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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 10 C-USA Roundup

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It was another disappointing weekend for Rice football, but plenty of other Conference USA Football teams had big wins to celebrate in Week 10.

Team Week 10 Result Week 11
Charlotte vs MTSU W, 34-20 at UTEP
FAU at WKU W, 35-24 vs FIU
FIU vs Old Dominion W, 24-17 at FAU
LA Tech — OFF —  — vs North Texas
Marshall at Rice W, 20-7 — OFF —
MTSU at Charlotte L, 34-20 — OFF —
North Texas vs UTEP W, 52-26 at Louisiana Tech
Old Dominion at FIU L, 24-17 vs UTSA
Rice vs Marshall L, 20-7 — OFF —
Southern Miss — OFF —  — vs UAB
UAB at Tennessee L, 30-7 at Southern Miss
UTEP at North Texas W, 52-26 vs Charlotte
UTSA at Texas A&M L, 45-14 at Old Dominion
WKU vs FAU L, 35-24 at Arkansas

Notable Week 10 results – Standings

What could have been?

The Rice football offense showed signs of life under freshmen quarterback Jovoni Johnson, but untimely penalties and his injury stopped the Owls before they could ever get into a rhythm. One proficient half through the air was more than enough for Marshall to beat Rice on Saturday.

Tops turned after hot start

Three weeks ago, Western Kentucky was in the driver’s seat in the C-USA East. Losses to Marshall and FAU, the latter which came at home in Week 10, have not only put the dreams of winning the conference on hold, but severely dampened aspirations of playing in a bowl game this season. Sitting at 4-5 with a date against Arkansas next weekend, the Hilltoppers season might have just turned on a dime.

The Mason Fine we all know and love

It’s been a bumpy ride for preseason offensive player of the year, Mason Fine. A grueling schedule and some injuries have kept Fine off his A-game.  He threw for 300 yards three times in the Mean Green’s first seven-game, averaging 2.1 touchdowns over that span. In his last two games, he’s averaged 363 yards and SIX touchdowns per game. His seven touchdown outing against UTEP was marvelous.

Week 11 storylines

Could Charlotte go bowling after all?

It’s been a roller coaster of a season for Charlotte in 2019. After four straight losses, the 49ers have won their last two games, giving them four victories under their belt with three games to play. They still have Marshall on the schedule, but they also draw UTEP and Old Dominion, neither of which has won a conference game this year.

All-Florida showdown

Florida Atlantic and FIU have had this coming weekend circled on the calendar since the season began. It’s been a bumpy ride for FIU, but the Panthers can clinch a bowl berth and knock FAU out of contention for the East with a win. Rivalry games always seem to live up to the hype. This should be a good one.

For the west

Louisiana Tech has a win over Southern Miss and a one-game lead in the race fo the West. Beating North Texas next weekend at home will keep them in the front of the pack, but perhaps an even more intriguing battle will be happening in Hattiesburg. The winner of Southern Miss vs UAB could thrust themselves back into the mix, particularly if the Blazers can win on the road as they have a date with Louisiana Tech later in November.

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 8 C-USA Roundup

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Rice football fell again, but Louisiana Tech and Marshall’s big victories highlighted a defining weekend for Conference USA Football.

Team Week 8 Result Week 9
Charlotte at WKU L, 30-14 vs North Texas
FAU vs Marshall L, 36-31 at Old Dominion
FIU vs UTEP W, 32-17 at MTSU
LA Tech vs Southern Miss W, 45-30 at UTEP
Marshall at FAU W, 36-31 vs WKU
MTSU at North Texas L, 33-30 vs FIU
North Texas vs MTSU W, 33-30 at Charlotte
Old Dominion at UAB L, 38-14 vs FAU
Rice at UTSA L, 31-27 vs Southern Miss
Southern Miss at LA Tech L, 45-30 at Rice
UAB vs Old Dominion W, 38-14 — OFF —
UTEP at FIU L, 32-17 vs LA Tech
UTSA vs Rice W, 31-27 — OFF —
WKU vs Charlotte W, 30-14 at Marshall

Notable Week 8 results – Standings

Rice running out of ways to lose

Rice scored first, led at halftime and led in the fourth quarter. But once more, the Owls were unable to seal the deal and come away with the victory. UTSA stunned the visiting Owls, turning away a last-minute fourth quarter drive with back-to-back sacks to secure the home victory. Meanwhile, Rice, who was favored in the game, falls to 0-7 on the season.

Look out for LA Tech

The only Conference USA team to receiver any votes in the Week 7 AP Poll, Louisiana Tech cemented their place atop the conference with a shootout win over Southern Miss. Eagles’ quarterback Jack Abraham was picked off four teams, including a dagger pick-six from Tech’s Ezekiel Barnett to ice the game in the fourth quarter.

