Nevada (1-1) vs. Middle Tennessee (0-2)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 - 2 p.m.
Reno, Nev. - Mackay Stadium

TV/Stream: Nevada Sports Net / Mountain West Network / MW App (PxP: Alex Margulies; Analyst: Lucas Weber; Sideline: Shannon Kelly)
Radio: Wolf Pack Radio Network / The Varsity Network App (PxP: John Ramey; Analyst: Mike Edwards; Sideline: Terrence Newman)

Pregame: The second annual Nevada Wolf Pack Beerfest will be held pregame from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Two Beerfest packages are available. The General Admission package is available HERE and includes unlimited beer samples, a commemorative tasting glass, and a ticket to the Wolf Pack football game for just $40. For fans already with tickets to the game, a Beerfest-only ticket is just $25 and available HERE.

RENO, Nev. - Nevada looks to make it a 2-0 home September, hosting Middle Tennessee at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mackay Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Nevada Sports Net and streamed on the Mountain West and the MW App, with Alex Margulies (play-by-play), Lucas Weber (analyst) and Shannon Kelly (sideline) on the call.

The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play), Mike Edwards (analyst) and Terrence Newman (sideline) will be on the call, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 1 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting between the Wolf Pack and Blue Raiders will be the first all-time. Nevada is scheduled to return the game by traveling out to Murfeesboro next Sept. 26.

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Middle Tennessee has opened its 2025 campaign with a pair of losses, falling 34-14 to Austin Peay in Week 1 before dropping a 42-10 decision at Wisconsin this past Saturday.

Head coach Derek Mason is in his second season at the Blue Raider helm, with the team coming off a 3-9 mark in 2024. Over this season's first two games, the Blue Raiders have managed just 77 rushing yards and average 158.5 passing yards. Middle Tennessee has also given up 10 sacks so far.

On offense, quarterback Nicholas Vattiato is in his fifth season as the Blue Raider starter. He's completed 52.2 percent of his passes (35-for-67) for 301 yards and three touchdowns this season. Nahzae Cox has emerged as Vattiato's favorite target, hauling in nine catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Damonte Smith leads the team with 4.0 tackles-for-loss, as the Blue Raiders have racked up 14 TFLs early on. Parker Hughes and Muaaz Byard share the team lead with 14 tackles apiece.

IN THE "W" COLUMN FOR 2025
Nevada picked up its first win and evened its 2025 record at 1-1 with Saturday's 20-17 victory over Sacramento State. The Wolf Pack trailed 17-13 at the half and heading into the fourth quarter, until Jonathan Maldonado's 36-yard pick six put it in front for good. Sacramento State would get a chance to tie it late but a 42-yard field-goal attempt went wide with 12 seconds remaining.

PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE
For the second time in as many weeks, the Wolf Pack defense put on the pressure and continued to find its way into the opposing backfield.

After netting six tackles-for-loss at No. 2/3 Penn State, the Pack bettered that total against Sacramento State with seven, its most since early 2023. Dylan Labarbera had multiple TFLs for the second-straight game, finishing with 2.5 including 1.5 sacks. On the year, Labarbera leads Nevada with 4.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks, and the Pack is already at 13.0 TFLs for the season.

MALDONADO WITH ANOTHER GAME-WINNING TAKEAWAY
Head coach Jeff Choate had plenty of positive things to say about redshirt junior EDGE Jonathan Maldonado during spring ball and in fall camp, and Maldonado has lived up to the praise early in 2025.

Saturday against Sacramento State, Maldonado not only made 1.5 tackles-for-loss, but he nabbed a floating pass with just over two minutes remaining and returned it 36 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in Nevada's 20-17 win. While the takeaway was the third of Maldonado's career (two INT, one fumble recovery), it was the second of the game-winning variety--Maldonado recovered the fumble which sealed Nevada's 6-0 win at San Diego State back in 2023.