BYU Signs 2 Games With Middle Tennessee

BYU has signed a home-and-home football series with Middle Tennessee, according to a report from The Tennessean yesterday.

The series will have the Blue Raiders traveling to Provo in 2013, with BYU making the return trip to Murfreesboro in 2014. The report indicates that Middle Tennessee is scheduled to open the 2013 season with Western Carolina, so this doesn't appear to be the season-opener for BYU.

Middle Tennessee is a nice addition to BYU's healthy 2013 slate. BYU's 2013 schedule has 10 games announced:

HOME: Texas, Boise State, Utah, Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee
AWAY: Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Hawaii, Houston, Utah State

There is a small possibility BYU takes its return trip to Washington State, though it would have to be done on opening week due to Pac 12 schedule restrictions. BYU will need at least one more home game, but will be allowed to schedule two more due to the Hawaii rule, which stipulates any team traveling to Hawaii can schedule a 13th game if desired.

The game with Middle Tennessee is a nice complement to the otherwise stout schedule next season. The Blue Raiders have competed at the Division I-A / FBS level since 1999, and have been members of the Sun Belt Conference since 2001. Middle Tennessee has appeared in three bowl games and posting its best season in 2009, going 10-3 with a New Orleans Bowl victory.

These will be the first-ever meetings between the schools.