2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team explained

The 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Blue Raiders played their home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and competed as members of Conference USA. They were led by eighteenth-year head coach Rick Stockstill.

Stockstill was fired on November 27, going 113–111 through 18 seasons as head coach. At the time of his firing Stockstill was the fourth-longest tenured head coach in the FBS.^[1]

Schedule

Middle Tennessee and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.^{[2] [3]}

Game summaries

at No. 4 Alabama

See also: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

Statistics	MTSU	ALA
First downs	13	23
Total yards	211	431
Rushes/yards	26–78	40–205
Passing yards	133	226
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–35–1	17–24–0
Time of possession	30:57	29:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	21/32, 127 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Jekail Middlebrook	8 carries, 32 yards
Receiving	Jaiden Credle	4 receptions, 25 yards
Alabama	Passing	Jalen Milroe	13/18, 194 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Jalen Milroe	7 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Isaiah Bond	5 receptions, 76 yards, TD

at Missouri

See also: 2023 Missouri Tigers football team.

Statistics	MTSU	MIZZ
First downs	16	21
Total yards	65–285	65–316
Rushes/yards	29-71	46-112
Passing yards	214	204
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22-36-0	14-19-0
Time of possession	28:00	32:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	22-36, 214 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Frank Peasant	13 carries, 35 yards
Receiving	Elijah Metcalf	5 receptions, 70 yards
Missouri	Passing		14-19, 204 yards, 2 TD
Rushing		23 carries, 84 yards
Receiving		8 receptions, 117 yards

at Liberty

See also: 2023 Liberty Flames football team.

Statistics	MTSU	LIB
First downs	23	33
Total yards	63–428	81–541
Rushing yards	26–96	61–401
Passing yards	332	140
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–37–2	12–20–1
Time of possession	22:40	37:20

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	24/37, 332 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Jaiden Cradle	12 carries, 50 yards
Receiving	Zack Dobson	2 receptions, 82 yards, TD
Liberty	Passing		12/20, 140 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Kaidon Salter	16 carries, 160 yards
Receiving	CJ Daniels	6 receptions, 71 yards, TD

at New Mexico State

See also: 2023 New Mexico State Aggies football team.

Statistics	MTSU	NMSU
First downs	17	21
Total yards	346	402
Rushing yards	168	182
Passing yards	178	220
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	24:13	35:47

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	20/36, 178 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Nicholas Vattiato	18 rushes, 96 yards
Receiving	Elijah Metcalf	5 receptions, 69 yards
New Mexico State	Passing		16/31, 220 yards, INT
Rushing	Monte Watkins	5 rushes, 68 yards
Receiving		6 receptions, 83 yards

Personnel

Roster

Notes and References

1. Web site: . Rittenberg . Adam . Middle Tennessee fires coach Rick Stockstill after 18 seasons . November 27, 2023 . December 3, 2023.
2. Web site: MTSU football schedule 2023 opens at Alabama, includes four mid-week games. Cecil. Joyce. Murfreesboro Daily News Journal. January 11, 2023. January 10, 2023.
3. Web site: MTSU football to play six home games in 2023. Murfreesboro Post. MT Athletic Communications. January 11, 2023. January 10, 2023.
4. Web site: 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football roster. goblueraiders.com.