Middle Tennessee leads FIU 13-8 at halftime of Tuesday night Conference USA game

What happened in the first half

Middle Tennessee led FIU 13-8 at halftime Tuesday night in a Conference USA game in Miami, according to a live blog from student outlet MTSU Sidelines. The Blue Raiders were set to receive the second-half kickoff. No second-half scoring or final result had been reported in the sources reviewed. ^[1]

FIU scored first. Quarterback JJ Kohl threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Kyle McNeal with 9:55 left in the first quarter, and Kohl ran in the two-point conversion after MTSU penalties on the extra-point try, per the live blog. Roman Gagliano answered for the Blue Raiders with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Brody Benke at 5:39, finishing an eight-play, 72-yard drive. ^[1]

Dominic Bourgeois then kicked a 51-yard field goal early in the second quarter to give Middle Tennessee its first lead, 10-8, and added a 39-yarder with 36 seconds left in the half for the 13-8 margin, according to the same account. ^[1]

Turnovers and special teams

Mathias Malaki-Donaldson intercepted a Kohl pass in the first quarter and returned it to the FIU 32, the live blog reported. FIU's defense later stopped MTSU on downs at the one-yard line. ^[1]

The half ended with a missed 46-yard field goal attempt by FIU's Robert Czeremcha after Ashton Taylor blocked the kick, with penalties on both teams earlier in the sequence, per the blog. Halftime statistics listed Middle Tennessee ahead 179 total yards to 172, with 97 rushing yards to FIU's 62, while FIU had 110 passing yards to MTSU's 82. FIU committed the only turnover. ^[1]

The setup

Kickoff at Pitbull Stadium was set for 7 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network, according to Fubo. Both teams came in 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Conference USA, which left them tied in the league standings. ^{[4] [2]}

Middle Tennessee's athletics department said the Blue Raiders ranked second in the conference with eight forced turnovers and a plus-four turnover margin, 12th nationally. Punter Ashton Logan led the conference in punting average at 50.23 yards. Running back Antonio Martin Jr. and receiver Cam Lacy were also listed among the conference leaders in rushing and receptions per game. ^[2]

FIU was on a five-game home winning streak, and a win would have set a program record for consecutive home victories, Yahoo Sports reported. The Panthers' most recent game was a 27-24 loss to Jacksonville State, and receiver Maguire Anderson had eight catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns in it. ^[3]

Series history

The teams have met 21 times since 2005, with Middle Tennessee leading 14-7, and the series in Miami is tied 5-5, per MTSU Athletics. FIU won last season's meeting 56-30 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Nov. 8, 2025, according to FIU Athletics. ^{[2] [5]}

FIU coach Willie Simmons worked at Middle Tennessee from 2007 to 2011, most recently as offensive coordinator, MTSU Athletics noted. The result will bear on the middle of the Conference USA standings, where both teams began the night level. This report will need updating once a final score is confirmed. ^[2]