North Texas survives

Held together by baling wire and duct tape, Mason Fine won’t quit. The battered North Texas passer through for 375 yards and a touchdown, adding a score on the ground in a thrilling win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday. MTSU tied the game with 28 seconds to play before Fine drove the field to set up an Ethan Mooney game-winner as time expired.

Week 9 storylines

Marshall back in the mix?

Entering the game at 3-3 with a disappointing loss to Middle Tennessee in their C-USA opener, Marshall has won back-to-back games for the first time and has put themselves back in the mix in for the C-USA East crown. A win over WKU next week would put them in the driver’s seat despite the rough start to the season.

More than Will Healy bargained for

A trendy preseason pick to be better than expected in C-USA East, Charlotte has had a tough go of it in the last few weeks. After taking two of their first three with wins over Gardner Webb and UMass, the 49ers have lost four straight, including three conference games by a combined score of 123-64. If Charlotte can’t turn things around in next week’s game against a hot-and-cold North Texas squad, they might not any time soon.

Monarchs marching further and further from improvement

Bobby Wilder recently called himself the coach of the best 1-5 team in the country. By his calculations, he’s probably now the coach of the best 1-6 squad which could be 1-7 soon if they can’t figure things out on offense. FAU is allowed 25.3 points per game against conference foes while Old Dominion is averaging 16.5.

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 7 C-USA roundup

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Rice football was off, but Conference USA Football action was as entertaining as ever. Here’s the latest news from around the conference after Week 7.

Team Week 7 Result Week 8
Charlotte at FIU L, 48-23 at WKU
FAU vs MTSU W, 28-13 vs Marshall
FIU vs Charlotte W, 48-23 vs UTEP
LA Tech vs UMass W, 69-21 vs Southern Miss
Marshall vs Old Dominion W, 31-17 at FAU
MTSU at FAU L, 28-13 at North Texas
North Texas at Southern Miss L, 45-27 vs MTSU
Old Dominion at Marshall L, 31-17 at UAB
Rice — OFF —  — at UTSA
Southern Miss vs North Texas W, 45-27 at LA Tech
UAB at UTSA W, 33-14 vs Old Dominion
UTEP — OFF —  — at FIU
UTSA vs UAB L, 33-14 vs Rice
WKU vs Army W, 17-8 vs Charlotte

Notable Week 7 results – Standings

Stop sleeping on FAU

FAU never dropped out of the Conference USA Football title race, but two lopsided losses to start the season against two very good teams (Ohio State and UCF) made some forget about the Owls. Now at the midway point of the season, they’ve won four in a row and are 2-0 in conference play.

Oh no Old Dominion

A three-point win over Norfolk State was the only happy moment for the Monarchs and head coach Bobby Wilder who’s seat continues to warm after a loss to Marshall. Old Dominion hasn’t hired a coach other than Wilder since  Tommy Scott in 1930, but that could change if the Monarchs don’t turn things around quickly.

Not Fine, not Fine at all

The Week 7 tilt between Southern Miss and North Texas was billed as a battle of the West’s top two teams. The teams traded touchdowns in the first half before Southern Miss took control in the second half. Things took a turn for the worst for North Texas when star quarterback Mason Fine got hit hard on a short run and left the game. If Fine’s injury is serious, the Mean Green might be in big trouble.

Week 8 storylines

Can you beat someone other than UTEP?

UTSA knocked off UTEP in Week 6 as a slight underdog on the road. Rice has yet to win a game, but they haven’t played a team with a sub-.500 record yet this season. Can the Owls earn their first win of the season or will UTSA beat their first non-UTEP FBS opponent since they beat Rice last October?

Speaking of UTEP… Can FIU right the ship?

An 0-2 start to Conference USA action was a worst-case scenario for FIU, but the Panthers did what they could in Week 7 by disposing of a feisty Charlotte squad. A win over UTEP next weekend would put FIU back to .500 and back in the mix in the East.

Wild west showdown

Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech are the only remaining teams in the West with spotless records in conference play. They meet in Ruston in Week 8 in a game which could decide their half of the conference with matchups against UAB later in the season the biggest question mark remaining for whichever team leaves with the win.

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 6 C-USA roundup

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UAB and Rice football battled through storms, playing late into Saturday night on an eventful day for Conference USA Football in Week 6.

Team Week 6 Result Week 7
Charlotte — OFF —  — at FIU
FAU — OFF —  — vs MTSU
FIU vs UMass W, 44-0 vs Charlotte
LA Tech — OFF —  — vs UMass
Marshall vs MTSU L, 24-13 vs Old Dominion
MTSU vs Marshall W, 23-13 at FAU
North Texas — OFF —  — at Southern Miss
Old Dominion vs WKU L, 20-3 at Marshall
Rice at UAB L, 35-20 — OFF —
Southern Miss — OFF —  — vs North Texas
UAB vs Rice W, 35-20 at UTSA
UTEP vs UTSA L, 26-16 — OFF —
UTSA at UTEP W, 26-16 vs UAB
WKU at Old Dominion W, 20-3 vs Army

Notable Week 6 results – Standings

Raining on Rice

It lasted more than six hours, had two lightning delays and finished in a humid rain shower after midnight. The net result,  for those who choose to avoid the deluge and late night waiting, was another relatively close loss for the Owls who played a sloppy contest.

