phases.
"We know the importance of this game. It's a rivalry back to the OVC days, so I know our fans and their fans will be excited about this game. Hopefully it's a great turnout for our team."
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 102.5/97.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 93.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 87-79 (14th year), 65-36
Bowl appearances, record: 8 (2018 New Orleans Bowl), 2-6
Accolades: 6-time coach of the year, 2018 C-USA COY, sixth-longest tenured coach in the country, 3rd all-time at MT in wins
Rod Reed
Record, at TSU: 53-47 (10th year), same
FCS Playoff appearances, record: 1 (2013), 1-1
Accolades: Third all-time at TSU in wins; coached 31 All-Americans, 79 All-OVC players and two OVC Players of the Year; All-American linebacker in 1988 as a player for TSU (1984-1988)
All-time series: Flashback to the OVC
Saturday's meeting between the Blue Raiders and Tigers will be the first since 1998. They've met on 19 occasions all-time, Middle Tennessee holding a slight 10-9 advantage.
It's been a series of runs, and it's also been marked by its fair share of blowouts.
After splitting the first two matchups in 1973-74, Tennessee State went on to win the next five before MT caught fire against its rival, winning the next six and nine of the last 12 overall.
In all, seven of the 19 meetings have been at least 23-point blowouts, and 11 have been at least two-score decisions.
Offense shows promise against Wolverines
The first game for Middle Tennessee with a new starting quarterback went about as well as could be expected, considering the Blue Raiders were facing the No. 7 team in the country that was ranked second in the country in passing and total defense in 2018.
Redshirt sophomore Asher O'Hara took the reins of the offense and led the team valiantly, connecting on 22-of-32 passes for 217 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also led the team with 32 total rushing yards, scoring another TD.
"He was bomb," redshirt junior offensive lineman Will Gilchrist said. "He had a few hiccups here and there, but everybody does, and that's how it goes for the first game. We were playing at Michigan, so the nerves are going to be there."
While shuffling offensive linemen in and out like a hockey team, MT held a powerful Michigan defense to just two sacks of its new QB. That allowed O'Hara to flash a little of what the offense can do when he connected on a 59-yard touchdown strike to Jimmy Marshall in the fourth quarter.
Stockstill would like to see some of those big passing plays a little more often against Tennessee State. That could come with a better showing from the rushing attack.
Against Michigan, the Blue Raiders never managed to get much going in the run game because the Wolverines stacked the box with big defenders. The Tigers aren't as stout up front, but they did limit Mississippi Valley State to just 42 yards on 18 attempts in their season opener.
"Obviously, everybody has to improve and clean up some mistakes that we made, but it'll be critical that we run the ball a little better than we did last week," Stockstill said.
Turnover machine keeps working
The calling card of Middle Tennessee's defense in 2018 was its ability to force turnovers, and it started right where it left off against Michigan.
On the first play of the game, sophomore Gregory Grate Jr. forced a fumble on a quarterback run, and the Blue Raiders capitalized with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
MT forced four fumbles against the Wolverines, recovering two of them for turnovers. Tennessee State, which fumbled twice and lost one against Mississippi Valley, better hang on to the ball Saturday.
"We did a lot of good things [against Michigan], but we've got to get better," Stockstill said. "Our objective this week is to get better and find a way to win this game this weekend."
Containing Rowland
If forcing turnovers is the first objective for Middle Tennessee's defense this week, the second should be slowing down dynamic TSU receiver Chris Rowland.
The senior from Nolensville, Tennessee finished with 235 all-purpose yards in the season opener, including 172 on 11 receptions and another 61 yards in punt returns.
He'll line up all over the field, and redshirt senior quarterback Cameron Rosendahl, a first-year starter for the Tigers, will find a way to get him the ball as often as possible.
"Usually with spread teams you're going to have one or two receivers that are guys you're going to tune in on big," redshirt senior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "[Defensive coordinator Scott Shafer] is going to have a game plan for us and we're probably going to base it off of him."
Blue Raiders in home openers
Since Stockstill's hiring in 2006, MT is 7-6 in home openers, including wins in five of its last six.
Last season, the Blue Raiders welcomed in-state foe UT Martin to Floyd Stadium in Week 2 for the home opener, and they weren't very hospitable on the turf, sending the Skyhawks home with a 61-37 loss.
It'll be the first meeting between MT and Tennessee State since the first game in the newly renovated Floyd Stadium in 1998, the Blue Raiders' last season in Division I-AA (FCS).
"I'm excited to get this week started," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said at Monday's weekly press conference. "They're a really good football team coming in, really in all three phases.
