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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 4 C-USA roundup

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Rice football closed out nonconference play as several Conference USA Football teams kicked off their first conference games of the season.

Team Week 4 Result Week 5
Charlotte at No. 1 Clemson L, 52-10 vs FAU
FAU vs Wagner W, 42-7 at Charlotte
FIU at Louisiana Tech L, 43-31 — OFF —
LaTech vs FIU W, 43-31 at Rice
Marshall — OFF — — OFF — vs Cincinnati
MTSU — OFF — — OFF — at Iowa
North Texas vs UTSA W, 45-3 vs Houston
ODU at No. 21 Virginia L, 28-17 vs East Carolina
Rice vs Baylor L, 21-13 vs Louisiana Tech
Southern Miss at No. 2 Alabama L, 49-7 vs UTEP
UAB vs South Alabama W, 35-3 at WKU
UTEP vs Nevada L, 37-21 at Southern Miss
UTSA at North Texas L, 45-3 — OFF —
WKU — OFF — — OFF — vs UAB

Notable Week 4 results – Standings

Another Rice rally falls short

Down 21-3, things looked dire at South Main. Then the Rice football defense pitched a shutout in the second half against a Baylor team which entered the game as the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense. The offense came up short, mustering only 10 points after the break, but Rice posted another tight result in a rigorous nonconference slate.

Mayday, mayday UTSA

Another C-USA defeat left the team on the losing end feeling much less optimistic. UTSA fell in a one-sided affair to North Texas despite Conference USA Football Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Mason Fine being limited to 195 passing yards and two touchdowns. UTSA Quarterback Frank Harris was knocked out of the game. His status is up in the air, making the mood in San Antonio rather dour.

It’s sweet to have three

With conference play only just beginning, there are only two C-USA teams who have reached the three-win mark after four weeks. UAB is 3-0 (0-0) and Louisiana Tech is 3-1 (1-0). The Blazers and Bulldogs both play their first conference road game next weekend.

Week 5 storylines

One last nonconference statement

Conference USA failed to connect on any of their major nonconference upset opportunities. North Texas couldn’t top Cal. Rice fell to a slew of Power 5 teams. Marshall dropped a close one to Boise State. The Thundering Herd get one more chance to shine the light on Conference USA football when they host a talented Cincinnati squad in Week 5.

The off week couldn’t have come any sooner

FIU was expected to compete for the C-USA East crown. They’re 1-3 with a close win over New Hampshire to their name. This is a team in massive need of a reset. Already 0-2 in conference play, the Panthers’ margin for error is shrinking. A break came at the right time.

Litmus test

Western Kentucky squandered a double-digit fourth quarter lead against FCS Central Arkansas in Week 1. They beat FIU 20-14 in Week 2 and lost a closer-than-expected game to Louisville their last time out. Week 5 will be a defining moment for the Hilltoppers when they face UAB at home. Which outing, the FCS loss or the C-USA win, will prove more predictive of Tyson Helton’s first year at the helm.

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 3 C-USA roundup

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Rice football was one Conference USA Football team unable to best a top-tier foe, with Marshall downing Ohio serving as the conference’s signature win.

Team Week 3 Result Week 4
Charlotte vs UMass W, 52-17 at No. 1 Clemson
FAU at Ball St W, 41-31 vs Wagner
FIU vs New Hampshire W. 30-17 at Louisiana Tech
LaTech at Bowling Green W, 35-7 vs FIU
Marshall vs Ohio W, 33-31 — OFF —
MTSU vs Duke L, 41-18 — OFF —
North Texas at Cal L, 23-17 vs UTSA
ODU — OFF — — OFF — at No. 25 Virginia
Rice vs No. 12 Texas L, 48-13 vs Baylor
Southern Miss at Troy W, 47-42 at No. 2 Alabama
UAB — OFF — — OFF — vs South Alabama
UTEP — OFF — — OFF — vs Nevada
UTSA vs Army L, 31-13 at North Texas
WKU vs Louisville L, 38-21 — OFF —

Notable Week 3 results

No Texas-sized upset in Houston

Rice was able to hang tight with their first two non-conference opponents but fell behind early and couldn’t muster a comeback until it was too late. The Owls were overcome by the athleticism of a Top 15 Texas team and return to Rice Stadium next week for a game against another impressive Big 12 offense, Baylor.

Big bounce back for big green

Marshall lost their mojo on the blue turf of Boise State last week but didn’t have much time to feel sorry for themselves with Ohio on their way to town. The offense kicked back into gear and the Thundering Herd hung on for one of Conference USA’s most impressive nonconference victories to date.

Hello Mr. Watkins

Quez Watkins made his season debut on Saturday night against Troy and had quite the coming out party. Watkins scored twice in the second half, with the second coming from 64-yards out and punting Southern Miss up two scores in the final minutes. He finished with seven catches for 209 yards (29.9 yards per reception) and the pair of receiving scores.

