Middle Tennessee began last season with a crushing defeat at James Madison. The Blue Raiders later beat Miami, and then they still went 3-4 in their first seven games of the season.
MTSU spent the rest of the year climbing up the Conference USA standings. The Blue Raiders went on to win five of their last six contests, including a 25-23 victory over San Diego State in the Hawai’i Bowl.
If Middle Tennessee plays more consistently, it could be competing for a CUSA Championship by the end of the 2023 season.
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Middle Tennessee Football’s Conference USA Title Odds
MTSU’s odds to win CUSA are +550, via BetMGM.
Middle Tennessee Football’s Over/Under Win Total
MTSU’s win total Over/Under is 6.5, with Under 6.5 at -105 and Over 6.5 at -115.
Middle Tennessee Football’s Schedule
9/2 at Alabama
9/9 at Missouri
9/16 vs Murray State
9/23 vs Colorado State
9/28 at Western Kentucky
10/4 vs Jacksonville State
10/10 vs Louisiana Tech
10/17 at Liberty
11/4 at New Mexico State
11/11 vs FIU
11/18 vs UTEP
11/25 at Sam Houston
Bold indicates CUSA contests.
Key Middle Tennessee Football Returners
2022 All-Conference USA 1st Team
LS Brody Butler
2nd Team
DB Teldrick Ross
Honorable Mention
RB Frank Peasant
DL Zaylin Wood
DL Marley Cook
DB Tra Fluellen
K Zeke Rankin
Frank Peasant Powering Middle Tennessee’s Offense
Frank Peasant is one of the top returning running backs in CUSA, and he will undoubtedly help Middle Tennessee’s offense this season.
The junior was on the all-conference honorable mention list a season ago. He tied for second in CUSA with nine touchdowns on the ground and was seventh with 774 yards. He added 286 yards and two touchdowns on 28 receptions. The Blue Raiders also picked up Jaiden Credle, a former Northern Illinois running back, for some depth at that position.
However, MTSU was second-to-last in Conference USA last year with 108.8 rushing yards per game and allowed 37 sacks, which was the most in the league. The Blue Raiders hope their returners on the offensive line can improve on that production.
Offensive linemen Jacqui Graham, Sterling Porcher, and Keylan Rutledge all started games last year and are back. MTSU also added former FIU O-lineman Julius Pierce this offseason.
The Blue Raiders will have to find a new starting quarterback with Chase Cunningham gone. While the team is expected to solidify the position this fall, Nicholas Vattiato does have some experience with the team.
Vattiato was on the All-Conference USA freshman team in 2021 after throwing for 1,047 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions and completing 67% of his passes. He was also the Bahamas Bowl Offensive MVP that year. Last season, he played in just two games and redshirted.
MTSU’s top three receivers from last year are gone. That includes Jaylin Lane, who caught 69 passes for 940 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.
But DJ England-Chisolm, who tallied 366 yards and four touchdowns on 23 receptions last year, and Elijah Metcalf, who added 309 yards and two touchdowns on 26 catches, return. In the transfer portal, MTSU addressed losses at wide receiver by adding Kalani Norris (Georgia Tech), Justin Olson (North Carolina), and Holden Willis (USF).
Teldrick Ross, Tra Fluellen Among Top Returners For Middle Tennessee’s Defense
Middle Tennessee’s defense was middling in 2022, allowing 409.5 yards and 27.7 points per game, which were both seventh in Conference USA. But the Blue Raiders have the chance to improve upon that with all the players they have coming back.
Seven of their top 11 tacklers return in 2022. Tra Fluellen, an All-Conference USA honorable mention defensive back in 2022, was the leader among them. He tallied 104 tackles, eight pass breakups, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
Teldrick Ross, a redshirt senior cornerback, made the All-Conference USA second team last year. He led the league with 20 pass breakups to go with two picks while ranking second on the team with 77 tackles.
Pressuring opposing quarterbacks was critical for MTSU last year, as the team led CUSA with 36 sacks. Jordan Ferguson, who contributed a team-high nine sacks last year, is gone. However, Zaylin Wood and Marley Cook, two defensive linemen who each tallied 6.5 sacks, are both coming back. Defensive tackle Jordan Branch is also back, and Brandon Buckner, a transfer defensive end from Oregon, also joined the Blue Raiders this offseason.
At linebacker, Devyn Curtis, Drew Francis, and Parker Hughes are all set to return after starting games in 2022.
Middle Tennessee Football Season Prediction
MTSU won’t win the Conference USA Championship, but the Blue Raiders will win at least seven games.
The beginning of their schedule, with matchups at Alabama and Missouri, won’t go smoothly. However, MTSU should bounce back with wins against Murray State and Colorado State at home.
As for Middle Tennessee’s Conference USA slate, I foresee three losses. Games at Western Kentucky and Liberty, the two favorites to win the conference title, won’t be easy. I could also see MTSU dropping a contest either against Louisiana Tech at home or at New Mexico State.
But if the Blue Raiders split those games, they should be able to go over that 6.5-game win total. They host Jacksonville State, FIU, and UTEP, which should help them win those matchups. They close the regular season at Sam Houston, and I think MTSU should be victorious there as well.
I could see the Blue Raiders going undefeated or losing just one game at home. From there, they only need one or two road victories for a winning season. That should be well within reach for them.
