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Murfreesboro, Tenn. • For the first time since 1993, the BYU Cougars failed to win a football game in the month of October.

Think that's a scary turn of events for a team that was once 4-0 and ranked 18th in the country? Consider what November could be like if 4-4 BYU can't defeat 5-3 Middle Tennessee State on Saturday at 30,788-seat Floyd Stadium.

The word nightmare comes to mind. Especially since the Cougars have a bye next week and potentially will have to wallow in their monster collapse until UNLV visits Provo on Nov. 15.

The 2014 Cougars could make history on Saturday, for all the wrong reasons. BYU hasn't lost five straight games since 1970, when Tommy Hudspeth was the coach. They finished 3-8 that year, then went 5-6 in 1971 before LaVell Edwards took over and eventually made the program nationally prominent.

That reputation of football prowess, somewhat tarnished with consecutive five-loss seasons and October's meltdown, has nevertheless accompanied coach Bronco Mendenhall's Cougars to Murfreesboro, site of a major Civil War battle, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States and about 33 miles southeast of Nashville.

It is apparent from remarks made at their news conference Monday that the Blue Raiders, who joined Conference USA in 2013, have targeted this contest for quite some time. They will be well-rested, too, having had a bye last weekend after eight straight games while BYU was getting drilled 55-30 by Boise State. Coach Rick Stockstill spent the week calling for MTSU fans to show up so they aren't outnumbered by BYU's.

"Here is a team that won a national championship," Stockstill said. "You forget how much tradition and history has gone through that program, how many bowl games and opportunities to play for national championships. … It is a unique opportunity for our fans to see one of the more successful teams in the history of college football come to our stadium."

BYU overcame five turnovers and handled Middle Tennessee 37-10 in Provo last year, but only after the visitors took a 10-7 lead. As fragile as the Cougars' psyche is now, falling behind early again, especially on the road, could spell doom. They are without quarterback Taysom Hill, who rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 177 yards last year against MT.

Senior Christian Stewart has yet to deliver a win in three starts since Hill was lost for the season with a broken leg.

Mendenhall and several players said practices this week were focused on not only execution, but having fun again. There's been no joy in Provo for a month; perhaps the Cougars can find some 1,650 miles away. If not, the alternative looks quite frightful.

drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @drewjay —

BYU at Middle Tennessee

P At Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Kickoff • 1:30 p.m. MDT

TV • CBS Sports Network

Radio • 1160 AM/102.7 FM

Records • BYU 4-4, Middle Tennessee 5-3

Series History • BYU leads, 1-0

Last Meeting • BYU 37, MTSU 10 (Sept. 27, 2013)

About the Blue Raiders • They haven't played since Oct. 18, a 34-22 win over Alabama-Birmingham at Floyd Stadium in front of 18,717 fans. About 25,000 are expected for Saturday's game.

About the Cougars • They have not lost five straight games since 1970, but are on a four-game losing streak since starting quarterback Taysom Hill suffered a season-ending leg injury.