Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
2020 Football Schedule Breakdown
6/5/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Even though there is uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and when sports will be able to resume, Middle Tennessee head football coach Rick Stockstill is eagerly anticipating what he thinks will be a challenging schedule in 2020.
"We're preparing like we're going to have a normal start to our season, and we'll continue to prepare that way until we're told something different," Stockstill said. "We've got another challenging out-of-conference schedule, but we're excited about it and looking forward to it."
Stockstill and the Blue Raiders weren't able to have a normal spring full of practices this year. That makes the anticipation for the season opener Sept. 5 at Duke even greater.
"I can't wait to get the guys back and start preparing for it," Stockstill said. "It seems like it's been forever since I've seen our guys."
Featured on the schedule is an even mix of six home and six road games, the furthest road trip being an 880-mile trek to FIU. Two nonconference foes hail from the ACC, one is an FCS opponent and another isn't in a football conference presently.
The Raiders will make their first-ever trip to Durham, North Carolina to take on Duke in the opener, the second time the two teams have met in as many seasons. The Blue Devils traveled to Murfreesboro in 2019 and went home a 41-18 winner.
After the road trip to Duke, MT will host Indiana State on Sept. 12 for its home opener, followed by another home contest against perennial ACC contender Virginia Tech. It'll be the first matchup between Middle Tennessee and the Sycamores since 1984 and the first-ever meeting between the Raiders and Hokies.
"Virginia Tech is a perennial power in the ACC … and Chris Massaro deserves all the credit for being able to get these Power 5 guys to come to our place," Stockstill said.
Following the first three games of the season, Middle Tennessee will get into Conference USA play at ODU before hosting rival WKU on homecoming. It took down the Monarchs 38-17 on senior day in 2019 before falling in a close game at WKU, 31-26, to finish the season.
The Raiders will then go to FIU, host North Texas and travel to Rice before their bye week Oct. 31.
November will be all about the stretch run, but MT's fourth nonconference opponent will break up the C-USA slate a bit.
The Blue Raiders will come out of the bye with a contest against Charlotte before hitting the road for two weeks, first at Marshall and then at Connecticut, which announced in the summer of 2019 it was leaving the American Athletic Conference for the Big East. The Huskies are playing as an independent team in 2020.
"The first thing that comes to my mind is what the weather is going to be like in Connecticut in late November," Stockstill said. "To me, that'll be the big challenge, at least initially."
After the nonconference jaunt to UConn, the Blue Raiders will finish their regular season with senior day against Florida Atlantic.
Though it's not completely clear whether the schedule will be played as arranged, due to the pandemic, now is the perfect time to buy season tickets for the 2020 campaign. Middle Tennessee Director of Athletics Chris Massaro announced the university will refund any tickets for games that are unable to be played, so there is no risk for fans to purchase tickets and support the Blue Raiders. Head to the Tickets tab on goblueraiders.com to grab season tickets now.
"As a fan and as a supporter, we need you now more than ever," Stockstill said. "If you buy your tickets now and something changes, you'll get an opportunity to get a refund. You have nothing to lose.
"Every team in America needs the support of the fans and the boosters now more than ever."
Schedule Breakdown
Sept. 5 — Duke
2019 record: 5-7 (3-5 ACC)
Starters returning/lost: 14/10
Head coach (years at school, record): David Cutcliffe (12, 72-79)
Notable stats from 2019: 329.7 yards per game (150.3 rushing, 179.3 passing), 25.2 points per game, 29.2 points per game allowed, 28 turnovers, 17 turnovers forced, 35 team sacks
Sept. 12 — Indiana State
2019 record: 5-7 (3-5 MVFC)
Starters returning/lost: 17/8
Head coach (years at school, record): Curt Mallory (3, 12-22)
Notable stats from 2019: 345.8 yards per game (179 rushing, 166.8 passing), 19.5 points per game, 22.8 points per game allowed, 26 turnovers, 20 turnovers forced, 10 passing TDs
Sept. 19 — Virginia Tech (Family Weekend)
2019 record: 8-5 (5-3 ACC)
Starters returning/lost: 19/6
Head coach (years at school, record): Justin Fuente (4, 33-20)
Notable stats from 2019: 385.3 yards per game (176.1 rushing, 209.08 passing), 30.85 points per game, 24.69 points per game allowed, 23 turnovers, 19 turnovers forced (14 INTs), 38 team sacks
Sept. 26 — ODU
2019 record: 1-11 (0-8 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 19/6
Head coach (years at school, record): Ricky Rahne, (First)
Notable stats from 2019: 273.8 yards per game (97.3 rushing, 176.4 passing) 16.25 points per game, 29.8 points per game allowed, 19 turnovers, 18 turnovers forced, 17 sacks, 52 sacks allowed
Oct. 3 — WKU (Homecoming)
2019 record: 9-4 (6-2 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 18/7
Head coach (years at school, record): Tyson Helton (1, 9-4, 6-2 C-USA)
Notable stats from 2019: 387.8 yards per game (128.5 rushing, 259.31 passing), 335.5 yards per game allowed, 25.38 points per game, 20.08 points per game allowed, 21 turnovers, 15 turnovers forced, 26 sacks, 29.65% third down conversions allowed
Oct. 10 — FIU
2019 record: 6-7 (3-5 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 12/13
Head coach (years at school, record): Butch Davis (3, 23-16)
Notable stats from 2019: 377.1 yards per game (165.2 rushing, 211.8 passing), 391 yards per game allowed, 26.46 points per game, 27.23 points per game allowed, 15 turnovers, 18 turnovers forced, 14 sacks allowed
Oct. 17 — North Texas (Blackout/Hall of Fame Game)
2019 record: 4-8 (3-5 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 13/12
Head coach (years at school, record): Seth Litrell (4, 27-25)
Notable stats from 2019: 418.6 yards per game (135.3 rushing, 283.33 passing), 410.9 yards per game allowed, 30.58 points per game, 32.5 points per game allowed, 19 turnovers, 13 turnovers forced, 56 penalty yards per game, 30 sacks
Oct. 24 — Rice
2019 record: 3-9 (3-5 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 20/5
Head coach (years at school, record): Mike Bloomgren (2, 5-20
Notable stats from 2019: 294.2 yards per game (128.2 rushing, 166 passing), 380 yards per game allowed, 17.92 points per game, 25.92 points per game allowed, 16 turnovers (12 fumbles), 11 turnovers forced, 15 sacks
Nov. 7 — Charlotte (Salute to Veterans & Armed Forces)
2019 record: 7-6 (5-3 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 16/9
Head coach (years at school, record): Will Healy (1, 7-6)
Notable stats from 2019: 414.5 yards per game (203 rushing, 211.46 passing), 380.9 yards per game allowed, 29.85 points per game, 32.38 points per game allowed, 19 turnovers (14 INTs), 15 turnovers forced, 36 sacks
Nov. 14 — Marshall
2019 record: 8-5 (6-2 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 16/9
Head coach (years at school, record): Doc Holliday (10, 78-51)
Notable stats from 2019: 393.8 yards per game (193.4 rushing, 200.4 passing), 25.8 points per game, 25 points per game allowed, 18 turnovers, 16 turnovers forced, 35 sacks
Nov. 21 — UCONN
2019 record: 2-10 (0-8 AAC)
Starters returning/lost: 16/9
Head coach (years at school, record): Randy Edsall (15, 80-100)
Notable stats from 2019: 344.7 yards per game (128.7 rushing, 216 passing), 466.8 yards per game allowed (223.6 rushing), 18.92 points per game, 40.5 points per game allowed, 22 turnovers, 14 turnovers forced, 33 sacks allowed, 29.45% third-down completion
Nov. 28 — FAU (Senior Day)
2019 record: 11-3 (7-1 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 11/14
Head coach (years at school, record): Willie Taggart (First)
Notable stats from 2019: 448.6 yards per game (166 rushing, 282.6 passing), 36.4 points per game, 22.7 points per game allowed, 12 turnovers (4 fumbles), 33 turnovers forced (22 INTs), 34 sacks, 40% third-down conversions
* Home games in bold; C-USA games italicized
"We're preparing like we're going to have a normal start to our season, and we'll continue to prepare that way until we're told something different," Stockstill said. "We've got another challenging out-of-conference schedule, but we're excited about it and looking forward to it."
