Vattiato's 3 TDs, 342 yards lead Middle Tennessee past UTEP, 34-30
— Nicholas Vattiato threw three touchdown passes and accounted for 342 yards of Middle Tennessee's offense as the Blue Raiders held off UTEP, 34-30 in their home finale on Saturday.
NCAA - Football
FINAL
UTEP Miners
30
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
34
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTEP | 7 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 30 |
| MTSU | 14 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium · 9,122 att.
Match Report
Last five matches
| Date | Opp | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/31/26 | @ North Dakota State Bison | L 7-31 | NCAAF |
| 10/17/26 | vs San José State Spartans | L 11-24 | NCAAF |
| 10/10/26 | vs Nevada Wolf Pack | L 13-30 | NCAAF |
| 10/3/26 | @ New Mexico Lobos | L 7-61 | NCAAF |
| 9/26/26 | vs Oregon State Beavers | L 7-33 | NCAAF |
| Full Schedule | |||
Play by Play
-
Touchdown 14:32 30-34
Kelly Akharaiyi 80 Yd pass from Cade McConnell (Buzz Flabiano PAT failed)
-
Field Goal 14:55 24-34
Zeke Rankin 24 Yd Field Goal
-
Touchdown 10:29 24-31
Zack Dobson 56 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
Field Goal 11:51 24-24
Buzz Flabiano 33 Yd Field Goal
-
Touchdown 0:57 21-24
Deion Hankins 2 Yd Run (Buzz Flabiano Kick)
-
Field Goal 6:57 14-24
Zeke Rankin 38 Yd Field Goal
-
Touchdown 8:55 14-21
Holden Willis 17 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
Touchdown 13:55 14-14
Torrance Burgess Jr. 54 Yd Punt Return (Buzz Flabiano Kick)
-
Touchdown 2:53 7-14
Holden Willis 62 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
Touchdown 3:39 7-7
Kelly Akharaiyi 18 Yd pass from Cade McConnell (Buzz Flabiano Kick)
-
Touchdown 9:30 0-7
Frank Peasant 9 Yd Run (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
MTSU
1 play, -4 yards, 0:36 · End of 4th Quarter
-
UTEP 0:36
14 plays, 45 yards, 4:36 · Downs
-
MTSU 5:12
3 plays, 3 yards, 1:43 · Punt
-
UTEP 6:55
2 plays, 4 yards, 0:35 · Interception
-
MTSU 7:30
3 plays, 0 yards, 1:02 · Punt
-
UTEP 8:32
5 plays, 37 yards, 2:34 · Downs
-
MTSU 11:06
5 plays, 26 yards, 3:21 · Punt
-
UTEP 14:32
2 plays, 75 yards, 0:23 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 14:32 30-34
Kelly Akharaiyi 80 Yd pass from Cade McConnell (Buzz Flabiano PAT failed)
-
MTSU 14:55
13 plays, 65 yards, 4:19 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 14:55 24-34
Zeke Rankin 24 Yd Field Goal
-
UTEP 4:14
2 plays, 22 yards, 0:41 · Fumble
-
MTSU 4:55
5 plays, 20 yards, 1:40 · Interception
-
UTEP 6:35
8 plays, 19 yards, 3:52 · Punt
-
MTSU 10:29
5 plays, 75 yards, 1:22 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 10:29 24-31
Zack Dobson 56 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
UTEP 11:51
6 plays, 8 yards, 2:57 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 11:51 24-24
Buzz Flabiano 33 Yd Field Goal
-
MTSU 14:48
2 plays, -1 yard, 0:12 · Fumble
-
MTSU
7 plays, 42 yards, 0:57 · Downs
-
UTEP 0:57
9 plays, 85 yards, 3:44 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 0:57 21-24
Deion Hankins 2 Yd Run (Buzz Flabiano Kick)
-
MTSU 4:41
3 plays, 4 yards, 1:11 · Punt
-
UTEP 5:52
3 plays, 1 yard, 1:05 · Punt
-
MTSU 6:57
4 plays, -2 yards, 1:53 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 6:57 14-24
Zeke Rankin 38 Yd Field Goal
-
MTSU 8:55
11 plays, 75 yards, 5:00 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 8:55 14-21
Holden Willis 17 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
MTSU 13:55
3 plays, 7 yards, 1:53 · Punt Touchdown
-
Touchdown 13:55 14-14
Torrance Burgess Jr. 54 Yd Punt Return (Buzz Flabiano Kick)
-
UTEP 0:48
4 plays, 35 yards, 2:05 · Punt
-
MTSU 2:53
2 plays, 74 yards, 0:40 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 2:53 7-14
Holden Willis 62 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
UTEP 3:39
11 plays, 75 yards, 5:51 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 3:39 7-7
Kelly Akharaiyi 18 Yd pass from Cade McConnell (Buzz Flabiano Kick)
-
MTSU 9:30
5 plays, 48 yards, 2:07 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 9:30 0-7
Frank Peasant 9 Yd Run (Zeke Rankin Kick)
-
UTEP 11:37
7 plays, 23 yards, 3:23 · Fumble
Showing the last 38 of 38 events.
Team Stats
UTEP
MTSU
20
1st Downs
19
9-16
3rd down efficiency
5-15
1-3
4th down efficiency
1-2
453
Total Yards
427
364
Passing
242
24/41
Comp/Att
18/35
8.9
Yards per pass
6.9
89
Rushing
185
31
Rushing Attempts
35
2.9
Yards per rush
5.3
7-70
Penalties
5-41
4
Turnovers
2
3
Fumbles lost
1
1
Interceptions thrown
1
31:48
Possession
28:12
Highlights
00:22
Marvae Myers-Glover gets the interception vs. UTEP
Watch on ESPN
00:22
Frank Peasant rushes in for 9-yard rushing touchdown
Watch on ESPN
00:23
Cade McConnell throws 18-yard touchdown pass vs. Middle Tennessee
Watch on ESPN
00:30
Nick Vattiato throws 62-yard touchdown pass vs. UTEP
Watch on ESPN
NCAAF News
All news
News
Arizona grabs onside kick, hits late FG to pull out TCU win
Arizona recovers an onside kick to setup a 37-yard field goal with under a minute to go as the Wildcats stunned TCU 29-28.
ESPN
Salgado-Medina makes field goal after recovered onside pooch kick, No. 24 Arizona stuns TCU 29-28
— Michael Salgado-Medina kicked a 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds left after No. 24 Arizona recovered an onside pooch kick and the Wildcats pulled out an improbable 29-28 victory over TCU early Saturday.
Video
Arizona has thrilling comeback late for win over TCU
Arizona has thrilling comeback late for win over TCU
ESPN
No. 22 New Mexico wins in first game in AP poll in school history, beating Nevada 31-3
— New Mexico coach Jason Eck admitted the No. 22 Lobos' 31-3 victory over Nevada and coach Jeff Choate felt extra sweet.