Mayday for Marshall?

Six weeks into the 2019 season, it’s safe to start throwing preseason expectations out the window. One such belief, was that Marshall would be an obvious contender for the C-USA East title. The Thundering Herd have played a rigorous schedule, but things were supposed to get better with the first conference game against MTSU. They didn’t. Marshall sits at 2-3 and hasn’t played particularly well in any of their defeats. They’ll need to win some games before they start thinking about championships.

Somebody had to win

UTSA and UTEP had yet to defeat an FBS opponent entering their Week 6 game in El Paso. UTSA’s last outing was a 45-3 beatdown at the hands of North Texas. UTEP’s was marginally better — a 31-13 defeat at the hands of Southern Miss. Neither has done much to inspire confidence, but UTSA walks away with their first Conference USA win.

Week 7 storylines

For C-USA, third time the charm?

Rice and UTSA had their shot at Army earlier in the season. Rice came close, losing 14-7. UTSA hung around before the Black Knights pulled away to win 31-13. C-USA East-leading Western Kentucky will be the final team in the conference to play Army.

North Texas tries to regroup

Last week was weird for the Mean Green. Instead of facing D’Eriq King and the Houston Cougars as underdogs, the King-less Cougs blasted North Texas 46-25. Losers of three of their last four, albeit to quality teams, beating Southern Miss would do wonders to restore confidence as the team enters the heart of conference play.

How good is MTSU?

Three blowout losses to Power 5 teams with a beatdown of Tennessee State sprinkled in between, Saturday’s Week 6 win over Marshall was the best look we’ve gotten at the Blue Raiders. Which one is the most indicative picture of how good this team will be? We might found out next week when they face FAU on the road.

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 5 C-USA roundup

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Rice football fell in overtime, but they weren’t the only Conference USA Football to come down on the wrong end of a close game in Week 5.

Team Week 5 Result Week 6
Charlotte vs FAU L, 45-27 — OFF —
FAU at Charlotte W, 45-27 — OFF —
FIU — OFF —  — vs UMass
LA Tech at Rice W, 23-20 (OT) — OFF —
Marshall vs Cincinnati L, 52-15 at MTSU
MTSU at No. 14 Iowa L, 48-3 vs Marshall
North Texas vs Houston L, 46-25 — OFF —
ODU vs East Carolina L, 24-21 vs WKU
Rice vs Louisiana Tech L, 23-20 (OT) at UAB
Southern Miss vs UTEP W, 31-13 — OFF —
UAB at WKU L, 20-13 vs Rice
UTEP at Southern Miss L, 31-13 vs UTSA
UTSA — OFF —  — at UTEP
WKU vs UAB W, 20-13 at ODU

Notable Week 5 results – Standings

South Main’s first chance at victory soured late

The bottom line was the same for Rice football in Week 5 as it was in the Owls’ first four games. Defeat. This time the Owls pushed their heartbreak further than 60 minutes, falling in overtime to Louisiana Tech in a game in which they left too many points on the board.

Blazers bow out of the ranks of the undefeated

UAB was the lone remaining unbeaten in Conference USA, but wins over Alabama State, Akron and South Alabama weren’t on par with the level of competition they’ll face in Conference USA. Finally faced with their first big test, the Blazers came up short — to a Western Kentucky team which fell to an FCS squad not that long ago. The Hilltoppers have improved a lot, but UAB fans have reason to be concerned.

FAU could be on to something

Early losses to Ohio State and UCF took the early spotlight off the Owls this season. Since then, they scored 40+ points in three consecutive games. FAU routed a quietly impressive Charlotte squad. Now 1-0 in C-USA, the Owls are squarely back in the race for a division crown, especially considering the struggles of Marshall and FIU.

Week 6 storylines

Time to sound the alarm?

Both 1-3, UTSA and UTEP meet in a telling Week 6 matchup. The winner earns their first conference victory of the season while the loser falls to 0-2 with a rigorous slate ahead of them. It’s pretty early in the season to call anything a “must win”, but both teams will have an extra push to lock this one down.

Brick by brick

It’s been a long season for FIU. The Panthers sit at 1-3 with a close win over New Hampshire their only bright spot. The road to salvaging the season and getting back on track starts Saturday against a 1-4 UMass squad who earned their first win over 0-4 Akron last week. If there’s such a thing as a must-win game, this is it.

Take 5

Thanks to the extended calendar this season, each Conference USA Football team will have two open weeks. The first big wave comes in Week 6 with five teams each taking their first open weekend at the same time — Charlotte, FAU, Louisiana Tech, North Texas and Southern Miss. This is the second-most idle teams C-USA will have this season. Six teams are off in Week 12.

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