"We know the importance of this game. It's a rivalry back to the OVC days, so I know our fans and their fans will be excited about this game. Hopefully it's a great turnout for our team."
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 102.5/97.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 93.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 87-79 (14th year), 65-36
Bowl appearances, record: 8 (2018 New Orleans Bowl), 2-6
Accolades: 6-time coach of the year, 2018 C-USA COY, sixth-longest tenured coach in the country, 3rd all-time at MT in wins
Rod Reed
Record, at TSU: 53-47 (10th year), same
FCS Playoff appearances, record: 1 (2013), 1-1
Accolades: Third all-time at TSU in wins; coached 31 All-Americans, 79 All-OVC players and two OVC Players of the Year; All-American linebacker in 1988 as a player for TSU (1984-1988)
All-time series: Flashback to the OVC
Saturday's meeting between the Blue Raiders and Tigers will be the first since 1998. They've met on 19 occasions all-time, Middle Tennessee holding a slight 10-9 advantage.
It's been a series of runs, and it's also been marked by its fair share of blowouts.
After splitting the first two matchups in 1973-74, Tennessee State went on to win the next five before MT caught fire against its rival, winning the next six and nine of the last 12 overall.
In all, seven of the 19 meetings have been at least 23-point blowouts, and 11 have been at least two-score decisions.
Offense shows promise against Wolverines
The first game for Middle Tennessee with a new starting quarterback went about as well as could be expected, considering the Blue Raiders were facing the No. 7 team in the country that was ranked second in the country in passing and total defense in 2018.
Redshirt sophomore Asher O'Hara took the reins of the offense and led the team valiantly, connecting on 22-of-32 passes for 217 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also led the team with 32 total rushing yards, scoring another TD.
"He was bomb," redshirt junior offensive lineman Will Gilchrist said. "He had a few hiccups here and there, but everybody does, and that's how it goes for the first game. We were playing at Michigan, so the nerves are going to be there."
While shuffling offensive linemen in and out like a hockey team, MT held a powerful Michigan defense to just two sacks of its new QB. That allowed O'Hara to flash a little of what the offense can do when he connected on a 59-yard touchdown strike to Jimmy Marshall in the fourth quarter.
Stockstill would like to see some of those big passing plays a little more often against Tennessee State. That could come with a better showing from the rushing attack.
Against Michigan, the Blue Raiders never managed to get much going in the run game because the Wolverines stacked the box with big defenders. The Tigers aren't as stout up front, but they did limit Mississippi Valley State to just 42 yards on 18 attempts in their season opener.
"Obviously, everybody has to improve and clean up some mistakes that we made, but it'll be critical that we run the ball a little better than we did last week," Stockstill said.
Turnover machine keeps working
The calling card of Middle Tennessee's defense in 2018 was its ability to force turnovers, and it started right where it left off against Michigan.
On the first play of the game, sophomore Gregory Grate Jr. forced a fumble on a quarterback run, and the Blue Raiders capitalized with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
MT forced four fumbles against the Wolverines, recovering two of them for turnovers. Tennessee State, which fumbled twice and lost one against Mississippi Valley, better hang on to the ball Saturday.
"We did a lot of good things [against Michigan], but we've got to get better," Stockstill said. "Our objective this week is to get better and find a way to win this game this weekend."
Containing Rowland
If forcing turnovers is the first objective for Middle Tennessee's defense this week, the second should be slowing down dynamic TSU receiver Chris Rowland.
The senior from Nolensville, Tennessee finished with 235 all-purpose yards in the season opener, including 172 on 11 receptions and another 61 yards in punt returns.
He'll line up all over the field, and redshirt senior quarterback Cameron Rosendahl, a first-year starter for the Tigers, will find a way to get him the ball as often as possible.
"Usually with spread teams you're going to have one or two receivers that are guys you're going to tune in on big," redshirt senior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "[Defensive coordinator Scott Shafer] is going to have a game plan for us and we're probably going to base it off of him."
Blue Raiders in home openers
Since Stockstill's hiring in 2006, MT is 7-6 in home openers, including wins in five of its last six.
Last season, the Blue Raiders welcomed in-state foe UT Martin to Floyd Stadium in Week 2 for the home opener, and they weren't very hospitable on the turf, sending the Skyhawks home with a 61-37 loss.
MTSU Football Signing Day Press Conference 12/3/25
Wednesday, December 03
MTSU Football at New Mexico State post-game press conference – 11/29/25
Sunday, November 30
MTSU Football at New Mexico State post-game press conference – 11/29/25
Saturday, November 29
Raider Report Game 12 - MTSU vs. New Mexico State University
Friday, November 28
