The Middle Tennessee State University football team will begin the Derek Mason era on Saturday.
The Blue Raiders open the season at home against old rival Tennessee Tech (6 p.m., ESPN+).
MTSU was coming off a 4-8 season, longtime coach Rick Stockstill was fired and Mason was hired in December, while Tennessee Tech was coming off a 4-7 season, Dewayne Alexander was fired and replaced by Bobby Wilder.
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Below is a preview of the matchup, including score predictions, from Cecil Joyce of the Daily News Journal.
Tennessee Tech football coach Bobby Wilder is no stranger to CUSA.
Wilder was the head coach at Old Dominion University from 2009-2019 and is familiar with MTSU and Conference USA teams, including the team’s time in CUSA from 2014 until his departure.
The team shared the conference’s East Division title in 2016, went 7-1 in league play and 10-3 overall, and advanced to its first bowl game.
Wilder is in a similar position to Mason, with both coaches making numerous new additions to their squads following off-season coaching changes.
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Tennessee Tech returns a lot of talent on the defensive line.
Tennessee Tech had the top defense in the FCS last season, finishing 13th in yards allowed per game (306.1).
The Golden Eagles return defensive linemen Daniel Rickert (49 tackles, nine sacks) and Hudson Tucker (six sacks, nine tackles for loss), linebacker Aaron Swafford (72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions) and defensive back Tim Koutras (55 tackles, four interceptions).
Tennessee Tech had 32 sacks, 19 turnovers including 12 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns last season.
MTSU will counter with veterans at the skill positions, including redshirt junior quarterback Nick Battiato (286-of-428 completions for 3,092 yards and 23 touchdowns, rushing for 397 yards) and an experienced running back group led by junior Frank Peasant (306 yards rushing, four touchdowns).
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The Golden Eagles struggled offensively last season.
Tech’s offense struggled in 2023, averaging just 17 points and 300 yards per game. Quarterback Jordyn Potts (108 of 204 for 1,132 yards, eight touchdowns, six interceptions) returns along with four starting offensive linemen.
The Golden Eagles acquired quarterback Dylan Raible, a transfer from the University of Missouri. Raible did not play for the Tigers in 2023, but had success in junior college before attending Missouri as a preferred walk-on. He was listed as a player to watch on the Big South-OVC preseason list.
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Connecticut transfer Jalen Mitchell also should have a big role at running back after playing three seasons at Louisville, rushing for over 1,117 total yards during his time at Louisville but rushed 22 times for just 72 yards last season.
Score Prediction
MTSU 38, Tennessee Tech 14: The Blue Raiders will be an FBS power and should give Mason its first win over MTSU. The Golden Eagles will play tough defense early but won’t have the depth to hang in there in the second half.
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Cecil Joyce covers high school and MTSU sports for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Cecil_Joyce.
