CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – For only the second time since the 1997 season, Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee football have agreed to renew an in-state rivalry, as the Blue Raiders will host the Governors Sept. 13, 2025 at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro.
The last time the two schools faced off was in 2010 where Middle Tennessee came on top with a 55-35 win in a high-scoring affair. Before that contest, the Govs and Blue Raiders hadn’t played each other since 1997. That was the final year of the series that had been played continuously since the 1954 season.
Historically, the series has produced several memorable moments. In 1965, Austin Peay scored 20 third-quarter points to go out in front of MTSU, before the Blue Raiders responded with two scores of their own in the fourth quarter to pull out a win in Clarksville. Experts referred to the game as “the greatest in OVC history”.
The 1984 meeting between the two teams was also unforgettable. 11 Governor starters were forced out of the contest, but Austin Peay willed its way to a 16-7 victory in Murfreesboro.
Two years later, Mike Lewis broke a scoreless tie in overtime with a 25-yard touchdown run on the first Governor series to secure a 7-0 victory.
More potential thrills await in the series in 2025, as Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee will meet on the gridiron for the 54th time. It is the latest in a series of announcements regarding future football contests by the Governors as they fill in nonconference schedules from 2020-25.