MURFREESBORO - Middle Tennessee picked up its third national football broadcast of the 2010 season when it was confirmed by ESPN that the network would carry the Thursday night Middle Tennessee-Minnesota game on ESPNU. The Sept. 2 season-opening contest will kickoff at 6:30 PM central. The Blue Raiders will also be on national television this year against Troy (ESPN) on Oct. 5 and at Arkansas State (ESPN2) on Nov. 2. "Following the success of 2009, you could not ask for a better way to begin the 2010 season by being on national television against a Big Ten opponent in Minnesota," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "This will be the third year in a row we have had a home game on national television, which is a huge statement for our University. This should provide another great home atmosphere on a Thursday night and we look forward to the opportunity to showcase the excitement surrounding our program." Middle Tennessee will enter the 2010 season having played on national television 10 times in four years under Rick Stockstill, which are more appearances than any team in the Sun Belt Conference. That total will reach at least 13 in 2010. The Middle Tennessee-Minnesota game will be the first-ever meeting in football between the two schools and just the third game all-time for the Blue Raiders against the Big Ten. The last time Middle Tennessee faced a team from the Big Ten was in 2000 when MT fell to No. 21 Illinois, 35-6. The only other Big Ten meeting for the Blue Raiders also came against Illinois in 1998.