Middle Tennessee State and Kennesaw State take each other on this weekend in a game that probably decides the SIRC North.

MTSU defeated Georgia Tech 46-3 last week and did so despite missing several starters for a variety of reasons.That win put MTSU at 5-0, with KSU sitting at 3-1. The winner of this weekend’s game will be in excellent shape to make the playoffs, and if MTSU wins, that will essentially sew up the SIRC North for the Tennessee side. 

“We played a lot of new guys and get the kind of production we did from the young guys stepping in and guys [playing out of position was really good,” said MTSU head Coach Jody Hensley. “Getting the win and putting the points down was good. This coming game will likely be the decider of who wins the North. 

Joe Hodges has been used in a utility role for a while but got a start at fullback and he scored two tries against Georgia Tech. Andrew Rappe continues to play well.

In the South, Florida International continues to control things, and is now 6-0. A win over 4-2 Florida State would basically guarantee a top two spot in the SIRC South. FIU is led by Daniel Czaplinski, who has had a solid season, and freshmen Dawson Neves de Araujo and Juaquin "Jack" Freixa. 

Central Florida should end the weekend 6-1 and likely #2 (with FSU close behind). But that doesn’t mean that the top teams, FIU and MTSU, will meet in the final. Last year, Central Florida came out of almost nowhere to unseat Middle Tennessee State and make it an all-Florida final.