# 2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

The 2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Blue Raiders are led by Derek Mason in his first year as the head coach. The Blue Raiders will play home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

## Preseason
### C-USA media poll

The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Blue Raiders were predicted to finish fourth in the conference.
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Liberty | 197 (18) |
| 2 | Western Kentucky | 173 (2) |
| 3 | Jacksonville State | 166 |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee | 98 |
| 5 | New Mexico State | 97 |
| 5 | Sam Houston | 97 |
| 7 | Louisiana Tech | 88 |
| 8 | FIU | 81 |
| 9 | UTEP | 76 |
| 10 | Kennesaw State | 27 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Tennessee Tech* | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | ESPN+ | W 32–25 | 16,000 |
| September 7 | 3:15 p.m. | at No. 6 Ole Miss* | Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS | SECN | L 3–52 | 66,427 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | Western Kentucky | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN (100 Miles of Hate) | ESPN+ | L 21–49 | 12,227 |
| September 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Duke* | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | ESPNU | L 17–45 | 15,209 |
| September 28 | 6:30 p.m. | at Memphis* | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | L 7–24 | 25,266 |
| October 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA | CBSSN | L 21–48 | 15,072 |
| October 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Kennesaw State | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | CBSSN | W 14–5 | 10,200 |
| October 23 | 6:30 p.m. | at Jacksonville State | AmFirst StadiumJacksonville, AL | ESPN2 | L 20–42 | 17,988 |
| November 2 | 2:30 p.m. | at UTEP | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CBSSN | W 20–13 | 14,775 |
| November 9 | 12:00 p.m. | Liberty | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | CBSSN | L 17–37 | 13,500 |
| November 23 | 1:30 p.m. | New Mexico State | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | ESPN+ | L 21–36 | 10,123 |
| November 30 | 1:00 p.m. | at FIU | Pitbull StadiumMiami, FL | ESPN+ | L 24–35 | 14,686 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Tennessee Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 25 |
| Blue Raiders | 7 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 32 |
| Statistics | TNTC | MTSU |
| First downs | 21 | 20 |
| Total yards | 341 | 328 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 118 |
| Passing yards | 274 | 210 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:09 | 32:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee Tech | Passing | Jordyn Potts | 27/38, 256 yards, 3 TD |
| Tennessee Tech | Rushing | Jalen Mitchell | 11 rushes, 52 yards |
| Tennessee Tech | Receiving | D. J. Linkins | 7 recptions, 61 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiao | 20/35, 210 yards, TD, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Frank Peasant | 10 rushes, 49 yards, 2 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Omari Kelly | 4 receptions, 47 yards |

### At No. 6 Ole Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 6 Rebels | 17 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 52 |
| Statistics | MTSU | MISS |
| First downs | 18 | 34 |
| Total yards | 278 | 655 |
| Rushing yards | 28 | 258 |
| Passing yards | 250 | 397 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:03 | 26:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 21/33, 209 yards, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Terry Wilkins | 7 rushes, 19 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Holden Willis | 6 receptions, 93 yards |
| Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 25/27, 377 yards, TD |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Henry Parrish Jr. | 14 rushes, 165 yards, 4 TD |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Tre Harris | 9 receptions, 130 yards |

### Western Kentucky (100 Miles of Hate)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 14 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 49 |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Statistics | WKU | MTSU |
| First downs | 30 | 21 |
| Total yards | 631 | 514 |
| Rushing yards | 150 | 58 |
| Passing yards | 481 | 456 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:22 | 28:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Caden Veltkamp | 27/30, 398 yards, 5 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | L. T. Sanders | 8 rushes, 54 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Kisean Johnson | 8 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 24/31, 456 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Nicholas Vattiato | 9 rushes, 21 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Omari Kelly | 9 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TD |

### Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Devils | 28 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 45 |
| Blue Raiders | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Statistics | DUKE | MTSU |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 340 | 295 |
| Rushing yards | 124 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 127 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 23:45 | 36:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Duke | Passing | Maalik Murphy | 14/21, 216 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Duke | Rushing | Star Thomas | 17 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD |
| Duke | Receiving | Nicky Dalmolin | 4 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 21/33, 127 yards, TD, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Jaiden Credle | 12 carries, 125 yards, TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Holden Willis | 3 receptions, 60 yards, TD |

### At Memphis

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Tigers | 0 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
| Statistics | MTSU | MEM |
| First downs | 13 | 22 |
| Total yards | 312 | 413 |
| Rushing yards | 29 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 283 | 227 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:51 | 34:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 21/31, 283 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Jaiden Credle | 10 carries, 39 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Omari Kelly | 6 receptions, 174 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 26/41, 227 yards |
| Memphis | Rushing | Mario Anderson Jr. | 18 carries, 118 yards, TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | Roc Taylor | 6 receptions, 69 yards |

### At Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Bulldogs | 20 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 48 |
| Statistics | MTSU | LT |
| First downs | 17 | 27 |
| Total yards | 336 | 551 |
| Rushing yards | 60 | 222 |
| Passing yards | 276 | 329 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:37 | 34:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 24/39, 276 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Jekail Middlebrook | 5 carries, 30 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Omari Kelly | 8 receptions, 103 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Evan Bullock | 18/25, 290 yards, 5 TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Omiri Wiggins | 8 carries, 49 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Tru Edwards | 6 receptions, 127 yards, TD |

### Kennesaw State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Blue Raiders | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | KENN | MTSU |
| First downs | 10 | 17 |
| Total yards | 234 | 284 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 85 |
| Passing yards | 103 | 199 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:48 | 30:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kennesaw State | Passing | Khalib Johnson | 5/17, 52 yards, 2 INT |
| Kennesaw State | Rushing | Qua Ashley | 11 carries, 79 yards |
| Kennesaw State | Receiving | Carson Kent | 4 receptions, 59 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 19/34, 199 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Jaiden Credle | 10 carries, 49 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Holden Willis | 8 receptions, 92 yards |

### At Jacksonville State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Gamecocks | 14 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 42 |
| Statistics | MTSU | JVST |
| First downs | 17 | 30 |
| Total yards | 364 | 575 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 438 |
| Passing yards | 297 | 137 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:56 | 30:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 25/36, 297 yards, 2 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Jaiden Credle | 8 carries, 39 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Omari Kelly | 8 receptions, 128 yards |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Tyler Huff | 10/18, 137 yards, TD |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Tre Stewart | 21 carries, 210 yards, TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Cam Vaughn | 4 receptions, 82 yards |

### At UTEP

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Miners | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving |
| UTEP | Passing |
| UTEP | Rushing |
| UTEP | Receiving |

### Liberty

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Flames | 7 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 37 |
| Blue Raiders | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Liberty | Passing |
| Liberty | Rushing |
| Liberty | Receiving |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving |

### New Mexico State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | | | | | 0 |
| Blue Raiders | | | | | 0 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| New Mexico State | Passing |
| New Mexico State | Rushing |
| New Mexico State | Receiving |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving |

### At FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | | | | | 0 |
| Panthers | | | | | 0 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving |
| FIU | Passing |
| FIU | Rushing |
| FIU | Receiving |