Middle Tennessee State football remained winless in Conference USA as Jacksonville State earned a 24-21 comeback victory over the Blue Raiders Oct. 29 at Floyd Stadium.
MTSU (1-7, 0-4) led the entire way until with 10:06 left in the fourth quarter, when Jacksonville State (4-0. 5-3) took advantage of a booth review that overturned an incomplete pass call to a touchdown, a 30-yard strike from Caden Creel to Deondre Johnson that gave the Gamecocks a 17-14 lead.
The Blue Raiders took the lead back on the next possession on a 6-yard TD run by Jekail Middlebrook after he caught a 34-yarder to set up the run.
But Jacksonville State answered again, thanks to a 42-yard scamper by Cam Cook, the nation’s leading rusher entering the game, setting up a 3-yard Cook touchdown run with 4:29 left.
MTSU had the ball late, but failed to convert a fourth down near midfield, allowing the Gamecocks to run out the clock.
Riverdale product DJ Taylor scored his first touchdown with the Blue Raiders, a 10-yard pass from Nick Vattiato in the first quarter. Vattiato finished 23-for-45 for 235 yards and two TDs.
MTSU will be back at home on Nov. 8 vs. Florida International at 2 p.m. CT.
Watch MTSU football games live on Fubo
Cam Cook ran in from the 3 with 4:29 left in the fourth to give the Gamecocks a 24-21 lead over MTSU. Cook had a 42-yard run earlier in the drive and is now up to 96 for the game after being held in check much of the way.
Jekail Middlebrook ran in from the 6 for his second touchdown of the night, giving the Blue Raiders a 21-17 lead with 7:45 left in the fourth. Middlebrook had a 34-yard reception from Nick Vattiato on the previous play to set up the TD. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Jacksonville State aided the MTSU drive.
Caden Creel hit Deondre Johnson on a 30-yard touchdown strike that was originally called incomplete but changed to a TD after a review. There’s 10:06 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Garrison Rippa hit a 47-yard field goal with 13:29 left in the fourth to help the Gamecocks cut the Blue Raider lead to four. MTSU’s defense forced a pair of big negative plays (including a Reggie Johnson after JSU had gotten down to the Blue Raider 13, ultimately forcing the field goal.
The Gamecocks are driving, having put together their best drive. They’ll begin the fourth with 1st-and-10 at the MTSU 13.
Jekail Middlebrook scored on a two-yard pass from Nick Vattiato to give MTSU a 14-7 lead over Jacksonville State with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter. A pass from Vattiato to Hunter Tipton completed the 2-point conversion.
The Gamecocks made it exciting on the last play of the half, intercepting a Hail Mary attempt and running it back and attempting a couple of illegal forward passes (the final one into the end zone) for a hopeful touchdown, but after review, the runner was called out of bounds at the 21. The two teams are close in total yards, with Jacksonville State leading 163-141.
Deondre Johnson caught a 56-yard touchdown strike from Gavin Wimsatt to give Jacksonville State a 7-6 lead over MTSU with 7:25 left in the second quarter. The Gamecocks didn’t have a completion going into the drive, but Wimsatt and Caden Creel combined to go 3-for-4 for 82 yards.
The Blue Raiders held the potent Gamecocks’ rushing attack to 40 yards, and Jacksonville State has yet to complete a pass. Cam Cook, the nation’s leading rusher heading into Week 10, was limited to three yards on three carries.
Riverdale product DJ Taylor scored his first touchdown as a Blue Raider, taking a swing pass from Nick Vattiato 10 yards to give the Blue Raiders a 6-0 lead with 4:05 left in the first quarter. The Blue Raiders failed on the extra point after the snap was dropped.
What time does MTSU vs. Jacksonville State start?
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 29
- Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
What channel is MTSU vs. Jacksonville State on today?
MTSU vs. Jacksonville State football will be aired on ESPN2 in Week 10 of the 2025 college football season from Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Clay Matvick and Chase Daniel will call the game from the booth. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
MTSU vs. Jacksonville State prediction
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Oct. 27
- Jacksonville State 34, MTSU 30: The Blue Raiders are going to put up points, and this will be another league game that goes down to the wire. But Jacksonville State will have enough offensive firepower behind running back Cam Cook to get the job done and stay unbeaten in the league.
- Spread: Jacksonville State by 6.5 points
- Over/under: 54.5.
MTSU football schedule 2025
Here is MTSU’s schedule and results. All times are CT. Conference USA games are noted with an asterisk.
- Aug. 30: Austin Peay 34, MTSU 14
- Sept. 6: Wisconsin 42, MTSU 10
- Sept. 13: MTSU 14, Nevada 13
- Sept. 20: Marshall 42, MTSU 28
- *Sept. 27 Kennesaw State 24, MTSU 16
- *Oct. 8 Missouri State 22, MTSU 20
- *Oct. 22 Delaware 31, MTSU 28
- *Oct. 29 vs. Jacksonville State, 6:30 p.m.
- *Nov. 8 vs. Florida International, 2 p.m.
- *Nov. 15 at Western Kentucky, 2:30 p.m.
- *Nov. 22 vs. Sam Houston, 2 p.m.
- *Nov. 29 at New Mexico State, 2 p.m.
- Dec. 5 Conference USA championship game, TBA
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Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.