Blue Raiders to face Bulldogs in 2012

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Director of Athletics Chris Massaro announced today the Blue Raiders will face Mississippi State during the 2012 football season. The game is set for Oct. 20 in Starkville with the Blue Raiders receiving a payout of $930,000.

“With the uncertainty of NCAA legislation surrounding the cost of attendance and wanting to move forward with some on-campus projects, we felt a guarantee game in 2012 was necessary,” said Massaro. “We now have non-conference games with Mississippi State, Memphis, and Georgia Tech, which is the final game of a three-game series. We are currently in negotiations for a home game with another non-conference opponent.”

This will mark the fifth meeting between the two programs with the Bulldogs winning the previous four contests. The most recent matchup between MT and MSU was in 2009 at Floyd Stadium as the Bulldogs became the first SEC program to play in Murfreesboro. MSU won that game, 27-6.

The two schools first met in 1999 in what was the Blue Raiders’ first-ever I-A football game as the Bulldogs won 40-7. In 2000, the 20th-ranked Bulldogs won an offensive shootout, 61-35, as both teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of total offense.

Mississippi State also defeated Middle Tennessee during the 2008 season in Starkville, 31-22.

The Blue Raiders will announce the complete 2012 schedule on March 1, 2012.

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