We are rolling along through the first half 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. Louisiana Tech (4-1, 2-0) #79
no change
Previous: W, 30-11 @ UTEP
Blake Baker threw a touchdown pass to Marques Singleton while Louisiana Tech had two pick-6’s to roll in a road win at UTEP on Saturday night. The Bulldogs had five interceptions on the day as they continue to look like one of the best defenses in CUSA. They were in full control with a 24-3 lead with less than four minutes remaining.
Next up: Bye
2. Delaware (3-1, 1-0) #100
no change
Previous: Bye
The Blue Hens are coming off an open date and will step into conference play this week by hosting Western Kentucky on Friday night.
Next up: Friday, Oct. 3 vs Western Kentucky, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
3. Western Kentucky (4-1, 2-0) #96
1
Previous: W, 27-22 @ Missouri State
La’Vell Wright rushed for two touchdowns in the second half to help lead WKU to a 27-22 win over Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday. Wright finished with 91 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries and added a 13-yard reception. It was a back and forth contest with the Hilltoppers taking a lead they would not relinquish late in the third quarter.
Next up: Friday, Oct. 3 @ Delaware, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
4. Kennesaw State (3-2, 1-0) #123
2
Previous: W, 24-16 vs Middle Tennessee
Amari Odom threw two touchdowns in Kennesaw’s win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday night, the Owls’ third straight win. Kennesaw took an early 21-3 lead in the first quarter but did not score again until the fourth quarter.
Next up: Bye
5. Missouri State (2-3, 0-1) #122
no change
Previous: L, 27-22 vs Western Kentucky
Seventh year senior quarterback Jacob Clark was forced to leave the game early with an injury. He would return to the sideline on crutches and a brace on his knee. Missouri State took a lead in the third quarter before back to back touchdowns for WKU helped them push their lead to eight points entering the fourth quarter.
Next up: Bye
6. FIU (2-2, 0-1) #117
3
Previous: Bye
The Panthers are coming off an open date and will play at UConn this weekend.
Next up: Saturday, Oct. 4 @ UConn, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
7. New Mexico State (2-2, 0-1) #132
1
Previous: L, 38-20 @ New Mexico
New Mexico scored 24 points in the second half to rally for a 38-20 win over rival NMSU. Logan Fitz was 20 of 37 passing for 255 yards and a pick for the Aggies. Receiver Donovan Faupel had the lone TD throw, a 34-yarder to TJ Pride coming off a reverse. He also caught six passes of his own for 97 yards. This was the 115th game of the Rio Grande Rivalry.
Next up: Thursday, Oct. 2 vs Sam Houston, 9 p.m., CBS Sports Network
8. Jacksonville State (2-3, 1-0) #97
5
Previous: L, 42-25 @ Southern Miss
The Gamecocks scored their first touchdown with 4:33 to go in the third quarter. Caden Creel had a career-high 161 rushing yards with one touchdown on 23 carries. He also threw for 109 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Cam Cook added 77 rushing yards and one score.
Next up: Bye
9. UTEP (1-4, 0-1) #115
2
Previous: L, 30-11 vs Louisiana Tech
Malachi Nelson completed 18 of 38 passes for 73 yards with four interceptions while Skyler Locklear also threw an interception. The Miners were picked off five times with two of them returned for a touchdown in a loss in UTEP’s CUSA opener.
Next up: Bye
10. Liberty (1-4, 0-1) #112
no change
Previous: L, 21-7 @ Old Dominion
The Flames have dropped an unprecedented fourth straight game, having not won against an FBS opponent since last November. Liberty couldn’t capitalize on the Monarchs 0/5 scoring in the red zone and four turnovers.
Next up: Bye
11. Middle Tennessee (1-4, 0-1) #131
no change
Previous: L, 24-16 @ Kennesaw
Jekail Middlebrook had two rushing touchdowns for Middle Tennessee. H e ran for 109 yards on 20 attempts. Nick Vattiato went 28 for 42 passing with 285 yards and one interception in the loss at Kennesaw.
Next up: Bye
12. Sam Houston (0-4, 0-1) #130
no change
Previous: Bye
The Bearkats are coming off an open date before getting back to conference play on Thursday night at New Mexico State.
Next up: Thursday, Oct. 2 @ New Mexico State, 9 p.m., CBS Sports Network
