FINAL/OT, MTSU wins 31-24

Middle Tennessee (3-9, 2-6 CUSA) storms back after allowing 14 unanswered points in the second half to New Mexico State University (4-8, 2-6 CUSA). The Blue Raiders turn in a season-high 199 yards on the ground, while redshirt freshman Roman Gagliano turns in a 260-yard, three-touchdown performance in his third career start.

MTSU clinched the win on NMSU’s first drive of overtime, after forcing three incompletions by NMSU backup quarterback Parker Awad.

Wide receiver AJ Jones stepped up for MTSU, bringing in two of Gagliano’s three touchdowns along with 50 yards. Freshman Landon Collins led the way in the receiver room, with 81 yards and a touchdown.

This win marks the first winning streak for Blue Raider football since November 2023, and the first with Derek Mason at the helm of the program. MTSU finishes 3-9 for the second straight year under Mason, bringing his record at MTSU to 6-18.

OT, TD MTSU

Gagliano finds AJ Jones up the middle for an 11-yard TD, his second on the day.

The extra point is good, MTSU leads 31-24.

NMSU wins the toss and chooses to start on defense. The Blue Raiders will get the ball on the NMSU 25-yard line to begin overtime.

End Q4 MTSU 24 NMSU 24

MTSU and NMSU are headed into overtime.

Q4 0:31: MTSU’s offense goes three-and-out, and NMSU burns its final timeout of the half. The Aggies take over on their own eight-yard line after a 63-yard punt from Ashton Logan.

Q4 0:58 Field goal

NMSU ties the game with a 35-yard field goal from Ryan Hawk.

MTSU 24 NM State 24

Q4 1:45

The Aggies’ offense opted to go for it, and Damonte was picked off by senior cornerback De’Arre McDonald, who took it back 74 yards to the end zone. The score was wiped off the board, and the ball was spotted at the MTSU 30 for NMSU after a flag was thrown for defensive pass interference against McDonald.

Q4 2:00

NMSU is faced with a fourth and two on the MTSU 26-yard line heading into the two-minute warning. It is unclear if the Aggies’ head coach Tony Sanchez will send the field goal unit out to tie it, or try to go for it on fourth down.

Q4 5:05 TD MTSU 

Gagliano finds freshman wideout Landon Collins along the left side of the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown. The drive was fueled by a 48-yard diving catch by Collins, who left his feet to set the Blue Raiders up at the 26.

MTSU now leads 24-21.

Q4 7:46 INTERCEPTION

Damonte is intercepted after a pass intended for King is tipped by Abdul Muhammad, and caught by Kalen Woods. MTSU’s offense will take over on its own 36-yard line.

Q4 9:18

Two sacks and a false start push MTSU to a fourth and 28, forcing the Blue Raiders to punt. NMSU will take over on its own 35-yard line, while leading 21-17.

Q4 11:49: Touchdown

TK King’s catch stands, but he is ruled down at the one-yard line. The Aggies push Adam Damante in for the score on the next play.

MTSU 17 NM State 21

Q4 12:02 Touchdown

TK King hauls in his third touchdown of the game as Adam Damante hit him deep down the right sideline for a 40-yard score. NM State takes the lead back.

Play is under review.

MTSU 17 NM State 20

Q4 14:44: MTSU goes three-and-out and punts it away to NM State. The Aggies take over on their own 18-yard line.

End Q3: MTSU 17 NM State 14

After 17 unanswered points by Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State found the end zone for the first time since the first quarter to cut the MTSU lead to three points. The Blue Raiders will face third-and-eight on their own 20-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.

Q3 0:52: Touchdown

NM State’s TK King catches his second touchdown of the day off of a Korey Smith deflection and cuts into the Middle Tennessee lead. The Aggies marched 75 yards in 11 plays for the score.

MTSU 17 NM State 14

Q3 6:04: Field goal

MTSU can’t fully capitalize on the NM State turnover as the Blue Raiders settle for a 25-yard field goal from Jacob Hathaway.

MTSU 17 NM State 7

Q3 7:28 Interception

Juwon Gaston picks off Adam Damante on third down and returns it to the NM State 12-yard line. MTSU cornerback De’Arre McDonald was injured on the play.

Q3 9:01: Turnover on downs

MTSU goes for it on fourth-and-two on the NM State 28-yard line, but DJ Taylor gets dropped for a loss of one on the play. The Aggies take over on their own 29-yard line, trailing 14-7.

Q3 10:30: Roman Gagliano overthrows Cam’ron Lacy deep for a wide-open touchdown. Offensive lineman Mateo Guevara was injured on the play. That’s three offensive line injuries for Middle Tennessee today so far.

Q3 13:11: MTSU’s defense forces a three-and-out to start the second half. The Blue Raiders take over on their own 23-yard line after the punt.

Halftime: MTSU 14 NM State 7

In the final game of the 2025 regular season, the Blue Raiders take their first halftime lead all year. MTSU outgained New Mexico State 316-186 and is averaging 7.3 yards per play. New Mexico State will receive the ball to begin the second half.

Q2 0:15 Touchdown

Roman Gagliano fires over the middle to AJ Jones for a 24-yard MTSU touchdown. Following the NM State fumble, the Blue Raiders marched 86 yards in nine plays to take their first lead of the game.

MTSU 14 NM State 7

Q2 0:22 Timeout

MTSU spends its final timeout as the play clock winds down. Third-and-three upcoming for Middle Tennessee.

Q2 1:48

Jekail Middlebrook picks up 14 yards on first down as offensive lineman Joseph Habinowski is injured on the play.

Q2 1:55 Fumble

Kadarius Calloway takes off for a 20-yard gain but gets stripped by MTSU’s Juwon Gaston. Christofer Noble jumps on the fumble, and MTSU takes over on its own 14-yard line.

Q2 11:11: MTSU elects to punt it away on fourth-and-two on the NM State 48-yard line. Aggies’ ball on their own seven-yard line after a 41-yard Ashton Logan punt.

End Q1 MTSU 7 NM State 7

A 64-yard touchdown from each squad has this game tied after the first quarter. NM State will begin the second quarter with a first-and-10 on its own 38-yard line.

Q1 1:45 Touchdown

Freshman running back DJ Taylor takes off and tiptoes down the right sideline for a 64-yard touchdown of his own. The score is Taylor’s longest of the season.

MTSU 7 NM State 7

Q1 2:39 Touchdown

Adam Damante fires deep down the right side to wide receiver TK King, who came back to the ball and made multiple Blue Raiders miss en route to the 64-yard score.

NM State 7 MTSU 0

Q1 5:20: Timeout MTSU. The Blue Raiders will face a third-and-five coming out of the stoppage.

Q1 6:55: Ashton Logan boots it 49 yards for Middle Tennessee, and the punt is downed by the Blue Raiders at New Mexico State’s one-yard line. Still no score in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Q1 9:11: Middle Tennessee’s defense forces a three-and-out. Reggie Johnson and Shakai Woods swarmed running back Dijon Stanley on third-and-two. MTSU ball at its own 30-yard line.

Q1 10:22: The call on the field is overturned. New Mexico State takes over on its own seven-yard line.

Q1 10:22: Jekail Middlebrook rumbles down to the NM State nine-yard line, but officials are reviewing a potential fumble and recovery by the Aggies.

Q1 13:04:  MTSU’s Cam’ron Lacy picks up 20 yards on a catch before getting drilled by safety Nick Session. Officials initially called targeting, but overturned the ruling after review.

Pregame: New Mexico State wins the toss and defers. MTSU ball to begin.