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, 2-2 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.  

Vattiato kept the momentum going late in the second quarter, capitalizing on a 53-yard punt return from Zack Dobson with a diving, two-yard touchdown run over the pylon, with help from a lead block from Holden Willis, giving MTSU the 17-9 halftime lead.  

After an interception in the endzone from Tra Fluellen stopped LA Tech's first possession of the second half stone cold, MTSU was methodical on their first drive of the third quarter, going 80 yards in 11 plays, converting three third downs and capping it all off with a bruising, nine-yard touchdown run from Jaiden Credle to put MTSU up 24-9.  

LA Tech would get within a score with a touchdown run late in the third quarter, but lightning would strike early in the fourth quarter for the Blue Raiders. Willis, running out of the slot, put a great move on the LA Tech nickel corner, getting behind the secondary. A cut up field at the 35-yard line led to a spring race that the six-foot-four wideout won handily, giving MTSU a 31-16 lead.  

The Bulldogs added a late touchdown to get within eight points, but a clutch sack on second down set up a fourth down incompletion on fourth-and-four, letting MTSU knee the rest of the clock out.