Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Middle Tennessee
Racers to Resume Rivalry With Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro
9/4/2026 10:19:00 AM | Football
Murray State continues nonconference slate against MTSU.
Date (Time): Saturday, Sept. 5 (6 p.m. CT)
Opponent: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Location (Venue): Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium)
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio:Â Froggy 103.7
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
The Murray State Racers (0-1) will face their first road test of the season against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
While the Blue Raiders have yet to see action in 2026, head coach Jody Wright and the Racers are coming off a Week Zero loss to another former Ohio Valley Conference opponent, Eastern Illinois. The pass rush provided a major highlight for the navy & gold, generating five sacks on the evening. The performance fell just one short of the team's entire 2025 season total and marked Murray State's first five-sack game since a Sept. 14, 2024, home win over Mississippi Valley State. Freshman James Morrow led the unit with 1.5 sacks, while Jayden Walker, Jackson Veasy, and Milton White added one apiece. Jadon Martin added half a sack, bringing Murray State's defensive total to 12 tackles for loss—the program's highest single-game TFL mark since 2021.
In his first start for Murray State, quarterback Collin Shannon completed 26 of 40 passes for 257 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The VMI transfer distributed the ball effectively to eight targets. Three receivers caught five passes each, led by Tyrell Campbell's 66 receiving yards. Trey Firestone and Jaxon Potter each caught a touchdown pass, with Firestone also throwing a two-point conversion to Brooks Kleinpeter at the end of the first half.
Matchup History
Middle Tennessee holds a 38-30-3 lead in the all-time series, including a 22-14-2 record at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium. The series is tied 16-16-1 in Murray, Kentucky. The Blue Raiders also held a 31-16 advantage during the programs' shared tenure in the OVC. Murray State and Middle Tennessee last met on Sept. 16, 2023, when MTSU secured a 35-14 victory in the first matchup between the programs since 2000. The Racers' most recent victory in the series came in 1997, a 35-17 win during Denver Johnson's first season as head coach.
Scouting the Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee enters 2026 following a 3-9 campaign in head coach Derek Mason's second year in Murfreesboro. Mason is 6-18 overall with the Blue Raiders and 33-73 in his head coaching career, which includes seven seasons at Vanderbilt.
Roman Gagliano is expected to start at quarterback for Conference USA's MTSU after making three starts as a freshman in 2025. The Opelika, Alabama, native threw for 1,005 yards, seven touchdowns, and 78 completions while rushing for 166 yards and two touchdowns, posting a 2-1 record as a starter.
Follow the Racers on X (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics), and Facebook to stay up to date on Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State football on X and Instagram (@Racersfootball).
