Can Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Win Eight Games Again Without Logan Kilgore’s Magic?

Rick Stockstill has built a consistent winning program with the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, something remarkable given what he has to work with.

After a second straight eight-win season in 2013, a year in which the Blue Raiders took a step forward from the Sun Belt into the Conference USA, MTSU fans might be clamoring for more this year.

After all, they’ve shown they can compete at a higher level, and a close touchdown loss to East Carolina is the only thing that kept them from competing for the Conference USA championship.

Now, ECU has gone to the American Athletic Conference, so that would appear to kick the door wide open for MTSU and Marshall to

Sep 27, 2013; Provo, UT, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill during the first half against the Brigham Young Cougars at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

compete for the Conference USA Eastern Division Title. MTSU won the head to head matchup between the two schools last year 51-49.

So what’s standing in the way?

Unfortunately, a lot of questions. There is a lot of talent leaving the program this year on offense, including at the quarterback position, where Logan Kilgore engineered four game winning drives last year. That will make things difficult for Stockstill to continue or build upon the success the program had last year. Also, after the Blue Raiders’ incredibly high turnover margin skewed in their favor last year, who’s to say that happens again?

There’s momentum going forward, but there’s also the possibility of this being a rebuilding year.

With barely half the starters returning from last year and only five seniors on the expected first-team depth chart, there’s a lot of work to be done if the Blue Raiders are going to be better this year.

The questions will have to start on offense.