Conference USA Football 2019: Week 13 C-USA Roundup

Rice football won for their second time in two weeks. FIU pulled a massive upset of their own. That and more from a wild Week 13 for Conference USA Football.

TeamWeek 13ResultWeek 14
Charlottevs MarshallW, 24-13at Old Dominion
FAUat UTSAW, 40-26vs Southern Miss
FIUvs MiamiW, 30-24at Marshall
LA Techat UABL, 20-14vs UTSA
Marshallat CharlotteL, 24-13vs FIU
MTSUvs Old DominionW, 38-17at WKU
North Texasat RiceL, 20-14vs UAB
Old Dominionat MTSUL, 38-17vs Charlotte
Ricevs North TexasW, 20-14at UTEP
Southern Missvs WKUL, 28-10at FAU
UABvs LA TechW, 20-14vs North Texas
UTEPat New Mexico StL, 44-38vs Rice
UTSAvs FAUL, 40-26at LA Tech
WKUat Southern MissW, 28-10vs MTSU

Notable Week 13 results – Standings

Rice Wins Again

After going nine games without wins, Rice football has won twice in the last eight days. The Owls followed up their first road win of the Mike Bloomgren with his first victory over a C-USA West team, holding on to take down Mason Fine and the North Texas Mean Green on Senior Day at Rice Stadium.

Butch Jones gets revenge

There was a time when Butch Davis walked the other sidelines of the former Orange Bowl Stadium. The former Miami head coach led FIU against the Hurricanes this weekend and wasted no time making his mark. FIU jumped out to a 16-0 lead against their crosstown rivals, finishing off Miami for their first Power 5 win in program history.

FAU moves a step closer to clinching the East

FAU took care of business at the Alamodome, beating UTSA with relative ease. Then they got some help from fellow C-USA East squad, Charlotte. The 49ers upset Marshall, knocking them down a peg in the race for the division title. Marshall still holds the tiebreaker against FAU, but sits a game back in the loss column. If FAU wins next weekend they’ll host the C-USA Championship Game.

Potential C-USA Championship Scenarios

Week 14 storylines

Who wins the west?

As the East cleared up the West got messy. Saturday’s results left three teams tied atop the division standings. Louisiana Tech, UAB and Southern Miss all hold 5-2 records entering the final week of the regular season. LA Tech has a step up in the race right now but all three are alive, making the last games of the year particularly intriguing.

Will there be a surprise in the East?

Marshall is still alive and well, even after their Week 13 loss. Marshall hosts FIU in Week 14. If they can beat the Panthers and FAU falls at home to Southern Miss, the Thundering Herd will take the top spot in the East. After watching last weekend’s results, it’s probably fair to assume that just about anything could happen in the final weekend.

Donut watch

Neither UTEP or Old Dominion have managed a win in conference play. The Miners lone victory came over FCS Houston Baptist (by two points). The Monarchs claim a singular win, also over an FCS opponent. They beat Norfolk St (by three points). Both programs will be underdogs at home in Week 14. Will either find enough to pull an upset?