Week 4 storylines

So close to conference play

Week 5 marks the beginning of the first big weekend of Conference USA conference games which means we’re officially in the “tune up” portion of non-conference play. That would be the case, except for the three teams with off weeks and two members who visit No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama, respectively.

Early conference test

While the bulk of the conference will wait for next weekend, Louisiana Tech and FIU serve as the sneak peak for what is to come in conference play. Both teams have failed to pass their nonconference assessments with flying colors, meaning they’ll have to put together a nice audition this coming weekend to prove to themselves they’re still contenders in the conference race.

Old upset brewing?

Virginia is better than Virginia Tech was last season when the Monarchs upended the Hokies in one of the most thrilling upsets of last season. Old Dominion will be on the road for this contest with fewer weapons than they had at their disposal a season ago. But weird things happen, especially in college football and Old Dominion has been at the center of such an upset in recent history.

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 2 C-USA roundup

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Rice football couldn’t get past Wake Forest in their 2019 home opener. Much of the rest of Conference USA football didn’t fare much better in Week 2.

Team Week 2 Result Week 3
Charlotte at App St L, 41-56 vs UMass
FAU vs No. 18 UCF L, 48-14 at Ball St
FIU vs WKU L, 20-14 vs New Hampshire
LaTech vs Grambling W, 20-14 at Bowling Green
Marshall at No. 24 Boise St L, 14 -7 vs Ohio
MTSU vs Tennessee St W, 45-26 vs Duke
North Texas at SMU L, 49-27 at Cal
ODU at Virginia Tech L, 31-17 — OFF —
Rice vs Wake Forest L, 41-21 vs No. 9 Texas
Southern Miss at Mississippi St L, 38-15 at Troy
UAB at Akron W, 31-20 — OFF —
UTEP at Texas Tech L, 38-3 — OFF —
UTSA at Baylor L, 63-14 vs Army
WKU at FIU W, 20-14 vs Louisville

Notable Week 2 results

Scary stuff

Rice quarterback Wiley Green was down on the field for almost 15 minutes following a helmet-to-helmet collision with a Wake Forest defender on Friday night. He would leave the game and be transported to the hospital, where all post-injury testing came back negative. Rice would lose the game 41-21 with backup Tom Stewart accounting for a touchdown apiece through the air and on the ground in Green’s absence.

Sun not shining for Florida teams

Florida Atlantic and FIU were both projected to be among the upper echelon of C-USA East teams. Two weeks into the young season, both schools from the Sunshine State are 0-2. Florida Atlantic’s losses (Ohio State and UCF) have been more forgivable. It might be time to panic for FIU fans after dropping their first conference game to a Western Kentucky squad that fell to an FCS opponent in Week 1.

Isaiah still Green

Another C-USA East hopeful took a tumble in Week 2. The Marshall Thundering Herd went toe-to-toe with Boise State on the blue turf, including one final chance to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter. From midfield, sophomore quarterback Isaiah Green was picked off. Boise burned up the rest of the clock, winning 14-7. Once again, C-USA narrowly misses out on a signature win.

Week 3 storylines

Time for Fine?

North Texas quarterback Mason Fine has Heisman Trophy aspirations, but the Mean Green have a rigorous schedule and suffered their first loss in Week 2 against SMU. Keeping pace in C-USA is still in play, but any chances of fulfilling a New Year’s Six Bowl or more could fall away if North Texas misses on their marquee non-conference game. They trounced Arkansas on the road last year. Can they pull off another Power 5 upset against a stingy Cal team who knocked off Washington on Saturday night?

Give me a break

The quirky 2019 schedule has afforded teams two off weeks during the season instead of the traditional one. Old Dominion, UAB and UTEP each have their first off week in Week 3. All three of those teams enter their first respite with at least one win while UAB stands atop C-USA as the only 2-0 squad.

No rest for the weary

Most of C-USA suffered a loss in Week 2. Those losing teams won’t find much comfort from their schedules next weekend. Rice trades Wake Forest for a date with Texas. UTSA, who was rolled by Baylor, draws Army next. Southern Miss gets a feisty Troy team and Middle Tennessee trades Tennessee State for Duke. It could be another long weekend in C-USA.

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 1 CUSA roundup

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Rice football dropped a one-score game to Army at West Point. How did the rest of the conference fare and what’s next for Conference USA football in Week 1?

