Middle Tennessee football kept things interesting through one half at AmFirst Stadium but could not slow down the tempo offense of Jacksonville State enough in the second half to pull out a result, losing to the hosts 42-20 on Wednesday night in Conference USA play.

The Blue Raiders (2-6, 1-3 CUSA) got off to a red hot start on their very first drive, with a 13-yard run from Jaiden Credle setting the stage for a play-action pass on MTSU's fourth play from scrimmage, where Holden Willis got behind every member of the defense for a 61-yard pitch and catch from Nicholas Vattiato to give the Blue Raiders an early 7-0 lead. The Gamecocks (4-3, 3-0 CUSA) responded with an even quicker drive, however, to tie the game at 7-7 with just over four minutes elapsed on the clock.

MTSU put together a 10-play drive that ended in a 47-yard field goal from Zeke Rankin to retake the lead, but Jax State kept their foot on the gas, capping off a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run to give themselves a 14-10 lead that would hold through the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was a defensive showcase, highlighted by MTSU generating a takeaway inside their own 10-yard line when Jax State mishandled a handoff on third and one and Muaaz Byard hopped on top of the ball to prevent a Gamecock score. MTSU's three consecutive defensive stops in the second quarter kept the score 14-10 at the half.

The Gamecocks quickly changed the vibe in the second half, ripping off a 65-yard run on the second half's first play from scrimmage to get inside the red zone, setting up a touchdown pass three plays later to give the hosts a 21-10 advantage. The Blue Raiders would respond with a 38-yard toss on their first offensive play of the half that helped lead to a 41-yard field goal from Rankin to make it a one-score game, 21-13, but the Gamecocks kept their foot on the gas, sandwiching a pair of touchdown drives around a three-and-out from the Blue Raiders to take a commanding 35-13 lead at the end of the third frame.

The Blue Raiders continued to fight in the fourth quarter, putting together an eight-play, 75-yard drive that was finished off by a four-yard touchdown pass from Vattiato to Myles Butler on fourth and three from JSU 4-yard line, cutting the Gamecock lead to 35-20. But Jacksonville State's final touchdown drive of the night on the ensuing possession stretched the Gamecocks' lead to its final margin, 42-20.