After break, Blue Raiders jump back into CUSA action at Delaware

Wednesday, Oct. 22 \| 6:35 p.m. \| Delaware Stadium (18,077) \| Newark, DE

	MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS 1-5, 0-2 CUSA	VS	DELAWARE BLUE HENS 3-3, 1-2 CUSA

WATCH: ESPN2 \| STATS: LINK \| RADIO: WGNS (LINK)

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee heads north looking to get back on track Wednesday night when the Blue Raiders face Delaware in a Conference USA match-up at Delaware Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:35 p.m. CT in Newark.

MTSU (1-5, 0-2 CUSA) is seeking its first conference win of the season and hoping to build momentum entering the second half of the schedule. Quarterback Nick Vattiato continues to guide a Blue Raider offense showing flashes of rhythm, while the defense aims to tighten up against the run after a challenging early slate. Having success in the red zone on both sides of the ball and slowing down Blue Hens QB Nick Minicucci will be critical for the Blue Raiders.

Delaware (3-3, 1-2) is in its first season in Conference USA and has shown balance on both sides of the ball. The Blue Hens' balanced offensive attack and physical defensive front will test Middle Tennessee's ability to control the line of scrimmage.

The match-up marks the first meeting between the programs since 1978 and only the third meeting all-time. Wednesday's game will be shown nationally on ESPN2..

GAME 7

» Wednesday, October 22 - 6:35 p.m. CT
» Delaware Stadium
» Newark, DE

SERIES HISTORY

» The Blue Raiders and the Blue Hens will be meeting for the third time in history but first as conference opponents and both being members of FBS football. The Blue Hens won the previous two contests in 1977 and 1978. Delaware won 60-7 in Newark in 1977 then followed that up with a 53-3 win in Murfreesboro in 1978. The '78 UD team played in the NCAA Division II championship.
BLUE RAIDER NOTES

» When MTSU reaches Delaware Stadium for the game, they will have traveled a total of 3,736 land miles this season in four road games.
» Over the last two games, MTSU has allowed just nine second half points
» In his last three games, Jekail Middlebrook is averaging 97.0 yards rushing/game.
» MT owns 19 explosive plays of 20 or more yards this season, including a high of 6 against Marshall earlier this year. The Blue Raiders had 44 total in 2024.
» Consecutive Start Leaders: Nick Vattiato: 30; Mateo Guevara: 18
» The Blue Raiders will play in four different time zones this season which ranks tied for the second most nationally (Stanford - 5).
» Among active FBS career leaders in passing yards, Nicholas Vattiato ranks 3rd with 8,916 yards and he can become only the 3rd to reach 9,000 yards. His 838 completions is 2nd most.

MID-WEEK RECORDS

» Since MTSU joined the FBS ranks in 1999, the program has played 42 mid-week games (Monday-Friday) with the most contests coming on Thursday. The Blue Raiders are 15-27 during that span and has played at least once each day of the week. Records: Monday 0-1; Tuesday 3-5; Wednesday 0-3; Thursday 7-11; and Friday 5-7.

LACY SHOWING GROWTH

» WR Cam'ron Lacy has really stepped up his game the past two outings. Lacy, who turned heads in the offseason, has totaled 14 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns the last two games. The redshirt sophomore is coming off a career night against Missouri State with six grabs for 114 yards and two scores. Lacy, who leads MTSU with 14.4 yards/catch, is the first Blue Raider to top 100 receiving yards since Myles Butler had 101 yards at UTEP last year.

MIDDLEBROOK IMPROVING RUN GAME

» Sophomore Jekail Middlebrook has been a weapon out of the backfield for MTSU all season but has really shined the past three games. During that span, Middlebrook has rushed for 291 yards (97.0/game) and averaged 6.7 cards a carry. He has also added 10 receptions over his past three outings and currently ranks third on the team with 21 grabs. Middlebrook's 21 catches ranks in the top 12 nationally among running backs.

COX LEADING RECEIVERS

» Junior College transfer Nahzae Cox is proving to be the Blue Raiders' go-to receiver after just six games. The junior from Fresno, Ca., leads the team with 28 receptions for 353 yards and four scores (24th nationally and 1st in CUSA). Cox is also second on the team in yards per catch at 12.6.

DAMONTE WREAKING HAVOC

» After a career year in 2024, Damonte Smith has picked up where he left off in a big way. Smith, a redshirt senior from Savannah, Ga., enters play this week with 20 stops, including 7.0 TFLs, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. In fact, Smith came into his final season with 6.0 career TFLs and has already surpassed that total in six games this year.

THE 200 MAN

» In 38 career games played, Nicholas Vattiato owns 28 200-yard passing games to rank second all-time at MTSU (Brent Stockstill - 35). He tallied 10 games with 200 or more yards in 2023 and 2024 which ranks second most in a season behind Brent Stockstill's 12 in 2015. Vattiato has thrown for 200 or more yards 24 times in his last 29 games.

Wednesday, Oct. 22 | 6:35 p.m. | Delaware Stadium (18,077) | Newark, DE

GAME 7

SERIES HISTORY

Players Mentioned

Myles Butler

Nahzae Cox

Mateo Guevara

Cam'ron Lacy

Jekail Middlebrook

Damonte Smith

Nicholas Vattiato

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics