Raiders release 2017 FB schedule

The 2017 Middle Tennessee football schedule is official.

The Blue Raiders will host six games next season (after only hosting five in 2016) and hit the road for their other six contests.

MT's bye week will occur after week eight.

The schedule highlights home games against Vanderbilt, Bowling Green and Marshall, while the away slate presents more of a challenge with the Blue Raiders traveling to Syracuse, Minnesota, UAB and Western Kentucky.

"It's nice that we play everyone in the East again because I believe that is important in determining the division champion," athletic director Chris Massaro said in a university statement. "We are glad UAB is back to playing football because it's great for our fans and ultimately balances the schedule."

"I also like that we play our top rival, WKU, toward the end of the season and I look forward to seeing how it works in that slot," Massaro added.

The balance within Conference USA has been restored as well for the upcoming season. With UAB back in action, both the East and West divisions will have seven teams apiece. Each program will play the other six teams from within their division in addition to two cross-division opponents, which will fluctuate

The season will start on September 2 as the Blue Raiders will welcome the Vanderbilt Commodores to town in the rubber match of their current series. Other games of interest include a road game against new defensive coordinator Scott Shafer's old team, the Syracuse Orangemen, as well as the return of Old Dominion to the conference slate. The Blue Raiders will also face Charlotte on the road for a second consecutive season.

Expectations will undoubtedly be high again for the Blue Raiders in 2017. With the bulk of their starters returning, a new scheme on defense, and the one-two punch of Brent Stockstill and Richie James guiding the offense, Middle Tennessee will most likely find themselves among the favorites to win the conference before the season begins.

Conference USA will have six guaranteed bowl spots and one secondary agreement in place for the 2017 season. The Boca Raton Bowl, Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl and the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl will make up the guaranteed slots, while the Independence Bowl will be the secondary bowl spot.

The entire schedule will go as follows: