Chaton Mobley
Although many major college football programs across the country have announced they will postpone or cancel fall sports, Middle Tennessee State University, and all of Conference-USA (with the exception of Virginia’s Old Dominion), have confirmed that they will hold a 2020 football season.
Following a few schedule changes, MTSU will open its season on Sept. 5 against the Army Black Knights at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. The marks the first meeting between the two teams.
The Blue Raiders originally had Virginia Tech and Duke on the 2020 schedule, but changes to Atlantic Coast Conference rules prohibited those two teams from playing MTSU. Indiana State and Connecticut both announced they would not hold a 2020 season, taking two more games from the planned MTSU slate.
Asher O’Hara
However, MTSU added two games with Troy University in 2020: one in Murfreesboro on Sept. 19 and one in Alabama on Nov. 21, rekindling a rivalry in that series.
“It is unique to play one opponent twice in a season, but this worked for both of us,” MTSU Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. “There is a lot of history with Middle Tennessee and Troy.”
MTSU leads the all-time series with Troy 12–8 and since 2003 the teams have battled for a trophy known as The Palladium, which currently resides in Murfreesboro since the teams’ last game in 2012.
Reed Blankenship. Photos courtesy goblueraiders.com
The MTSU Blue Raiders will open C-USA play on Saturday, Oct. 3, against rival Western Kentucky.
Two transfers, Martell Pettaway and Amir Rasul, have joined the Blue Raiders backfield for 2020. This duo will join Chaton Mobley and Jayy McDonald to add some competition at the running back position.
MTSU’s quarterback, Asher O’Hara, led the team in rushing in 2019.
O’Hara ended his first year as a starter with 2,616 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, while also adding a team-best 1,058 rushing yards and nine scores. He became just the second quarterback in school history to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
Asher O’Hara gets airborne against Charlotte
Jimmy Marshall, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver for MTSU, is excited about his senior campaign in 2020.
“I think it will be my best year,” Marshall said. “I believe I will be way better than last year. I haven’t shown half of what I can do. The best is yet to come.”
Marshall posted six touchdowns in 2019 and finished the season strong with 16 catches in his last three games.
“Jimmy has grown so much mentally and physically,” receivers coach Austin Silvoy said. “He started putting everything together. Jimmy started to realize that he has all the tools, he’s been through all the training, figured out how to use his body better and the light came on and he went full steam ahead [in 2019]. His passion for the game has increased in all facets, on the field, in the film room, the weight room,” Silvoy said. “He finally got to see the fruits of his labor last season. He is fast for his size. He catches the ball really well and he is getting smarter and smarter as a football player.”
For tickets, videos, news and more details on MTSU athletics, visit goblueraiders.com.
2020 MTSU Blue Raiders Football
Sept. 5
at Army – West Point, New York
Sept. 19
Troy – Murfreesboro
Oct. 3
Western Kentucky – Murfreesboro
Oct. 10
at Florida International – Miami, Florida
Oct. 17
North Texas – Murfreesboro
Oct. 24
at Rice – Houston, Texas
Nov. 7
Charlotte – Murfreesboro
Nov. 14
at Marshall University – Huntington, West Virginia
Nov. 21
Troy – Troy, Alabama
Nov. 28
Florida Atlantic University – Murfreesboro
