We are off and running. Week 1 is in the books and now we look ahead to Week 2. This season, the 10-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. It hasn’t been a great start to the year overall for the year, as members are currently 0-7 against FBS opponents.
Note: National rankings are courtesy of ESPN FPI. Arrows denote change in power rankings since previous ranking.
1. Kennesaw State (1-0, 0-0) #89
Previous: W, vs West Georgia 47-0
It’s hard to ask for much more. Kennesaw State absolutely demolished West Georgia, and while this was an FCS opponent, a 47-0 result is still meaningful. The Owls looked like a team that hasn’t lost much of the identity that made them the 2025 CUSA champions.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 vs Georgia State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
2. Delaware (1-0, 0-0) #86
Previous: W, vs Merrimack, 42-7
Another team that took care of business. Delaware is particularly interesting because this is a program I thought could make a significant jump in its first full FBS season. The Blue Hens were already among my preseason contenders, and nothing in Week 1 changed that. They haven’t proven it against FBS competition yet, but I wouldn’t want to sleep on them.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 at Vanderbilt, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network
3. Liberty (0-1, 0-0) #101
Previous: L, at James Madison 20-13
While the Flames came up short in their season opener in falling at JMU, nothing we saw proved Liberty can’t figure things out and be in the mix in Conference USA this season.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 vs Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m., ESPN+
4. Jacksonville State (1-1, 0-0) #108
Previous: L @ North Dakota State 33-7; W vs Eastern Kentucky 49-7
The NDSU loss keeps Jax State from being higher. The Gamecocks were dominated by North Dakota State in Week Zero, but then responded by destroying Eastern Kentucky. Jacksonville State still has one of the more proven programs in this league. They’re firmly in the contender group.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 at Ohio, 6 p.m., ESPN+
5. FIU (0-1, 0-0) #115
Previous: L, at South Florida 19-9
This one is interesting. FIU lost, but I’m not killing them for it. USF is a good football team, and FIU kept the Bulls to 19 points. The Panthers’ defense gives me more confidence than it did entering the season. The offense is the question.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 vs Buffalo, 6 p.m., ESPN+
6. New Mexico State (1-1, 0-0) #120
Previous: L, at Florida State 34-17; W vs Mercyhurst 51-14
This is another team that gets a bump. Yes, Mercyhurst is an FCS opponent, but NMSU was extremely efficient offensively and put the game away early. The Aggies also have the benefit of having already played a Week Zero game and had a strong showing against Florida State.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 at Hawaii, 11:59 p.m., MW+
7. Sam Houston (0-1, 0-0) #128
Previous: L at Troy 24-21
Sam Houston was competitive, but the Bearkats didn’t quite make enough plays to win. Troy is a solid Sun Belt team, so this isn’t a terrible loss. But when I’m comparing them to the teams above them, I see more questions than answers.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 vs Tulsa, 7 p.m., ESPN+
8. Middle Tennessee (1-0, 0-0) #127
Previous: W 38-14 vs Murray State
A nice win for the Blue Raiders who handled an FCS opponent exactly how it should have. Does this prove MTSU are a contender in CUSA this season? It’s too early to say.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 at Marshall, 7 p.m., ESPN+
9. Western Kentucky (0-1, 0-0) #114
Previous: L 49-14 at Nevada
I had WKU much higher entering the season. They were one of the preseason favorites to win CUSA and were behind only Liberty in some preseason projections. Losing at Nevada isn’t the problem. Getting blown out 49-14 is. WKU has plenty of time to recover, but right now I can’t put them ahead of teams that actually showed something in Week 1.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 @ #3 Georgia, 12:45 p.m., SEC Network
10. Missouri State (0-1, 0-0) #126
Previous: L, at #8 Texas A&M 50-0
The Casey Woods era got off to a slow start, although not overly surprising in falling to Texas A&M. Still, something more than a shutout and allowing a 50-burger could have given some room for hope. For now, they place in the basement.
Next up: Saturday, Sep. 12 vs Lindenwood, 7 p.m., ESPN+
