MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee football got out to an early lead and stayed the course on Tuesday night at Floyd Stadium, dispatching Louisiana Tech 31-23 for the Blue Raiders' first Conference USA victory of the 2023 season.
The Blue Raiders (2-5, 1-2 CUSA) struck first on their second drive of the evening, with Zeke Rankin making a 26-yard field goal. After the Bulldogs (3-5, 2-1 CUSA) countered with a touchdown, Jakobe Thomas blocked the PAT after a high snap to keep MTSU within a touchdown. Eljiah Metcalf then capped off an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown catch, sneaking a foot into the endzone as he caught Nicholas Vattiato's pass in stride to put MTSU up 10-6 just before the end of the first quarter.