The 2026 season is right around the corner and that means college football analysts around the country are making their preseason predictions. Phil Steele‘s CUSA order of finish prediction has a few surprises. Here’s the full breakdown of Phil Steele’s projections.

1. Liberty

Phil Steele highlights Liberty’s incoming transfer class, including RB Kanye Udoh. He thinks the Flames will bounce back from a disappointing season and win CUSA for the second time in four seasons.

2. Western Kentucky

The Hilltoppers have been a model of success, winning 8 bowl games the last 12 years and have seven winning years in each of Tyson Helton’s seasons. The fan base wants more though. Can Helton guide WKU to a CUSA championship?

3. Jax State

The Gamecocks have quickly established themselves as a true contender each year in CUSA. Charles Kelly picked up where Rich Rodriguez left off as the Gamecocks have reached two straight CUSA championship games.

t-4. Kennesaw State

The Owls were the surprise of CUSA and perhaps the entire college football world as they won the CUSA championship and 10 games under brand new head coach Jerry Mack. They have just nine returning starters but hit the transfer portal hard.

t-4. Delaware

Ryan Carty is an impressive 23-4 at home in his time as head coach at Delaware. That could pay dividends this year as the Blue Hens host Jax State and Liberty while missing Western Kentucky in league play. Nick Minicucci may be the most experienced quarterback that returns to his spot in the conference this season.

t-4. FIU

Willie Simmons  has had a winning season in each of his nine years as a head coach including his first season at the helm of the Panthers last year. They won their last four games of the season and look to be in the upper half of the league this season.

7. New Mexico State

Tony Sanchez has struggled to keep the momentum created by Jerry Kill and Diego Pavia. The Aggies have won just seven games combined over the past two seasons and look like they are trending towards returning as one of the worst teams in all of the FBS.

8. Middle Tennessee

After just two seasons at MTSU, head coach Derek Mason is already feeling some pressure, winning exactly three games in each of his first two seasons. The Blue Raiders did put up 487 yards per game in the three games that QB Roman Gagliano started.

9. Missouri State

Ryan Beard successfully guided the Bears through the jump from the FCS to the FBS behind quarterback Jacob Clark. They went 7-5 and got to a bowl game before Beard left to become the head coach at Coastal Carolina. Now, SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods takes over with his dad Sparky Woods on the staff.

10. Sam Houston

Phil Longo had a tough first season and basically played every game on the road as the team played their home games an hour away from campus as their stadium underwent renovations. This year, they have seven starters and hope to improve but have a lot of ground to make up.