Conference USA Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 12.
Team | Week 12 | Result | Week 13 |
Charlotte | vs Marshall | L, 49-28 | at Old Dominion |
FAU | at WKU | L, 52-17 | vs MTSU |
FIU | vs North Texas | L, 49-7 | at Southern Miss |
LA Tech | vs Southern Miss | L, 35-19 | at Rice |
Marshall | at Charlotte | W, 49-28 | vs WKU |
MTSU | vs Old Dominion | L, 24-17 | at FAU |
North Texas | at FIU | W, 49-7 | vs UTSA |
Old Dominion | at MTSU | W, 24-17 | vs Charlotte |
Rice | at UTEP | L, 38-28 | vs LA Tech |
Southern Miss | at LA Tech | W, 35-19 | vs FIU |
UAB | at UTSA | L, 34-31 | vs UTEP |
UTEP | vs Rice | W, 38-28 | at UAB |
UTSA | vs UAB | W, 34-31 | at North Texas |
WKU | vs FAU | W, 52-17 | at Marshall |
Notable Week 12 results – Standings
It lived up to the hype
UAB and UTSA have been on a collision course for the C-USA West title since the season began. The meeting between these two C-USA heavyweights have been circled on the calendar for months, and boy, oh boy, did it deliver. UTSA quarterback Frank Harris found tight end Oscar Cardenas for the game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game. For the first time in three years, it’ll be UTSA rather than UAB repping the West in the Conference USA Championship Game.
Who needs a quarterback?
Southern Miss almost took UTSA by surprise last week when they debuted an offense centered around Frank Gore Jr. and the wildcat package. They stuck to that script against this week, this time having more than enough in the way of explosive plays to overcome Louisiana Tech and clinch their first C-USA win of the season.
Owls spiraling
It’s been a tough month to be an Owl. Both Rice and Florida Atlantic are winless in November, with FAU dropping its third straight game on Saturday and Rice falling for the fourth straight time. FAU had conference championship aspirations. Rice sought a bowl game. Both programs are returning to their roosts empty-handed.
Looking ahead – Key storylines
For the East
The West was decided in Week 12 when UTSA topped UAB. Now it’s time for the Roadrunners to learn who they’ll be playing in the conference title game. In what amounts to a semifinal on the other side of the bracket, Western Kentucky visits Marshall. Winner gets UTSA.
Miners on the move
UAB and UTEP enter the final week of the regular season with identical 7-4 records, but UAB holds a slight lead edge in the conference standings with a 5-2 record compared to the Miners at 4-3. Should UTEP find a way to pull off the upset, they’d finish second in the West, a tremendous accomplishment for a program seeking its first 8-win season for the first time since 2005, their first year in Conference USA.
Tale of two halves
Old Dominion took down an FCS team in its home opener, but otherwise lose the first six games against FBS teams. The Monarchs picked up their first FBS win against Louisiana Tech in late October and haven’t stopped since. ODU has won four in a row and needs one more win in their season finale against Charlotte to clinch bowl eligibility, an incredible opportunity after a 1-6 start.