Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Looking ahead to MT and UTSA
9/24/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee was anticipating having its second bye of the season this week, but thanks to a game cancellation, it'll instead travel to UTSA for a Friday night contest.
The Roadrunners (2-0) were supposed to host Memphis, but the Tigers had to cancel because of COVID-19 concerns. That created an opportunity for the Blue Raiders (0-2) to step in for their first Conference USA matchup of the season.
"This game just got finalized over the weekend, but we're excited to play it and anxious to get into conference play," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We're excited about this opportunity. … [UTSA] is a good football team."
Kickoff from the Alamodome is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: CBSSN
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app; go to CUSA.TV/RaiderVision for the audio stream
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 91-88 (15th year), 68-41
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, third all-time at MT in wins
Jeff Traylor
Record, at UTSA: 2-0, same
Bowl appearances as head coach, record: None
Accolades: Scout.com's 2016 Big 12 Recruiter of the Year while the associate head coach at Texas; East Texas Coaches Association Hall of Honor member; four-time Texas High School Coach of the Year
Series history
The teams have only met twice despite both being Conference USA members since 2013.
Middle Tennessee won the first matchup easily, 42-7, during the 2015 season in San Antonio. Then, UTSA evened up the series the next season, beating the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro 45-25.
Last meeting
In the 2016 contest, Middle Tennessee went into the game rolling with a 6-2 record and 3-1 mark in Conference USA play. However, an injury helped derail things for a couple of weeks, not to mention the Roadrunners' ground attack couldn't be contained.
Quarterback Brent Stockstill, who at the time was averaging 333.4 passing yards per game with 26 touchdown tosses, went down in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. Backup John Urzua was forced into action, and he threw three interceptions that MT couldn't overcome.
On the other side of the ball, UTSA rushed for 270 yards on 59 attempts in a 45-25 win.
Facing a familiar face
In the 2016 meeting between the Blue Raiders and Roadrunners, the MT's defensive coordinator was Tyrone Nix. He was let go after the season when they brought in Scott Shafer to take over the defense.
When head coach Jeff Traylor took over the reins at UTSA before this season, he hired Nix as defensive coordinator, meaning Nix will face his former team — not to mention his son, Ty, who's a senior defensive tackle for Middle Tennessee — on Friday.
"They're very well-coached on defense," Stockstill said. "I know [Ty] is excited about it. … He and his dad have a great father-son relationship."
The elder Nix's defense has been solid in the Roadrunners' first two games, mostly due to its ability to get into the backfield.
They've racked up 24 tackles for loss and eight sacks in two games, ranking first and fifth in the country, respectively. Senior Jaylon Haynes leads the team with five tackles for loss and three sacks.
Middle Tennessee will have its hands full stopping that pressure and finding a way to jumpstart a struggling offense. The Blue Raiders have only racked up 212.5 total yards per game, including 81 rushing, in their first two contests while only scoring twice, both touchdowns coming in a 47-14 loss to Troy last week.
"We're ready to finally break through and have a good game," redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "I think we have to set up the running game early and let our running backs make some plays."
Defense against one of C-USA's best
Just like in the 2016 matchup, UTSA will try to wear down Middle Tennessee's defense with a heavy rushing attack.
Sophomore running back Sincere McCormick has established himself as one of the best backs in C-USA, rushing for 983 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago to win the league's Freshman of the Year award and earn a place on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.
McCormick has been even better through two games this season, pacing the country with 295 rushing yards and a touchdown on 48 attempts. Redshirt junior quarterback Frank Harris has also used his legs well, ranking second in the nation among quarterbacks in rushing with 155 yards and five touchdowns while completing 68.7% of his passes for 438 yards, two TDs and one interception.
"They want to hang their hat on their running game," Stockstill said. "They haven't turned the ball over a whole lot … and they have a really good offensive line."
The Blue Raiders have been susceptible to long runs through the first two weeks, but they showed a big-play ability of their own against Troy, forcing two turnovers and having two more wiped off due to penalties, including a pick-six.
"Just like any other team, we just have to be sound and do our job," senior linebacker DQ Thomas said. "We have to do a really good job on first down and second down to put them in third-down situations where they have to do things they don't like to do."
Playing in a dome
Friday's game will be the 12th time Middle Tennessee has ever played in a dome, and it holds a 5-6 record all-time indoors.
The last time the Blue Raiders played in a dome was at the 2018 New Orleans Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, when they fell to Appalachian State.
Friday night lights bring back memories
Playing on Friday night often brings back good memories for college football players. It's no different this time around for the Blue Raiders.
"I'm excited for it," O'Hara said. "Friday nights are special to all of us. It might bring some good memories from high school … and it's a cool venue we're playing at. We're excited."
