This is a list of seasons completed by the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team. The Blue Raiders compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of Conference USA. They play their home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 30,788.
Middle Tennessee began playing football in 1911 as a small-college program. Following the NCAA's reclassification into divisions in 1973, the Blue Raiders competed as a Division II program for five seasons before moving up to the Division I-AA (now FCS) level in 1978. MTSU made seven appearances in the I-AA/FCS playoff before transitioning to Division I-A/FBS in 1999.
The Blue Raiders have won 13 conference championships in program history and have played in 13 bowl games, winning eight. The team is currently led by first-year head coach Derek Mason, who took over for Rick Stockstill after 18 years at the helm.
| Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Regular season results | Postseason results | Final ranking | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference | Bowl game/Playoff result | AP/NCAA Poll | Coaches' Poll | ||||||||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | Finish[2] | ||||||||
| Middle Tennessee State Normal | ||||||||||||||
| 1911 | 1911 | L. T. Weber | Independent | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||
| 1912 | 1912 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1913 | 1913 | Alfred B. Miles | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1914 | 1914 | 5 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1915 | 1915 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1916 | 1916 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1917 | 1917 | Johnny Floyd | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1918 | No team due to World War I | |||||||||||||
| 1919 | 1919 | Alfred B. Miles | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1920 | 1920 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1921 | 1921 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1922 | 1922 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1923 | 1923 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1924 | 1924 | Guy Stephenson | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||
| Middle Tennessee State Teachers | ||||||||||||||
| 1925 | 1925 | Guy Stephenson | Independent | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | |||||
| 1926 | 1926 | Frank Faulkinberry | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1927 | 1927 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1928 | 1928 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1929 | 1929 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1930 | 1930 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1931 | 1931 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1932 | 1932 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1933 | 1933 | E. M. Waller | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||
| Middle Tennessee State Teachers Blue Raiders | ||||||||||||||
| 1934 | 1934 | E. M. Waller | Independent | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||
| 1935 | 1935 | Johnny Floyd | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1936 | 1936 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1937 | 1937 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1938 | 1938 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1939 | 1939 | Ernest Alley | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1940 | 1940 | Elwin W. Midgett | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1941 | 1941 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1942 | 1942 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1943 | No team due to World War II | |||||||||||||
| 1944 | ||||||||||||||
| 1945 | ||||||||||||||
| 1946 | 1946 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | ||||||||||||||
| 1947 | 1947 | Charles M. Murphy | Independent | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||
| 1948 | 1948 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1949 | 1949 | 8 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1950 | 1950 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1951 | 1951 | 7 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1952 | 1952 | Ohio Valley | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — | ||
| 1953 | 1953 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1954 | 1954 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1955 | 1955 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1956 | 1956† | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1st† | Lost 1956 Refrigerator Bowl against Sam Houston State, 13–27 ^ | — | — | |||
| 1957 | 1957† | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1st† | — | — | — | |||
| 1958 | 1958† | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1st† | — | — | 11 | |||
| 1959 | 1959† | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1st† | Won 1960 Tangerine Bowl against Presbyterian, 21–12 ^ | — | 3 | |||
| 1960 | 1960 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1961 | 1961 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | Lost 1961 Tangerine Bowl against Lamar Tech, 14–21 ^ | — | — | |||
| 1962 | 1962† | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1st† | — | — | — | |||
| 1963 | 1963 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1964 | 1964† | 8 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1st† | Won 1964 Grantland Rice Bowl against Muskingum, 20–0 ^ | — | — | |||
| 1965 | 1965† | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1st† | — | — | 2 | |||
| 1966 | 1966 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1967 | 1967 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1968 | 1968 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1969 | 1969 | Donald E. Fuoss | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | 1970 | Bill Peck | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5th | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | 1971 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | T-2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1972 | 1972 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1973 | 1973 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | T-5th | — | — | — | |||
| 1974 | 1974 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1975 | 1975 | Ben Hurt | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | ||
| 1976 | 1976 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | T-7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1977 | 1977 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — | |||
| 1978 | 1978 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1979 | 1979 | Boots Donnelly | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | ||
| 1980 | 1980 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1981 | 1981 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1982 | 1982 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1983 | 1983 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | T-2nd | — | 16 | — | |||
| 1984 | 1984 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | T-2nd | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs — Semifinals ^ | 7 | — | |||
| 1985 | 1985† | 11 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1st† | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs — Quarterfinals ^ | 1 | — | |||
| 1986 | 1986 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | T-3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1987 | 1987 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | — | — | — | |||
| 1988 | 1988 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | — | — | — | |||
| 1989 | 1989† | 9 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1st† | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs — Quarterfinals ^ | T-10 | — | |||
| 1990 | 1990† | 11 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1st† | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs — Quarterfinals ^ | 1 | — | |||
| 1991 | 1991 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs — Quarterfinals ^ | 9 | — | |||
| 1992 | 1992† | 10 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1st† | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs — Quarterfinals ^ | 4 | — | |||
| 1993 | 1993 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1994 | 1994 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs — First Round ^ | 16 | — | |||
| 1995 | 1995 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | — | 25 | — | |||
| 1996 | 1996 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||||
| 1997 | 1997 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6th | — | — | — | |||||
| 1998 | 1998 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | T-2nd | — | — | — | |||||
| 1999 | 1999 | Andy McCollum | Independent | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2000 | 2000 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 2001 | 2001† | Sun Belt | 8 | 3 | 5 | 1 | T-1st† | — | — | — | ||||
| 2002 | 2002 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 4 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2003 | 2003 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | T-2nd | — | — | — | |||||
| 2004 | 2004 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2005 | 2005 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | T-4th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2006 | 2006† | Rick Stockstill | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 | T-1st† | Lost 2006 Motor City Bowl against Central Michigan, 14–31 ^ | — | — | ||||
| 2007 | 2007 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | T-3rd | — | — | — | |||||
| 2008 | 2008 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | T-5th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2009 | 2009 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 1 | T-2nd | Won 2009 New Orleans Bowl against Southern Miss, 42–32 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2010 | 2010 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3rd | Lost 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl against Miami (OH), 21–35 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2011 | 2011 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 8th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2012 | 2012 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2 | T-2nd | — | — | — | |||||
| 2013 | 2013 | Conference USA | 8 | 5 | 6 | 2 | T-2nd | Lost 2013 Armed Forces Bowl against Navy, 6–24 ^ | — | — | ||||
| 2014 | 2014 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2nd | — | — | — | |||||
| 2015 | 2015 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2nd | Lost 2015 Bahamas Bowl against Western Michigan, 31–45 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2016 | 2016 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3rd | Lost 2016 Hawaii Bowl against Hawaii, 35-52 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2017 | 2017 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | T-3rd | Won 2017 Camellia Bowl against Arkansas State, 35-30 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2018 | 2018 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1st‡ | Lost 2018 New Orleans Bowl against Appalachian State, 13–45 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2019 | 2019 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 5 | T-5th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2020 | 2020 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2021 | 2021 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4th | Won 2021 Bahamas Bowl against Toledo, 31–24 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2022 | 2022 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | T-4th | Won 2022 Hawaii Bowl against San Diego State, 25–23 ^ | — | — | |||||
| 2023 | 2023 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 5th | — | — | — | |||||
| Totals | All-time: 608–463–28 | Conference: 292–188–4 | Postseason: 11–15–0 | |||||||||||