We have moved into November and championship races are coming into focus. This season, the 12-team Conference USA will feature an 8-game conference schedule with the top two teams at the end of the regular season meeting for the league’s championship.
Here are our updated power rankings for CUSA, and we will be updating these weekly during the season.
Note: National rankings are courtesy of ESPN FPI. Arrows denote change in power rankings since previous ranking.
1. Kennesaw State (7-2, 5-0) #93
no change
Previous: W, 24-21 @ New Mexico State
Amari Odom threw three touchdown passes in the first half and Kennesaw State was able to hang on late for the win. The Owls had a 17-0 lead in teh first eight minutes of the game and saw it extend to 24-0 later in the first half. The Aggies scored a touchdown prior to halftime and the game was scoreless in the third quarter. Logan Fife threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter before a 50-yard field goal with 32 seconds left missed that would have tied the score.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ Jacksonville State, 8 p.m., ESPNU
2. Jacksonville State (6-3, 5-0) #101
no change
Previous: W, 30-27 @ UTEP
Caden Creel and Cam Cook combined for 259 rushing yards and were involved in late scores for Jax State to pick up the win on the road at UTEP. Creel’s 31-yard scramble on a late drive set up Garrison Rippa’s 45-yard, game-winning field goal with 53 seconds remaining. Creel had 134 rushing yards on 13 attempts and was 15 of 31 passing for 181 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The win sets up an unbeaten, first place showdown between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State this week.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 vs Kennesaw State, 8 p.m., ESPNU
3. Western Kentucky (7-2, 5-1) #105
no change
Previous: Bye
The Hilltopopers are coming off a bye as they look to finish out the season strong and get back to the CUSA Championship game.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 vs Middle Tennessee, 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
4. Missouri State (6-3, 4-1) #112
2
Previous: W, 21-17 @ Liberty
Missouri State was shutout in the first half, but the offense came to life after intermission to score 21 points, including 14 in the final quarter. QB Jacob Clark threw for 286 yards and 2 scores, rushing for another score. The Bears went 70 yards in 4 plays to score the game winning touchdown with 27 seconds remaining.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 vs UTEP, 3 p.m., ESPN+
5. FIU (4-5, 2-3) #118
3
Previous: W, 56-30 @ Middle Tennessee
Joe Pesansky accounted for five touchdowns as FIU rolled to a win on the road at Middle Tennessee. The Panthers scored eight touchdowns on 404 total yards. Pesansky threw for 257 yards with scoring strikes to Alex Perry twice, JoJo Stone, and Dallas Payne, and added a 6-yard rushing touchdown. FIU hauled in an interception and recovered two fumbles. The Panthers scored 35 points after halftime and produced four touchdowns of 18 yards or longer.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 vs Liberty, 5 p.m., ESPN+
6. Delaware (5-4, 3-3) #119
1
Previous: W, 25-24 vs Louisiana Tech
Trailing 24-16, Delaware scored a touchdown with 34 seconds remaining but failed to convert the two-point try. The Blue Hens would recover Nate Reed’s onside kick and he then followed that with a 51-yard field goal to lift Delaware to the upset win at home.Reed’s bounding onside effort cleared the Bulldogs players and Ja’Carree Kelly recovered on the Louisiana Tech 35. Four plays later, Reed booted the game winner to spoil the Bulldogs’ comeback from a 16-7 fourth quarter deficit. Nick Minicucci was 26 of 52 passing for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns but also two interceptions.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ Sam Houston, 7 p.m., ESPN+
7. Louisiana Tech (5-4, 3-3) #84
2
Previous: L, 25-24 @ Delaware
Nate Reed converted an onside kick and followed that with a 51-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining as Delaware scored nine points in the final 34 seconds to beat Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs took a 24-16 lead with 2:23 to go on Jacob Fields’ 38-yard pick-six to cap a run of 17 straight points. Three Louisiana Tech quarterbacks combined for 202 yards passing with an interception. Clay Thevenin rushed for two touchdowns.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ Washington State, 10 p.m., The CW Network
8. Liberty (4-5, 3-2) #109
4
Previous: L, 21-17 vs Missouri State
The Flames were unable to hang on to a 10-0 lead at halftime, allowing Missouri State to score on 4 plays and 70 yards in the final minute to score the game winning touchdown. Liberty was unbeaten under third-year head coach Jamey Chadwell when leading after three quarters prior to Saturday’s loss.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ FIU, 5 p.m., ESPN+
9. UTEP (2-7, 1-4) #117
no change
Previous: L, 30-27 vs Jacksonville State
The Miners were tied with the Gamecocks at 27 before a 45-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining lifted Jax State to the win. Skyler Locklear accounted for four touchdowns for the Miners but also threw a 93-yard pick-six in the second quarter. He was 16 of 32 passing for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns with 82 yards and two scores on the ground.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ Missouri State, 3 p.m., ESPN+
10. New Mexico State (3-6, 1-5) #126
no change
Previous: L, 24-21 vs Kennesaw State
New Mexico State trailed 24-0 in the first half before fighting back and having a chance to tie the game in the final minute before a 50-yard field goal missed. Logan Fife completed 28 of 46 passes for 241 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ #25 Tennessee, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network
11. Sam Houston (1-8, 0-5) #134
1
Previous: W, 21-17 @ Oregon State
Mabrey Mettauer threw a touchdown pass and the Sam Houston special teams scored two second half touchdowns to help the Bearkats beat Oregon State and snap an eight game losing streak. Phil Longo got his first win as head coach at Sam Houston as the Bearkats avoided the first 0-9 start to a season in program history. Tim Burns returned the opening kickoff of the second half 98 yards for a touchdown and Lyric Smith blocked a punt that Brody Henderson scooped up and ran 31 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bearkats a 21-17 lead late. Sam Houston had just eight first downs and was outgained 474-147 in total yards.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 vs Delaware, 7 p.m., ESPN+
12. Middle Tennessee (1-8, 0-5) #132
1
Previous: L, 56-30 vs FIU
The Blue Raiders finished the game with 331 yards passing and just 33 rushing Nicholas Vattiato threw for 242 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the loss at home to FIU.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ Western Kentucky, 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
