MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee looks to break through for their first home and first Conference USA win Wednesday night, hosting Missouri State in a midweek marquee match-up on ESPN2. This marks just the second meeting all-time between the two schools but first as conference foes.

Kickoff is set for 6:36 p.m. CT at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium and Clay Matvick and Chase Daniel will call the action from the booth while Victoria Arlen will provide commentary from the sidelines. 

MTSU enters with a 1–4 record (0–1 in CUSA), while the Bears are 2–3 (0–1). Both teams are still searching for consistency and a statement win early in conference play. 

For the Blue Raiders, quarterback Nicholas Vattiato has been the offensive focal point. He has thrown for over 1,100 yards and six touchdowns, but has totaled 577 passing yards over his last two outings. Running back Jekail Middlebrook provides balance on the ground as he is coming off his first career 100-yard game and will double as a threat in the passing game. Receiver Nahzae Cox leads the receiving corps with four touchdowns through five games. 

Defensively, MTSU must tighten in the red zone and limit big plays. The Blue Raider pass rush has shown flashes but a priority will be stopping the run and limiting mistakes. Linebacker Parker Hughes leads the way with 42 total tackles while Damonte Smith has been the disruptor inside with six TFLs and two sacks.

Missouri State counters with quarterback Jacob Clark, who has been steady (1,195 yards, 8 TDs) but also prone to mistakes (6 INTs). Their run game, led by Shomari Lawrence, offers a complementary balance. The Bears' defense has found success creating turnovers, a weapon they'll look to deploy inside Floyd Stadium. 

With both squads winless so far in conference play, the stakes are high. For MTSU, a win would inject momentum into the season and get the October mid-week stretch off on a positive note. 

Fans in Murfreesboro will be treated to national exposure as CUSA's Weekday slate returns. Don't miss Wednesday's showdown on ESPN2 — a chance for the Blue Raiders to make a home statement.

GAME 6

» Wednesday, October 8 - 6:36 p.m. CT
» Floyd Stadium
» Murfreesboro, TN

SERIES HISTORY

» The Blue Raiders and the Bears will be meeting for just the second time in football but the first time as conference foes. The two teams last met on Oct. 18, 1986 in Springfield when the Bears were called Southwest Missouri State. MTSU won that game, 42-19, at Briggs Stadium.
BLUE RAIDER NOTES

» The Blue Raiders are 6-6 in Conference USA home openers.
» In his last two games, Jekail Middlebrook is averaging 99.0 yards rushing/game.
» MT entered the Marshall game with 7 explosive plays of 20 or more yards and had 6 alone against the Herd and added 5 at KSU to give them 18 for the season.
» LB Parker Hughes is 14th nationally in solo tackles with 5.0 per game.
» Consecutive Start Leaders: Nick Vattiato: 29; Mateo Guevara: 17
» The Blue Raiders will play in four different time zones this season which ranks tied for the second most nationally (Stanford - 5). 
» Kickoff specialist Baylen Woodman has a touchback percentage of 84.2% (16 of 19 attempts) to rank tied for 23rd nationally and 1st among true freshmen.

BLUE RAIDERS AT FLOYD STADIUM