Stockstill and the Blue Raiders weren't able to have a normal spring full of practices this year. That makes the anticipation for the season opener Sept. 5 at Duke even greater.
"I can't wait to get the guys back and start preparing for it," Stockstill said. "It seems like it's been forever since I've seen our guys."
Featured on the schedule is an even mix of six home and six road games, the furthest road trip being an 880-mile trek to FIU. Two nonconference foes hail from the ACC, one is an FCS opponent and another isn't in a football conference presently.
The Raiders will make their first-ever trip to Durham, North Carolina to take on Duke in the opener, the second time the two teams have met in as many seasons. The Blue Devils traveled to Murfreesboro in 2019 and went home a 41-18 winner.
After the road trip to Duke, MT will host Indiana State on Sept. 12 for its home opener, followed by another home contest against perennial ACC contender Virginia Tech. It'll be the first matchup between Middle Tennessee and the Sycamores since 1984 and the first-ever meeting between the Raiders and Hokies.
"Virginia Tech is a perennial power in the ACC … and Chris Massaro deserves all the credit for being able to get these Power 5 guys to come to our place," Stockstill said.
Following the first three games of the season, Middle Tennessee will get into Conference USA play at ODU before hosting rival WKU on homecoming. It took down the Monarchs 38-17 on senior day in 2019 before falling in a close game at WKU, 31-26, to finish the season.
The Raiders will then go to FIU, host North Texas and travel to Rice before their bye week Oct. 31.
November will be all about the stretch run, but MT's fourth nonconference opponent will break up the C-USA slate a bit.
The Blue Raiders will come out of the bye with a contest against Charlotte before hitting the road for two weeks, first at Marshall and then at Connecticut, which announced in the summer of 2019 it was leaving the American Athletic Conference for the Big East. The Huskies are playing as an independent team in 2020.
"The first thing that comes to my mind is what the weather is going to be like in Connecticut in late November," Stockstill said. "To me, that'll be the big challenge, at least initially."
After the nonconference jaunt to UConn, the Blue Raiders will finish their regular season with senior day against Florida Atlantic.
Though it's not completely clear whether the schedule will be played as arranged, due to the pandemic, now is the perfect time to buy season tickets for the 2020 campaign. Middle Tennessee Director of Athletics Chris Massaro announced the university will refund any tickets for games that are unable to be played, so there is no risk for fans to purchase tickets and support the Blue Raiders. Head to the Tickets tab on goblueraiders.com to grab season tickets now.
"As a fan and as a supporter, we need you now more than ever," Stockstill said. "If you buy your tickets now and something changes, you'll get an opportunity to get a refund. You have nothing to lose.
"Every team in America needs the support of the fans and the boosters now more than ever."