Team Last Week Result This Week
Charlotte — OFF — W, 49-28 vs Gardner Webb
FAU — OFF — L, 45-21 at Ohio St
FIU  — OFF — L, 42-14 at Tulane
LaTech — OFF — L, 45-14 at Texas
Marshall — OFF — W, 56-17 vs VMI
MTSU — OFF — L, 40-21 at Michigan
North Texas — OFF — W, 51-31 vs Abilene Christian
ODU — OFF — W, 24-21 vs Norfolk St
Rice — OFF — L, 14-7 at Army
Southern Miss  — OFF — W, 38-10 vs Alcorn St
UAB — OFF — W, 24-19 vs Alabama St
UTEP — OFF — W, 36-34 vs Houston Baptist
UTSA — OFF — W, 35-7 vs Incarnate Word
WKU  — OFF — L, 35-28 vs Central Ark.

Notable Week 1 results

Rice fights

Army has the second-longest winning streak in the nation, but that didn’t stop Rice from pushing the Black Knights to the limit on Friday night. Missed opportunities, including a pair of missed field goals, stalled any hopes of an upset. Still, the Rice defense looked absolutely terrifying in their 2019 debut.

FCUpset

Two CUSA head coaches made their debuts on Thursday. One, Will Healy of the Charlotte 49ers, celebrated shirtless following his team’s blowout victory over Gardner Webb. The other, Tyson Helton at Western Kentucky, saw his team give up three fourth quarter touchdowns and lose at home.

Winner, winner

It came down to the wire, but UTEP won a football game on their own field for the first time since Nov. 26, 2016. A packed house of 34,646 fans watched anxiously before being rewarded by an exciting offensive display, including an 80-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Jones to Tre’Shone Wolf on the Miners’ first play.

Week 2 storylines

Conference play starts early

Western Kentucky and FIU face an added challenge next week when they kick off CUSA conference play against each other in Miami. After tough losses suffered by both teams in Week 1, an 0-2 start coupled with the sting of an 0-1 conference hole could prove devastating.

Can anyone stun a state power?

With a few exceptions, most of the conference started off their season against another Group of 5 team or an FCS squad in Week 1. Week 2 features a host of Power 5 opponents across the conference: Texas Tech, Baylor, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech. Will anyone be able to muster an upset?

Kiffin complex

Lane Kiffin has come a long way from his debut season at FAU. The Owls were shellacked by Ohio State in Week 1 and face a ranked UCF squad which blanked Florida A&M 62-0. The wheels aren’t coming off in Boca Raton just yet, but FAU needs a win in the worst way to avert things heading in that direction.

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Conference USA Football not featured in 2019 Preseason Top 25 polls

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There weren’t any Conference USA football teams ranked in the preseason polls, but there will be plenty of opportunity for the conference in 2019.

The AP Poll and the Coaches Poll don’t often feature many Group of 5 programs in their preseason editions. It takes proven production, returning starters and a track record of success to crack the initial list. That was true of the 2019 polls as well.

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One Group of 5 program, UCF, received enough votes to be ranked. They check in at No. 17 in both polls.

Boise State (38), Cincinnati (16), Fresno State (8), Utah State (8), Memphis (6), Appalachian State (5) and UAB (3) each received votes in the AP Poll. Boise State (118), Fresno State (32), Utah State (32), Cincinnati (25), Memphis (24), Appalachian State (4), Houston (3), North Texas (3), Temple (2) and Troy (1) earned votes in the Coaches Poll.

North Texas and UAB were the only CUSA programs recognized in either poll. Both received first place votes to win the conference during Conference USA Media Days, but so did four other programs.

The easiest way for any additional CUSA squads to force their way onto the ballots is winning. Several of the conference’s more prominent programs will have opportunities to make statements early in the season. FAU faced ranked UCF on Septemeber 7. North Texas hits the road to take on Cal on September 14.

Find out more about the prominent non-conference games to watch and get a deeper dive on all 14 CUSA teams in our 2019 Conference USA Football Preview. The preview is available to download on your device today.

Complete AP Poll
  1. Clemson(52)
  2. Alabama(10)
  3. Georgia
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Ohio State
  6. LSU
  7. Michigan
  8. Florida
  9. Notre Dame
  10. Texas
  11. Oregon
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Washington
  14. Utah
  15. Penn State
  16. Auburn
  17. UCF
  18. Michigan State
  19. Wisconsin
  20. Iowa
  21. Iowa State
  22. Syracuse
  23. Washington State
  24. Nebraska
  25. Stanford
Complete Coaches Poll
  1. Clemson(59)
  2. Alabama(6)
  3. Georgia
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Ohio State
  6. LSU
  7. Michigan
  8. Florida
  9. Notre Dame
  10. Texas
  11. Texas A&M
  12. Washington
  13. Oregon
  14. Penn State
  15. Utah
  16. Auburn
  17. UCF
    Wisconsin
  18. –tie–
  19. Iowa
  20. Michigan State
  21. Washington State
  22. Syracuse
  23. Stanford
  24. Iowa State
  25. Northwestern
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