| Year: | 2023 |
| Team: | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Conference USA |
| Short Conf: | C-USA |
| Record: | 4–8 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Rick Stockstill |
| Hc Year: | 18th |
| Off Coach: | Mitch Stewart |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Scheme: | Multiple |
| Def Coach: | Scott Shafer |
| Dc Year: | 7th |
| Def Scheme: | Multiple 4–3 |
| Stadium: | Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium |
The 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Blue Raiders played their home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and competed as members of Conference USA. They were led by eighteenth-year head coach Rick Stockstill.
Stockstill was fired on November 27, going 113–111 through 18 seasons as head coach. At the time of his firing Stockstill was the fourth-longest tenured head coach in the FBS.[1]
Middle Tennessee and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.[2] [3]
See also: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
| Statistics | MTSU | ALA |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 13 | 23 |
| Total yards | 211 | 431 |
| Rushes/yards | 26–78 | 40–205 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 226 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–35–1 | 17–24–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:57 | 29:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 21/32, 127 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jekail Middlebrook | 8 carries, 32 yards | |
| Receiving | Jaiden Credle | 4 receptions, 25 yards | |
| Alabama | Passing | Jalen Milroe | 13/18, 194 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Jalen Milroe | 7 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Isaiah Bond | 5 receptions, 76 yards, TD |
See also: 2023 Missouri Tigers football team.
| Statistics | MTSU | MIZZ |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Total yards | 65–285 | 65–316 |
| Rushes/yards | 29-71 | 46-112 |
| Passing yards | 214 | 204 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22-36-0 | 14-19-0 |
| Time of possession | 28:00 | 32:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 22-36, 214 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Frank Peasant | 13 carries, 35 yards | |
| Receiving | Elijah Metcalf | 5 receptions, 70 yards | |
| Missouri | Passing | 14-19, 204 yards, 2 TD | |
| Rushing | 23 carries, 84 yards | ||
| Receiving | 8 receptions, 117 yards |
See also: 2023 Liberty Flames football team.
| Statistics | MTSU | LIB |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 23 | 33 |
| Total yards | 63–428 | 81–541 |
| Rushing yards | 26–96 | 61–401 |
| Passing yards | 332 | 140 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–37–2 | 12–20–1 |
| Time of possession | 22:40 | 37:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 24/37, 332 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Jaiden Cradle | 12 carries, 50 yards | |
| Receiving | Zack Dobson | 2 receptions, 82 yards, TD | |
| Liberty | Passing | 12/20, 140 yards, 2 TD, INT | |
| Rushing | Kaidon Salter | 16 carries, 160 yards | |
| Receiving | CJ Daniels | 6 receptions, 71 yards, TD |