Middle Tennessee Edges Western Kentucky 51-42
Middle Tennessee snapped a seven-game losing streak against Western Kentucky with a 51-42 win in Murfreesboro.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football
Middle Tennessee defeated Western Kentucky 51-42, ending a seven-game losing streak against the Hilltoppers. Dominic Bourgeois kicked a 48-yard field goal with one second remaining after Western Kentucky had tied the game at 42.
Why it matters
The win ends a long stretch of losses to Western Kentucky for Middle Tennessee and keeps its season moving into a pair of conference-relevant road and home matchups. The finish, decided by a last-second kick and a fumbled lateral returned for a touchdown, underscores how close the game was throughout.
Gagliano threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns on 30-of-41 passing, while Antonio Martin rushed for 125 yards and two scores including a 75-yard run on the first play of the second half. Ziyon Butler caught six passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, and Ajay Allen rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown for Western Kentucky.
The players
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
The Middle Tennessee State University football program, a member of Conference USA, competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The Western Kentucky University football program, a member of Conference USA, plays its home games at Houchens Industries-L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green.
The details
Middle Tennessee moved into Western Kentucky territory on a 23-yard pass from Roman Gagliano to Cam'ron Lacy, setting up Bourgeois' 48-yard field goal after a holding penalty. Western Kentucky tied the game at 42 on Rodney Tisdale Jr.'s 5-yard run with 31 seconds left, but on the ensuing kickoff the Hilltoppers attempted a series of laterals and Middle Tennessee recovered the loose ball for a touchdown.
Timeline
Saturday: Middle Tennessee defeated Western Kentucky 51-42 in Murfreesboro.
Next Saturday: Western Kentucky hosts Jacksonville State.
Next Saturday: Middle Tennessee plays at Liberty.
Season Trajectory
The win breaks a seven-game skid in a rivalry that had tilted toward Western Kentucky, altering the head-to-head history between two Conference USA programs. Both teams continue league play with games against Jacksonville State and Liberty on the schedule next week.
Gagliano's four touchdown passes and Martin's 125 rushing yards make both players relevant for fantasy lineups in the coming weeks. Middle Tennessee's win also changes the head-to-head record that will shape future meetings with Western Kentucky.
The takeaway
Middle Tennessee's comeback from a fumbled lateral and a tied game shows how late-game execution can decide a conference contest. Fans tracking the season should watch both teams' results against Jacksonville State and Liberty next week.
What happens next
Western Kentucky hosts Jacksonville State next Saturday, and Middle Tennessee plays at Liberty the same day.
Further reading
For more on the local team's season, see Murfreesboro Football coverage.
