Where MTSU stands following blowout loss to No. 3 Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. — Rick Stockstill summed up the mood he and his team were feeling following Middle Tennessee's 49-7 loss to No. 3 ranked Georgia with a simple statement.

"Losing stinks," Stockstill said. "It doesn't matter if you play Georgia or the 130th (ranked) team in the country. It doesn't matter. Losing stinks."

MTSU was not expected to be much of a threat to the Bulldogs, opening as a 31-point underdog.

But Stockstill and his team can learn a lot from losing to one of the top teams in the country.

The Blue Raiders sit at 1-2 entering the bye week. The Conference USA opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 29 is looming.

MTSU was dominated in every way against the Bulldogs. The offense could not get going. The defense allowed big plays and the punt coverage team allowed a touchdown. 

A positive was the offensive line did not allow a sack for the first time all season after allowing 10 the first two games.

Nobody else on the schedule has the combination of skill, talent, speed and size that Georgia has. 

"Going into conference (play), you just have to practice to do everything right," linebacker Darius Harris said. "I feel like if we do that, we have a good chance to win."

A problem MTSU faces is the amount of healthy bodies left. It's a product of playing two SEC teams in the first three weeks of the season. 

There were more than 10 players listed on the pregame injury report, including starting safeties Jovante Moffatt and Reed Blankenship. 

Running back Chaton Mobley, who was filling in for starter Tavares Thomas, was hurt after the first series and did not return. Attrition is starting to become a real concern for the team. 

The bye week is coming at the perfect time for MTSU. 

"It was tough for us," quarterback Brent Stockstill said. "We got a lot of guys banged up and that's what happens when you play these kinds of games. We'll try to get healthy going into the bye week and we got the defending conference champion coming into our place so we got to get ready."

The loss to Georgia was humbling. But Stockstill will not be trying to harp on it too long with what's on the horizon following the bye week. 

He still has big expectations to try and compete for a conference championship. 

"I'm proud of my football team," Stockstill said. "... I'm proud of the leadership on this team. I still believe in this team. I told them that after the game."

Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@dnj.com and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.