We are rolling along through the first month of the 2025 college football year. 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 (1-1, 1-0) #82
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Previous: W, 34-24 vs Liberty
Cam Cook led a potent ground game with 195 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground to help lead Jax State to a huge win in their CUSA and home opener.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 @ Georgia Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN+
2. New Mexico State (2-0, 0-0) #130
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Previous: W, 21-14 vs Tulsa
Logan Fife threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Harris late in the fourth quarter to rally NMSU to a win over Tulsa. Fife drove New Mexico State 75 yards in 11 plays, with the touchdown score coming with 3:23 remaining. Fife completed 27 of 44 passes for 248 yards. The Aggies managed just 39 yards on 26 rushes.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 @ Louisiana Tech, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
3. UTEP (1-1, 0-0) #120
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Previous: W, 42-17 vs UT Martin
Malachi Nelson threw four touchdown passes, Ashten Emory accounted for three touchdowns in the win over UT Martin. Nelson completed 14 of 26 passes for 278 yards. Hahsaun Wilson had 117 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 @ #7 Texas, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network
4. Liberty (1-1, 0-1) #91
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Previous: L, 34-24 at Jax State
The Flames suffered their first loss in a CUSA opener in the team’s three years in the league. Liberty had far too many miscues that set them behind on the scoreboard that they were unable to overcome.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 @ Bowling Green, 5 p.m., ESPN+
5. Western Kentucky (2-1, 1-0) #105
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Previous: L, 45-21 at Toledo
Toledo rushed for 307 yards in an impressive win Saturday. The Rockets scored on their first drive after a WKU fumble set them up at the 34-yard line. They then reeled in a 37-yard pick six to extend Toledo’s lead to 14-0 just over three minutes into the game. After a WKU touchdown pass made it 14-7, the Rockets scored 31 consecutive points and WKU did not score again until early in the fourth quarter.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 20 vs Nevada, 7 p.m.
6. Missouri State (1-1, 0-0) #126
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Previous: W, 21-20 at Marshall
Jacob Clark threw for three touchdowns and 359 yards and led a late drive to send Missouri State past Marshall, giving the Bears their first win as an FBS program on Saturday. Clark has thrown for over 5,000 yards for his career, surpassing 200 yards or more in 14 of 18 career starts. Nice win for the Bears on the road early in their FBS tenure.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 vs SMU, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
7. FIU (1-1, 0-0) #107
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Previous: L, 34-0 at #2 Penn State
The weather was an issue early with heavy rain pounding Beaver Stadium’s natural grass. FIU punted twice, had another punt blocked, turned the ball over on downs, and had an interception. Can’t overcome those things and be competitive against a team like the Nittany Lions. It was just 10-0 at halftime before Penn State seized full control.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 vs FAU, 7 p.m., ESPN+
8. Louisiana Tech (1-1, 0-0) #102
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Previous: L, 23-7 at #3 LSU
The Bulldogs were held to 154 total yards at LSU who didn’t lead by more than 10 points until late in the third quarter. The Bulldogs defense frustrated the Tigers on a handful of possessions, forcing a turnover, three punts, and four field goal attempts, one of which failed.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 vs New Mexico State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
9. Delaware (1-1, 0-0) #125
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Previous: L, 31-7 at Colorado
Delaware entered as a 24.5 point underdog and was within 10-7 late in the first half before the Buffaloes got it going and cruised in the second half.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 vs UConn, 3 p.m., ESPN+
10. Kennesaw State (0-2, 0-0) #129
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Previous: L, 56-9 at #23 Indiana
The Owls attempted to hang around with a CFP participant from last year, trailing 21-6 at halftime. Kennesaw managed just three field goals and haven’t scored a touchdown in their first two games.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 vs Merrimack, 6 p.m., ESPN+
11. Sam Houston (0-3, 0-1) #124
no change
Previous: L, 33-20 @ Hawaii
Hawaii had three scoring drives in the fourth quarter to seal the win over Sam Houston. The Bearkats had three different quarterbacks see the field in the loss.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 20 @ #7 Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN+
12. Middle Tennessee (0-2, 0-0) #134
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Previous: L, 42-10 at Wisconsin
Midway through the third quarter, the Blue Raiders trailed just 14-10. Running back Jekail Middleton ran for what was initially ruled to be a first down at Wisconsin’s 23. After replays determined Middleton went down just short of the marker, he got the ball again on fourth down and was stuffed. Wisconsin then scored touchdowns on four straight drives.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 13 @ Nevada, 5 p.m.