Schedule Breakdown
Sept. 5 — Duke
2019 record: 5-7 (3-5 ACC)
Starters returning/lost: 14/10
Head coach (years at school, record): David Cutcliffe (12, 72-79)
Notable stats from 2019: 329.7 yards per game (150.3 rushing, 179.3 passing), 25.2 points per game, 29.2 points per game allowed, 28 turnovers, 17 turnovers forced, 35 team sacks
Sept. 12 — Indiana State
2019 record: 5-7 (3-5 MVFC)
Starters returning/lost: 17/8
Head coach (years at school, record): Curt Mallory (3, 12-22)
Notable stats from 2019: 345.8 yards per game (179 rushing, 166.8 passing), 19.5 points per game, 22.8 points per game allowed, 26 turnovers, 20 turnovers forced, 10 passing TDs
Sept. 19 — Virginia Tech (Family Weekend)
2019 record: 8-5 (5-3 ACC)
Starters returning/lost: 19/6
Head coach (years at school, record): Justin Fuente (4, 33-20)
Notable stats from 2019: 385.3 yards per game (176.1 rushing, 209.08 passing), 30.85 points per game, 24.69 points per game allowed, 23 turnovers, 19 turnovers forced (14 INTs), 38 team sacks
Sept. 26 — ODU
2019 record: 1-11 (0-8 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 19/6
Head coach (years at school, record): Ricky Rahne, (First)
Notable stats from 2019: 273.8 yards per game (97.3 rushing, 176.4 passing) 16.25 points per game, 29.8 points per game allowed, 19 turnovers, 18 turnovers forced, 17 sacks, 52 sacks allowed
Oct. 3 — WKU (Homecoming)
2019 record: 9-4 (6-2 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 18/7
Head coach (years at school, record): Tyson Helton (1, 9-4, 6-2 C-USA)
Notable stats from 2019: 387.8 yards per game (128.5 rushing, 259.31 passing), 335.5 yards per game allowed, 25.38 points per game, 20.08 points per game allowed, 21 turnovers, 15 turnovers forced, 26 sacks, 29.65% third down conversions allowed
Oct. 10 — FIU
2019 record: 6-7 (3-5 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 12/13
Head coach (years at school, record): Butch Davis (3, 23-16)
Notable stats from 2019: 377.1 yards per game (165.2 rushing, 211.8 passing), 391 yards per game allowed, 26.46 points per game, 27.23 points per game allowed, 15 turnovers, 18 turnovers forced, 14 sacks allowed
Oct. 17 — North Texas (Blackout/Hall of Fame Game)
2019 record: 4-8 (3-5 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 13/12
Head coach (years at school, record): Seth Litrell (4, 27-25)
Notable stats from 2019: 418.6 yards per game (135.3 rushing, 283.33 passing), 410.9 yards per game allowed, 30.58 points per game, 32.5 points per game allowed, 19 turnovers, 13 turnovers forced, 56 penalty yards per game, 30 sacks
Oct. 24 — Rice
2019 record: 3-9 (3-5 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 20/5
Head coach (years at school, record): Mike Bloomgren (2, 5-20
Notable stats from 2019: 294.2 yards per game (128.2 rushing, 166 passing), 380 yards per game allowed, 17.92 points per game, 25.92 points per game allowed, 16 turnovers (12 fumbles), 11 turnovers forced, 15 sacks
Nov. 7 — Charlotte (Salute to Veterans & Armed Forces)
2019 record: 7-6 (5-3 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 16/9
Head coach (years at school, record): Will Healy (1, 7-6)
Notable stats from 2019: 414.5 yards per game (203 rushing, 211.46 passing), 380.9 yards per game allowed, 29.85 points per game, 32.38 points per game allowed, 19 turnovers (14 INTs), 15 turnovers forced, 36 sacks
Nov. 14 — Marshall
2019 record: 8-5 (6-2 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 16/9
Head coach (years at school, record): Doc Holliday (10, 78-51)
Notable stats from 2019: 393.8 yards per game (193.4 rushing, 200.4 passing), 25.8 points per game, 25 points per game allowed, 18 turnovers, 16 turnovers forced, 35 sacks
Nov. 21 — UCONN
2019 record: 2-10 (0-8 AAC)
Starters returning/lost: 16/9
Head coach (years at school, record): Randy Edsall (15, 80-100)
Notable stats from 2019: 344.7 yards per game (128.7 rushing, 216 passing), 466.8 yards per game allowed (223.6 rushing), 18.92 points per game, 40.5 points per game allowed, 22 turnovers, 14 turnovers forced, 33 sacks allowed, 29.45% third-down completion
Nov. 28 — FAU (Senior Day)
2019 record: 11-3 (7-1 C-USA)
Starters returning/lost: 11/14
Head coach (years at school, record): Willie Taggart (First)
Notable stats from 2019: 448.6 yards per game (166 rushing, 282.6 passing), 36.4 points per game, 22.7 points per game allowed, 12 turnovers (4 fumbles), 33 turnovers forced (22 INTs), 34 sacks, 40% third-down conversions
* Home games in bold; C-USA games italicized
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