Middle Tennessee will travel to face BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo in 2013. The game will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. The Blue Raiders will then host the Cougars at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro in 2014.
Exact dates for both games were not announced.
“When (BYU) went independent (after being in the Mountain West Conference), they were looking for games, and I’ve always thought they had a national following,” MTSU athletics director Chris Massaro said. “So I am very excited about that home-and-home series.”
MTSU will open the 2013 season at home vs. Western Carolina and will also host Memphis. In 2014, the Blue Raiders travel to Minnesota and Memphis and host BYU. Two more non-conference games are needed for each season.
As for BYU, they now have 11 games scheduled for 2013 and can play a total of 13 if they opt to use The Hawaii Exemption. The Cougars are slated to host Texas, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee, and Utah and travel to face Utah State, Houston, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Hawaii, and Washington State.
In 2014, the Cougars now have eight games scheduled and need four more. Set to visit Provo are Houston, Hawaii, Southern Miss, and Utah State. Road games include Texas, Boise State, Middle Tennessee, and UCF.
Update (9/24/12): BYU has officially announced the MTSU series.
“We’re pleased to schedule this series with Middle Tennessee State,” said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. “It fits well with our objective to play in different regions of the country and give our fans an opportunity to see us play in person. It also allows both schools to have a unique travel experience.”
Football Schedules: