Chaton Mobley
The MTSU Blue Raiders will open the 2019 football season at NCAA powerhouse Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 31.
The team will open its home schedule the following week against mid-state opponent Tennessee State.
MTSU will also host Duke, Marshall, FIU, Rice and Old Dominion in Murfreesboro this season.
Coming off a C-USA East Division title and a school record fourth-straight bowl appearance, MTSU will return 49 lettermen and 10 starters, including record-setting receiver Ty Lee and defensive standouts Reed Blankenship and Jovante Moffatt.
However, MTSU must name a new starting quarterback before the start of the 2019 season, following the departure of four-year starter Brent Stockstill, who set virtually every school passing record and finished in the top 20 in all-time touchdown passes in the NCAA.
Those in the running for the starting quarterback job are Asher O’Hara, Chance Nolan, Chase Cunningham and Randall Johnson, a 6-foot, 5-inch junior college transfer from Los Angeles. Of the group, Cunningham has the most experience with the Blue Raiders, playing in four games in 2018, though all were late in the contest with the outcomes already decided.
Whomever becomes the new Blue Raider quarterback, he’ll get to step into the backfield alongside some experience. Middle Tennessee’s top rusher from last season, Chaton Mobley, will return as a redshirt sophomore, while Terelle West, a redshirt senior, will also be back.
Speedster Jayy McDonald could also step in to help in the backfield and return game.
Senior Ty Lee leads the receiving corps. Through three seasons, he’s established himself as one of the best Blue Raider wideouts of all-time, ranking third in program history in career receptions, fifth in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdown grabs. The 5-foot and 9-inch Lee caught seven TDs in 2018.
Ty Lee
Offensive coordinator Tony Franklin will look to C.J. Windham, Jimmy Marshall, Jocquez Bruce and Isaiah Upton to step up at wideout.
The Blue Raiders’ home opener against Tennessee State on Sept. 7 will serve as a former players reunion weekend.
The following weekend Middle Tennessee will host ACC member Duke and head coach David Cutcliffe. The 6 p.m. start time will be the Blue Raiders’ popular blackout game.
On Oct. 5, Marshall’s Thundering Herd will come to town for the program’s annual Hall of Fame Weekend. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. with the Hall of Fame induction ceremony scheduled for noon.
The Blue Raiders will play host to FIU for Homecoming on Oct. 26, and the Nov. 16 contest against the Rice Owls will serve as the Blue Raiders’ Salute to veterans and Armed Forces.
The home finale for Senior Day will be against division rival Old Dominion on Nov. 23.
Additionally, MTSU is brewing up an exciting new attraction at Floyd Stadium this season to enhance the fan experience for Blue Raider faithful.
The Blue Raider Beer Garden will debut at field level in the south end zone, in partnership with Hop Springs Beer Park, Steel Barrel Brewery and the MTSU Fermentation Sciences program. Entrance to the field level area is free with a ticket to the game but guests must be 21 or over.
The garden, which will start serving when stadium gates open, will feature different Steel Barrel craft beers for purchase, as well as grilled food and tables with umbrellas where fans can enjoy the game. There will also be an area for corn hole, giant jenga and other games.
Students in MTSU’s Fermentation Science program will provide ideas and input to Hop Springs for the brewery to create small-batch brews that will only be served in the beer garden. Each beer will have a different name with a theme related to the week’s opponent.
“We visualize this area to be a festival/street fair-type area in the south end zone for all of our fans over 21 years old to enjoy as they watch great C-USA football,” said MT Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “We hope this unique offering will help grow attendance and provide a better game environment for our fans while perfectly showcasing yet another partnership athletics has with academics.”
The Blue Raiders announced another new attraction inside Floyd Stadium this football season—the Blue Raider Family Fun Zone, located on the upper concourse in the north endzone. This area has been created with kids in mind.
The Family Fun Zone will include four inflatables, a face painter, balloon artist and various carnival games throughout the season.
Fans should note that MTSU is implementing a clear bag policy at Floyd Stadium this year. Those attending games may only bring in clear bags that do not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. The only exceptions are small clutch-type purses. Binoculars, cameras and smartphones are allowed, but their cases will not be allowed.
MTSU will have all 12 of its games broadcast on television for the 2019 football season. This will include an NFL Network broadcast of the Oct. 26 game against FIU, part of a new agreement between Conference USA and the NFL Network.
NFL Network will broadcast one game each Saturday afternoon for four seasons, beginning in 2019.
“We are excited to showcase the next generation of NFL athletes to our fans on a weekly basis,” NFL Media CEO Hans Schroeder said. “Our fans crave live football, and partnering with Conference USA—a conference which boasts several Hall of Fame players—provides us with an excellent opportunity to do so.”
2019 MTSU Blue Raider Football Schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 6:30 p.m.
at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Big Ten Network
Saturday, Sept. 7 – 6 p.m.
Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro
ESPN3
Saturday, Sept. 14 – 6 p.m.
Duke University, Murfreesboro
Stadium on Facebook
Saturday, Sept. 28 – TBA
At University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
ESPN or ESPN2
Saturday, Oct. 5 – 2:30 p.m.
Marshall University, Murfreesboro
CBS SN
Saturday, Oct. 12 – 3 p.m.
At Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
ESPN+
Saturday, Oct. 19 – 3 p.m.
At University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Stadium TV
Saturday, Oct. 26 – 2:30 p.m.
Florida International University, Murfreesboro
NFL Network
Saturday, Nov. 2 – 2:30 p.m.
At Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina
ESPN3
Saturday, Nov. 16 – 3:30 p.m.
Rice University, Murfreesboro
ESPN+
Saturday, Nov. 23 – 3:30 p.m.
Old Dominion University, Murfreesboro
ESPN3
Saturday, Nov. 30 – 1 p.m.
At Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
ESPN+
For tickets and more information on Blue Raider athletics, visit goblueraiders.com.
