NCAAF Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

General Information

• NCAA Division: Division I
• Conference: Conference USA (2013-present)
• City: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• Stadium: Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium

Championships:

• National Championships: None
• Conference Titles: 2 (2001, 2006)
• Divisional Championships: 1 (2018)

Past Conferences

• Sun Belt

Team History

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are a Division I program based in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Middle Tennessee competes in Conference USA and is coached by Rick Stockstill.

Middle Tennessee’s first season at the Division I-A level (now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision) was in 1999. The Blue Raiders operated their first two seasons as an independent before moving to the Sun Belt Conference in 2001. During their inaugural season in the Sun Belt, the Blue Raiders finished 8-3 under Andy McCollum and boasted the nation’s fifth-ranked offense. In the process, they overcame the odds to clinch a share of the conference title.

In 2006, Stockstill, a former assistant at South Carolina, replaced McCollum. Middle Tennessee saw instant success under its new coach, qualifying for its first bowl game. The Blue Raiders — C-USA co-champions for the second time — lost to Central Michigan 31-14 in the Motor City Bowl, ending their season 6-1 in league play and 7-6 overall.

Middle Tennessee has appeared in 10 bowl games overall, including each of the last two seasons. In 2021, the Blue Raiders went 7-6 and beat Toledo 31-24 in the Bahamas Bowl, and the following season they defeated San Diego State 25-23 in the Hawaii Bowl to finish 8-5.

Stockstill has been at the helm for 17 seasons, with an overall record of 109-103 (.514 win percentage). That includes a 4-6 mark in bowl games.

Stockstill’s son, Brent, was a big part of that success as Middle Tennessee’s quarterback from 2014-18. Stockstill set program records for career passing yards (12,483) and touchdown passes (106) while taking the Blue Raiders to four consecutive bowl games. As a senior, he was named the conference’s Most Valuable Player after throwing for 3,544 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Blue Raiders went 8-6 and made the New Orleans Bowl, where they lost 45-13 to Appalachian State. Stockstill is currently working under his father as Middle Tennessee’s quarterback’s coach and passing game coordinator.

Prior to transitioning to Division I-A, Middle Tennessee established itself as a perennial contender at the Division I-AA level (now known as the Football Championship Subdivision). The Blue Raiders won 11 Ohio Valley Conference championships between 1956 and 1992. They also appeared in four bowl games (1956, 1959, 1961, and 1964) and made seven trips to the Division I-AA playoffs, including a run to the semifinals in 1984.

Notably, Middle Tennessee has put more than two dozen players into the NFL, including wide receiver Richie James, the program’s all-time leading receiver (3,249), two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard and retired quarterback Kelly Holcomb.

All Time Records

Passing Yards

o Brent Stockstill: 12,483
o Logan Kilgore: 7,849
o Clint Marks: 7,342
o Wes Counts: 6,466
o Dwight Dasher: 5,643

Rushing Yards

o Dwone Hicks: 3,613
o Eugene Gross: 2,753
o Jordan Parker: 2,611
o Dwight Dasher: 2,419
o Phillip Tanner: 2,024

Receiving Yards

o Richie James: 3,249
o Ty Lee: 3,062
o Kendall Newson: 2,659
o Tyrone Calico: 2,636
o Kerry Wright: 2,589