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. Jacksonville State (7-3, 6-0) #98
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Previous: W, 35-26 vs Kennesaw State
Caden Creel and Cam Cook combined to rush for 252 yards and three touchdowns, powering the Gamecocks to the win in a huge CUSA showdown Saturday night. Jax State moved ahead 32-13 with just 10 minutes remaining in the game. That was before the Owls rallied to cut it to 32-26. Jax State was able to run off all but 20 seconds of the remaining clock before Rippa kicked a short field goal to put the game out of reach. Creel completed 8 of 13 passes for 137 yards and rushed 14 times for 127 more. Cook carried 27 times for 132 yards.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ FIU, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
2. Kennesaw State (7-3, 5-1) #95
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Previous: L, 35-26 @ Jacksonville State
The Owls lost on the road in the matchup of CUSA unbeatens to fall out of the top of the league standings. Kennesaw fell behind 32-13 with 10:30 left in the game but rallied to cut the deficit to just six points with 3:22 remaining. However, the Owls could not stop the Jax State rushing attack as the Gamecocks all but ran the clock out and got a field goal to secure the victory for the home team.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 vs Missouri State, 2 p.m., ESPN+
3. Western Kentucky (8-2, 6-1) #100
no change
Previous: W, 42-26 vs Middle Tennessee
Rodney Tisdale, Jr. threw for 371 yards and three touchdowns to lead WKU to the rivalry victory at home. He was 29 of 41 passing and connected with Matthew Henry seven times f or 135 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown. Noah Meyers had a pair of short-yardage catches for the Hilltoppers who have won six of its last seven games. Marvis Parrish added 102 yards rushing for the Hilltoppers.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ LSU, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network
4. Missouri State (7-3, 5-1) #108
no change
Previous: W, 38-24 vs UTEP
Jacob Clark threw a season-high four touchdown passes as Missouri State secured its fifth straight victory. With a tied game entering the fourth quarter, Clark led touchdown drives of 75 yards and 74 yards to rally the Bears. He completed 30 of 39 passes for 330 yards. H is top receivers were Jmariyae Robinson with 88 yards and Jeron Askren with touchdowns. Shomari Lawrence had 109 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ Kennesaw State, 2 p.m., ESPN+
5. FIU (5-5, 3-3) #116
no change
Previous: W, 34-27 OT vs Liberty
Joe Pesansky threw a go-ahead touchdown pass in overtime and Mister Clark intercepted Ethan Vasko to seal FIU’s homecoming victory over Liberty. Pesansky rallied the Panthers with a 7-yard toss to Maguire Anders and Clark ended matters six plays later. It came after Jay Billingsley kicked two field goals in the final 2:48 for Liberty to force overtime. Keegan Davis sacked Vasko to set up fourth and 6 and then forced Vasko to hurry the pass that Clark intercepted.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 vs Jacksonville State, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
6. Sam Houston (2-8, 1-5) #134
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Previous: W, 26-23 vs Delaware
Landon Brown rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns to help Sam Houston win a second straight game. The Bearkats came back from an early 10-0 deficit to tie the game at 10 at halftime. In the second half, Brown had a 62-yard touchdown run in between a pair of field goals by Christian Pavon to push Sam Houston ahead 23-10. The Blue Hens battled back and missed a potential game-tying 36-yard field goal with 21 seconds left. Landon Locke completed 16 of 38 passes for 213 yards in the win.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ Middle Tennessee, 3 p.m., ESPN+
7. Delaware (5-5, 3-4) #122
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Previous: L, 26-23 @ Sam Houston
It was a game of runs in Houston, with Delaware taking an early 10-0 lead followed by 23 straight from Sam Houston entering the fourth quarter. Delaware closed to within three on a Nick Minicucci 26-yard touchdown pass with 2:36 to go. Delaware then recovered an onside kick and Minicucci led a drive to the 12. He was then sacked for a 7-yard loss on second down and failed to connect on third down. Nate Reed missed a potential game-tying 36-yard field goal with 21 seconds left to end the rally. Minicucci finished with 338 yards on 24 for 36 passing with an interception.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ Wake Forest, 12 p.m., ACC Network
8. Louisiana Tech (5-5, 3-3) #93
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Previous: L, 28-3 @ Washington State
The Bulldogs fell behind 14-0 and got their only points of the night on a 51-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. The Bulldogs managed just 167 total yards, 107 on the ground in the first ever meeting between these two programs. Louisiana Tech passers combined to complete just 9 of 21 passes for 60 yards and an interception.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 vs Liberty, 3 p.m., ESPN+
9. Liberty (4-6, 3-3) #109
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Previous: L, 34-27 OT @ FIU
Liberty surrendered a second half lead for a second straight week as the Flames fell at FIU in overtime. The Flames’ Jay Billingsley hit two field goals late in regulation, including a 48-yarder as time expired to force overtime. However, after the Panthers scored a touchdown to open overtime, Vasko threw an interception in the end zone on a fourth down to close the game.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ Louisiana Tech, 3 p.m., ESPN+
10. UTEP (2-8, 1-5) #121
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Previous: L, 38-24 @ Missouri State
Falling behind 24-7 at halftime, the Miners stormed back to tie it with a 17-point third quarter. In the fourth, the Bears took control with two touchdowns on their home turf. UTEP’s big third quarter featured a field goal, a Skylar Locklear touchdown run and a blocked punt for a touchdown. Locklear passed for 125 yards and led the Miners with 56 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 vs New Mexico State, 3 p.m., ESPN+
11. New Mexico State (3-7, 1-5) #127
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Previous: L, 42-9 @ #23 Tennessee
The Aggies went on the road and picked up a paycheck for their loss at Tennessee Saturday. Logan Fife threw for 166 yards as the Aggies lost their fifth in a row. Isaiah Rudison scored their only touchdown on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter. With UTEP and Middle Tennessee remaining on the schedule, NMSU can finish the season on a high note if they can rally together.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 @ UTEP, 3 p.m., ESPN+
12. Middle Tennessee (1-9, 0-6) #131
no change
Previous: L, 42-26 @ Western Kentucky
Roman Gagliano completed 25 of 42 passes for 389 yards and threw two touchdowns. Myles Butler had seven receptions for 105 yards with a 52-yard touchdown catch for the Blue Raiders who have lost seven straight.
Next up: Saturday, Nov. 22 vs Sam Houston, 3 p.m., ESPN+
