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Conference USA Football 2021: Week 1 C-USA Roundup

September 4, 2021 By Matthew Bartlett

Conference USA Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 1.

Team Week 1 Result Week 2
Charlotte vs Duke W, 31-28 vs Gardner-Webb
FAU at Florida L, 35-14 vs Georgia Southern
FIU vs Long Island W, 54-10 vs Texas St.
LA Tech at Miss St. L, 35-34 vs SE Louisiana
Marshall at Navy W, 49-7 vs NC Central
MTSU vs Monmouth W, 50-15 at Virginia Tech
North Texas vs Northwestern St. W, 44-14 at SMU
Old Dominion at Wake Forest L, 42-10 vs Hampton
Rice at Arkansas L, 38-17 vs Houston
Southern Miss at South Alabama L, 31-7 vs Grambling
UAB vs Jacksonville St. W, 31-10 at Georgia
UTEP vs Bethune-Cookman W, 37-28 at Boise St.
UTSA at Illinois W, 37-30 vs Lamar
WKU vs UT Martin W, 59-21 at Army

Notable Week 1 results – Standings

Power 5 performances

Charlotte put future foes on notice with their first-ever win over a Power 5 program, upsetting Duke behind a masterful game from quarterback Chris Reynolds. He threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, leading not one, but two go-ahead scoring drives in the fourth quarter. UTSA followed up with an encore performance for C-USA, topping Illinois on big days from Sincere McCormick and Zakhari Franklin.

Power 5 (gut) punches

Rice and Louisiana Tech each held double-digit leads over their respective Power 5 opponents. Then the fourth quarter hit. Both schools surrendered 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points, erasing the fleeting moments of anticipation and replacing them with heartache.

2-0 UTEP !!

UTEP won two games in their first 24 outings under Dana Dimel. The Miners won three contests last year, but for the first time in Dimel’s tenure, they’re 2-0, defeating New Mexico State and Bethune-Cookman to start the 2021 season on the right foot.

Looking ahead – Key storylines

More marquee moments?

After one massive upset in Week 1 and a few close calls, only one Conference USA school takes on a Power 5 opponent in Week 2 — Middle Tennessee. Their opponent, Virginia Tech, upset North Carolina in Week 1 while MTSU beat Monmouth. Knocking off the Hokies will be no small feat.

Big Bucket

Rice missed a golden opportunity at an upset victory in Week 1, faltering down the stretch against Arkansas. Now 0-1 with a date against Texas looming in Week 3, the Owls’ Week 2 rivalry game against Houston becomes all the more important.

AAC Auditions

Rumors are swirling regarding the various levels of realignment that have started to surface in recent weeks, among them, which schools could make the jump to the Big 12 and consequently, which schools could move into spots vacated in the American Athletic Conference. Rice and North Texas draw AAC opponents in Week 2 and both would be interested in making a positive pitch on the field.

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Filed Under: Archive, Football Tagged With: Conference USA, Conference USA football, Rice Football

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