How MTSU football will adjust to Conference USA schedule that includes midweek games

Followers of Middle Tennessee State football will have some adjusting to do to get acclimated to the new Conference USA schedule.

Thanks to a television deal between C-USA and ESPN and CBS networks, several conference games will be played during the middle of the week, including four for the Blue Raiders.

MTSU coach Rick Stockstill, senior wide receiver D.J. England-Chisolm and senior defensive back Teldrick Ross discussed the unusual schedule during Conference USA Media Day on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

"I think it's going to be a challenge for everybody and new for everybody," Stockstill said. "It's new for me, and I've spent a lot of time studying it, researching it. I've spent a lot of time talking to other teams in conferences that have gone through this."

MTSU, which finished 8-5 last season and won the Hawaii Bowl over San Diego State, will begin C-USA play with a Thursday game on Sept. 28 at Western Kentucky.

That will give MTSU two games in six days and begin a stretch of three games in 12 days, four games in 18 days and five games in 25 days.

The matchup against WKU will be followed by games on Wednesday (home vs. Jacksonville state) and Tuesday (home vs. Louisiana Tech) and Tuesday (at Liberty).

The Blue Raiders will then be off between the Oct. 17 contest against Liberty and Nov. 4 game at New Mexico State.

"I think the most important thing is that we, as coaches, have to do a really good job of making sure our players are healthy and fresh, and they've got to do their part, from a recovery standpoint, of taking care of their bodies because there's not a lot of recovery time between those games," Stockstill said.

"Obviously, from a schematic standpoint, I'm not sure how big of a game plan you can put in. There's going to be some carryover from week to week because you're not going to have the amount of days to practice, to install, to communicate what you want to do in a short period of time. The big thing is we've got to be smart in how we practice."

The short windows between games followed by a long break will force MTSU players to change routines at times.

"It's different," Ross said. "I've never been through anything like that as a player. I feel like it will be good for us. I feel like we can have time off to recover our bodies. You know how football is. It's a vicious sport. So I feel like it will be good for us, as long as we approach it and handle it in a business-like way."

Conference USA realigned during the offseason, losing several schools, including football power UTSA. The now nine-team football league has added New Mexico State, Liberty, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State to join returning members MTSU, Florida International, UTEP, Louisiana Tech and WKU.

Adjusting to new teams and a new conference schedule isn't new for Stockstill, who guided the Blue Raiders into C-USA from the Sun Belt several years ago.

MORE: Why MTSU football players, coaches are optimistic about offense following spring practice

"At the Group of Five level, the Conference USA level, our teams, especially with the transfer portal, change so much from year to year," Stockstill said. "So, when you have four new teams coming in that you've never played before, the familiarity is not there yet. It's hard to predict the talent level of each team until you start watching them play. These four teams that are coming in are very talented and very well coached."

MTSU, which begins preseason practice next week, will start the season with back-to-back non-conference games against SEC opponents. The Blue Raiders travel to Alabama on Sept. 2 and Missouri on Sept. 9.

"Like coach said, we have to have more attention to detail, with the small window gap and take care of our bodies," England-Chisolm said. "With the 18 (days off), we have to stay focused, be ready to win the next games and win a championship."

MTSU football schedule

All times CT.

Sept. 2 at Alabama, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 9 at Missouri, 6 p.m.

Sept. 16 Murray State, 6 p.m.

Sept. 23 Colorado State, 6 p.m.

*Sept. 28 at Western Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.

*Oct. 4 Jacksonville State, 7 p.m.

*Oct. 10 Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.

*Oct. 17 at Liberty, 6 p.m.

*Nov. 4 at New Mexico State, 5 p.m.

*Nov. 11 Florida International, 2:30 p.m.

*Nov. 18 UTEP, 1 p.m.

*Nov. 25 at Sam Houston State, 11 a.m.

*Conference USA game. All times are Central.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Conference USA football: MTSU to play five games in 25 days