2020 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

The 2020 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Blue Raiders played their home games at the Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (CUSA). They were led by 15th-year head coach Rick Stockstill.

2020 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
2020 record3–6 (2–4 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTony Franklin (5th season)
Defensive coordinatorScott Shafer (4th season)
Home stadiumJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
(Capacity: 31,000)
2020 Conference USA football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
Marshall xy  4 –1     7 –3  
Florida Atlantic  4 –2     5 –4  
Western Kentucky  4 –3     5 –7  
Charlotte  2 –2     2 –4  
Middle Tennessee  2 –4     3 –6  
FIU  0 –3     0 –5  
Old Dominion†   –      –  
West Division
UAB xy$  3 –1     6 –3  
UTSA  5 –2     7 –5  
Louisiana Tech  4 –2     5 –4  
North Texas  3 –4     4 –6  
Rice  2 –3     2 –3  
Southern Miss  2 –4     3 –7  
UTEP  0 –4     3 –5  
Championship: UAB 22, Marshall 13
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: † Due to COVID-19, Old Dominion has suspended the 2020 football season.
Rankings from AP Poll.

Previous season

The Blue Raiders finished the 2019 regular season 4–8, 3–5 in CUSA play to finish in fifth in the East Division. They were not invited to play in any post season bowl game.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
TBD

CUSA media days

The CUSA Media Days will be held virtually for the first time in conference history.[1]

Preseason All-CUSA teams

To be released

Schedule

Middle Tennessee announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020.[2] The 2020 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.

The Blue Raiders had games scheduled against Duke, Indiana State, Old Dominion, UConn, Virginia Tech, and UAB which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4][5][6]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 5 12:30 p.m.at Army*
CBSSN L 0–42 5,249
September 192:30 p.m. Troy*
ESPN L 14–47 6,000
September 257:00 p.m. at UTSA
CBSSN L 35–37 6,182
October 3 4:00 p.m. Western Kentucky
ESPN3 L 17–20 6,500
October 10 3:00 p.m. at FIU
ESPNU W 31–28 2,213
October 17 4:00 p.m. North Texas
  • Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
  • Murfreesboro, TN
Stadium L 35–52 5,000
October 24 2:30 p.m. at Rice
ESPN3 W 40–34 2OT 0
November 14 Noonat No. 16 Marshall
CBSSN L 14–42 12,224
November 21 2:30 p.m. at Troy*
ESPN3 W 20–17 12,000

[7]

Game summaries

at Army
Middle Tennessee at Army
1 234Total
Blue Raiders 0 000 0
• Black Knights 7 14147 42
  
See also: 2020 Army Black Knights football team
Pregame lineOver/under
ARMY –3.554[8]
StatisticsMiddle TennesseeArmy
First downs1324
Total yards184368
Rushing yards75340
Passing yards10928
Turnovers40
Time of possession24:3135:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Middle TennesseePassingChase Cunningham7/10, 63 yards
RushingChaton Mobley5 carries, 27 yards
ReceivingJarrin Pierce4 receptions, 33 yards
ArmyPassingChristian Anderson2/4, 28 yards
RushingTyrell Robinson9 carries, 94 yards
ReceivingIsaiah Alston1 reception, 18 yards

Troy
Troy at Middle Tennessee State
1 234Total
• Trojans 7 19147 47
Blue Raiders 7 007 14
  • Date: September 19, 2020
  • Location: Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
    Murfreesboro, TN
  • Game start: 2:35 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 6,000
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Hazy, Cool, Nice • Wind: 6 N MPH
  • Referee: Ken Antee
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Neal (play–by–play), Jay Walker (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)
      
See also: 2020 Troy Trojans football team and Battle for the Palladium
Pregame lineOver/under
TROY −3.564.5[9]
StatisticsTroyMiddle Tennessee
First downs3015
Total yards496241
Rushing yards24087
Passing yards256154
Turnovers23
Time of possession35:4524:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TroyPassingGunnar Watson26/37, 248 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingB. J. Smith10 carries, 81 yards
ReceivingKhalil McClain6 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TDs
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara16/23, 109 yards, 1 INT
RushingAsher O'Hara14 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJarrin Pierce11 receptions, 81 yards

at UTSA
Middle Tennessee at Texas–San Antonio
1 234Total
Blue Raiders 3 71312 35
• Roadrunners 0 17173 37
         
See also: 2020 UTSA Roadrunners football team
Pregame lineOver/under
UTSA –659[10]
StatisticsMiddle TennesseeUTSA
First downs2716
Total yards563391
Rushing yards19188
Passing yards372303
Turnovers21
Time of possession35:4024:20
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara31/47, 372 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingJayy McDonald7 carries, 76 yards
ReceivingJarrin Pierce7 receptions, 107 yards
UTSAPassingJosh Adkins16/28, 233 yards, 1 TD
RushingSincere McCormick19 carries, 82 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingZakhari Franklin6 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD

Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee
1 234Total
• Hilltoppers 0 1037 20
Blue Raiders 0 1007 17
  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Location: Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
    Murfreesboro, TN
  • Game start: 4:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 3 minutes
  • Game attendance: 6,500
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Sunny & Nice • Wind: ESE 1 MPH
  • Referee: Rodney Burnette
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Jake Rose (play–by–play) and Jeremy Kellem (analyst)
    
See also: 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team and 100 Miles of Hate
Pregame lineOver/under
WKU –752.5[11]
StatisticsWestern KentuckyMiddle Tennessee
First downs2118
Total yards326319
Rushing yards138102
Passing yards188217
Turnovers10
Time of possession31:3528:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome21/36, 188 yards, 2 TDs
RushingTyrrell Pigrome16 carries, 55 yards
ReceivingXavier Lane7 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara23/33, 217 yards, 1 TD
RushingAsher O'Hara25 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJarrin Pierce9 receptions, 65 yards

at FIU
Middle Tennessee at Florida International
1 234Total
• Blue Raiders 0 1777 31
Panthers 7 7140 28
     
See also: 2020 FIU Panthers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
FIU –6.557[12]
StatisticsMiddle TennesseeFIU
First downs2315
Total yards404328
Rushing yards136270
Passing yards26858
Turnovers21
Time of possession31:4628:14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara23/42, 268 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingAsher O'Hara23 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingJarrin Pierce5 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
FIUPassingKaylan Wiggins5/15, 37 yards, 1 INT
RushingShaun Peterson Jr.15 carries, 117 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingNate Jefferson2 receptions, 19 yards

North Texas
North Texas at Middle Tennessee
1 234Total
• Mean Green 7 142110 52
Blue Raiders 21 707 35
  • Date: October 17, 2020
  • Location: Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
    Murfreesboro, TN
  • Game start: 4:06 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 21 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,000
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny, nice • Wind: SSE 5 MPH
  • Referee: Jonathan Noli
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Chris Vosters (play–by–play) and Max Starks (analyst)
        
See also: 2020 North Texas Mean Green football team
Pregame lineOver/under
MTSU –3.572[13]
StatisticsNorth TexasMiddle Tennessee
First downs3223
Total yards768432
Rushing yards462268
Passing yards306164
Turnovers31
Time of possession27:5232:08
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North TexasPassingJason Bean12/17, 181 yards, 2 TDs
RushingJason Bean10 carries, 169 yards, 3 TDs
ReceivingJaelon Darden10 receptions, 204 yards, 1 TD
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara18/29, 164 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RushingChaton Mobley14 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingCJ Windham4 receptions, 49 yards

at Rice
Middle Tennessee at Rice
1 234OTTotal
• Blue Raiders 0 141736 40
Owls 6 76140 33
  • Date: October 24, 2020
  • Location: Rice Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 2:32 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 51 minutes
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: N 6 MPH
  • Referee: Joe Lehring
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): David Saltzman (play–by–play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)
        
See also: 2020 Rice Owls football team
Pregame lineOver/under
RICE −448.5[14]
StatisticsMiddle TennesseeRice
First downs2226
Total yards451425
Rushing yards118183
Passing yards333242
Turnovers13
Time of possession27:0332:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara24/33, 333 yards, 2 TDs
RushingAsher O'Hara22 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingCJ Windham7 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD
RicePassingMike Collins18/35, 242 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
RushingJuma Otoviano20 carries, 84 yards
ReceivingAustin Trammell3 receptions, 76 yards, 2 TDs

at Marshall
1 2 3 4 Total
Blue Raiders 0 7 7 0 14
No. 16 Thundering Herd 7 14 21 0 42
See also: 2020 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

at Troy
Middle Tennessee at Troy
1 234Total
• Blue Raiders 7 1003 20
Trojans 3 707 17
  • Date: November 21, 2020
  • Location: Veterans Memorial Stadium
    Troy, AL
  • Game start: 2:35 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours and 51 minutes
  • Game attendance: 12,000
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: S 5 MPH
  • Referee: Marshall Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Will Kollmeyer (play–by–play) and Ben Stanfield (analyst)
    
See also: 2020 Troy Trojans football team and Battle for the Palladium
Pregame lineOver/under
TROY –1160.5[15]
StatisticsMiddle TennesseeTroy
First downs2318
Total yards396392
Rushing yards18692
Passing yards210300
Turnovers02
Time of possession37:2122:39
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Middle TennesseePassingAsher O'Hara19/23, 210 yards
RushingAsher O'Hara25 carries, 86 yards
ReceivingYusuf Ali7 receptions, 90 yards
TroyPassingGunnar Watson25/39, 300 yards, TD, 2 INTs
RushingB. J. Smith10 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingKhalil McClain6 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD

References
  1. "Conference USA to hold virtual football media days due to COVID-19". ktsm.com. May 5, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  2. "Raiders to host four bowl teams in 2020". Middle Tennessee State University Department of Athletics. January 8, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  3. "ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports". TheACC.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  4. "UConn Football Announces Cancellation of 2020 Season Due to Risks Associated with Covid-19". UConn Athletic Department. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  5. "Old Dominion postponing football and fall sports". The Virginian Pilot. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  6. "Blue Raiders will open football season at Army". MTSU Athletic Department. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  7. "2020 Middle Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  8. "Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Army Black Knights". Odds Shark. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  9. "Troy Trojans vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders". Odds Shark. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  10. "Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs UTSA Roadrunners". Odds Shark. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  11. "WKU Hilltoppers vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders". Odds Shark. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  12. "Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs FIU Panthers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  13. "North Texas Mean Green vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders". Odds Shark. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  14. "Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Rice Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  15. "Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Troy Trojans". Odds Shark. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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