MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s 2026 Homecoming will bring back familiar traditions and introduce a new concert at Murphy Center, with activities planned Nov. 6–7 around the theme “Blue Raider Country.”

Program host Andrew Oppmann, vice president for marketing and communications, spoke with Ginger Freeman, director of MTSU’s Alumni Relations, about this year’s festivities, opportunities for alumni to reconnect with the university and efforts to keep graduates engaged throughout the year.

Coinciding with Homecoming Week this year is the kickoff of the Live at MTSU concert series featuring Bailey Zimmerman and Waka Flocka Flame on Thursday, Nov. 5. Then on Friday, Nov. 6, the Golden Raiders will be celebrated, marking 50 years since their graduation in 1976, along with alumni awards presentations, athletics Hall of Fame inductions and departmental receptions.

Saturday, Nov. 7, brings the annual Homecoming parade that morning, followed by activities in Walnut Grove, including Party in the Grove, an alumni tailgate lunch featuring Murfreesboro favorite Slick Pig, Raider Walk, live music and the Blue Raiders’ football game against Western Kentucky University.

Freeman said one of her favorite parts of Homecoming is welcoming alumni back to campus, reconnecting with former students and meeting graduates who are returning for the first time in years.

“It’s the people I know,” Freeman said. “But it’s meeting the new people, and it’s energizing then to see them, hear their stories, and focus on them.”

Beyond Homecoming, the Alumni Association works to connect graduates through monthly online webinars, career development programming, social events and its Middle Minute e-newsletter. Freeman encouraged alumni to keep their contact information updated at mtalumni.com to receive event announcements and other university news.

The annual celebration brings together students, alumni and the broader campus community while helping graduates maintain their connection to MTSU.

You can watch the segment below:

Ways to watch, listen

• “Out of the Blue” is available anytime on the university’s YouTube channel, the True Blue TV channel, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

• It also airs on Murfreesboro cable Channel 9 daily at 6 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Sundays; WKRN+ at 7 p.m. Thursdays and noon Sundays; WNPX “The Spot – Nashville 28” at 4:30 a.m. on Saturdays; and streamed on the MTSU Jazz Network through WMOT.org at 7 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month; and on other cable outlets in Middle Tennessee, so check local listings.

• It is also available as a podcast on iTunes and Google Play and as individual interview segments on Spotify at https://spoti.fi/453hxg3.

Watch previous episodes of “Out of the Blue” at https://mtsunews.com/out-of-the-blue.

— Karli Sutton ([email protected])