The Roadrunners (2-0) were supposed to host Memphis, but the Tigers had to cancel because of COVID-19 concerns. That created an opportunity for the Blue Raiders (0-2) to step in for their first Conference USA matchup of the season.
"This game just got finalized over the weekend, but we're excited to play it and anxious to get into conference play," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We're excited about this opportunity. … [UTSA] is a good football team."
Kickoff from the Alamodome is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: CBSSN
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app; go to CUSA.TV/RaiderVision for the audio stream
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 91-88 (15th year), 68-41
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, third all-time at MT in wins
Jeff Traylor
Record, at UTSA: 2-0, same
Bowl appearances as head coach, record: None
Accolades: Scout.com's 2016 Big 12 Recruiter of the Year while the associate head coach at Texas; East Texas Coaches Association Hall of Honor member; four-time Texas High School Coach of the Year
Series history
The teams have only met twice despite both being Conference USA members since 2013.
Middle Tennessee won the first matchup easily, 42-7, during the 2015 season in San Antonio. Then, UTSA evened up the series the next season, beating the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro 45-25.
Last meeting
In the 2016 contest, Middle Tennessee went into the game rolling with a 6-2 record and 3-1 mark in Conference USA play. However, an injury helped derail things for a couple of weeks, not to mention the Roadrunners' ground attack couldn't be contained.
Quarterback Brent Stockstill, who at the time was averaging 333.4 passing yards per game with 26 touchdown tosses, went down in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. Backup John Urzua was forced into action, and he threw three interceptions that MT couldn't overcome.
On the other side of the ball, UTSA rushed for 270 yards on 59 attempts in a 45-25 win.
Facing a familiar face
In the 2016 meeting between the Blue Raiders and Roadrunners, the MT's defensive coordinator was Tyrone Nix. He was let go after the season when they brought in Scott Shafer to take over the defense.
When head coach Jeff Traylor took over the reins at UTSA before this season, he hired Nix as defensive coordinator, meaning Nix will face his former team — not to mention his son, Ty, who's a senior defensive tackle for Middle Tennessee — on Friday.
"They're very well-coached on defense," Stockstill said. "I know [Ty] is excited about it. … He and his dad have a great father-son relationship."
The elder Nix's defense has been solid in the Roadrunners' first two games, mostly due to its ability to get into the backfield.
They've racked up 24 tackles for loss and eight sacks in two games, ranking first and fifth in the country, respectively. Senior Jaylon Haynes leads the team with five tackles for loss and three sacks.
Middle Tennessee will have its hands full stopping that pressure and finding a way to jumpstart a struggling offense. The Blue Raiders have only racked up 212.5 total yards per game, including 81 rushing, in their first two contests while only scoring twice, both touchdowns coming in a 47-14 loss to Troy last week.
"We're ready to finally break through and have a good game," redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "I think we have to set up the running game early and let our running backs make some plays."
Defense against one of C-USA's best
Just like in the 2016 matchup, UTSA will try to wear down Middle Tennessee's defense with a heavy rushing attack.
Sophomore running back Sincere McCormick has established himself as one of the best backs in C-USA, rushing for 983 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago to win the league's Freshman of the Year award and earn a place on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.
McCormick has been even better through two games this season, pacing the country with 295 rushing yards and a touchdown on 48 attempts. Redshirt junior quarterback Frank Harris has also used his legs well, ranking second in the nation among quarterbacks in rushing with 155 yards and five touchdowns while completing 68.7% of his passes for 438 yards, two TDs and one interception.
"They want to hang their hat on their running game," Stockstill said. "They haven't turned the ball over a whole lot … and they have a really good offensive line."
The Blue Raiders have been susceptible to long runs through the first two weeks, but they showed a big-play ability of their own against Troy, forcing two turnovers and having two more wiped off due to penalties, including a pick-six.
"Just like any other team, we just have to be sound and do our job," senior linebacker DQ Thomas said. "We have to do a really good job on first down and second down to put them in third-down situations where they have to do things they don't like to do."
Playing in a dome
Friday's game will be the 12th time Middle Tennessee has ever played in a dome, and it holds a 5-6 record all-time indoors.
The last time the Blue Raiders played in a dome was at the 2018 New Orleans Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, when they fell to Appalachian State.
Friday night lights bring back memories
Playing on Friday night often brings back good memories for college football players. It's no different this time around for the Blue Raiders.
"I'm excited for it," O'Hara said. "Friday nights are special to all of us. It might bring some good memories from high school … and it's a cool venue we're playing at. We're excited."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
Blue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - October 29th
Thursday, October 30
Blue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - October 29th - Football
Thursday, October 30
MTSU Football vs. Jacksonville State post-game press conference – 10/29/25
Thursday, October 30
MTSU Football vs. Jacksonville State post-game press conference – 10/29/25
Wednesday, October 29
