UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
WKU at Troy (ESPNU) 11 a.m.
LA Tech at Nebraska (Big Ten Net) 2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Jax State (ESPN+) 4 p.m.
Liberty at FIU (ESPN+) 5:30 p.m.
Colorado State at MTSU (ESPN+) 6 p.m.
Sam Houston at Houston (Big 12 Now) 6 p.m.
UNLV at UTEP (ESPN+) 8 p.m.
New Mexico State at Hawai’i (Spectrum) 11 p.m
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK, PRESENTED BY BLENDERS EYEWEAR (WEEK 3)
OFFENSE
QB KAIDON SALTER, LIBERTY
Sophomore, Cedar Hill, Texas
Salter posted his first career 300-yard passing game, completing 16-26 passes for 344 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in the Flames’ 55- 27 win at Buffalo. He also added 10 carries for 66 yards and another score in the win at Buffalo. His career-best five passing touchdowns were the most for a Flames quarterback in a game since 2020. Salter has led the Flames to a 3-0 start and was a catalyst for the offense that rolled up 569 yards of total offense and 55 points in the win.
DEFENSE
LB SAM BRUMFIELD, MTSU
RS Junior, Pearl, Mississippi
Brumfield tallied a career-high 13 total tackles, 10 of which were solo, to go along with a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in Middle Tennessee’s 35-14 win at home over Murray State. His previous career-high in tackles was five, set at Missouri the previous week. This also marked the second consecutive game where Brumfield has forced a fumble.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K, ETHAN ALBERTSON, NEW MEXICO STATE
RS Senior, San Diego, California
Albertson connected on field goals of 26 and 47 yards, while also making all three extra points during the Aggies’ 27-17 win at rival New Mexico on Saturday. His season-long 47-yarder put New Mexico State ahead by two scores in the third quarter and he moved into a tie for fourth place in program history in made field goals (33).
QUICK HITTERS
A LOOK AT WEEK 4
All nine Conference USA teams are in action in Week 4, with seven non-conference matchups and one league fixture.
WKU (2-1) opens the day with a non-conference road game at Troy (1-2) on ESPNU at 11 a.m. CT to kick off the slate for CUSA. The Hilltoppers fell 63-10 at No. 6 Ohio State last week, while Troy lost at home in a conference game to James Madison, 16-14.
LA Tech (2-2) travels to Lincoln to battle Nebraska (1- 2) at 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. The Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaker last week at home to North Texas, 40-37, while the Huskers earned the first win of the Matt Rhule era with a 35-11 win over Northern
Illinois.
Jax State (2-1) returns to action following a bye last week when the Gamecocks host MAC foe Eastern Michigan (2-1) at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Last time out, the Gamecocks fell 30-16 on the road at Coastal Carolina, while Eastern Michigan won a tight one last week 19-17 at home over UMass.
In the lone conference game of the weekend for CUSA teams, Liberty (3-0) flys south to Miami to do battle with FIU (3-1) at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Flames blew out Buffalo on the road, 55-27, last week, while FIU won its third straight game, defeating UConn 24-17 on the road.
Sam Houston (0-2) makes the short trip to TDECU Stadium when the Bearkats take on Big 12 foe Houston (1-2) at 6 p.m. CT on Big 12 Now. Sam Houston was off last week, and fell 13-3 to Air Force two weeks ago, while Houston was beaten 36-13 by TCU at home last week.
Middle Tennessee (1-2) has its second straight home game when the Blue Raiders welcome in Colorado State (0-2) Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. MTSU picked up its first win of the 2023 season last week with a 35-14 win over Murray State at home, while Colorado State impressed in defeat, falling 43- 35 at No. 18 Colorado.
UTEP (1-3) returns home to El Paso this week to host UNLV (2-1) at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Miners fell 31- 10 at Arizona last week, while the Rebels picked up a win at home against Vanderbilt, 40-37.
In the nightcap for CUSA, New Mexico State (2-2) makes the long journey to Honolulu to take on Hawai’i (1-3) at 11 p.m. CT on Spectrum Sports PPV. The Aggies won the 113th Rio Grande Rivalry over New Mexico on the road, 27-17, while Hawai’i was beaten 55-10 at No. 13 Oregon.
HOT TAKE(AWAYS)
Liberty enters Week 4 as the national leader in interceptions, as the Flames have a total of nine through the first three games of the season.
SALTER LEADS LIBERTY TO 3-0 START
Liberty (3-0) won its first road game under head coach Jamey Chadwell, taking care of Buffalo 55- 27 on Saturday to improve to 3-0 on the young season. QB Kaidon Salter was again the story for the Flames, with yet another standout performance, totaling six touchdowns. The sophomore completed 16-26 passes for 344 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions and also carried 10 times for 66 yards and another score. A pair of Liberty receivers also turned in 100-yard receiving performances, as CJ Daniels hauled in four catches for 106 yards and a score, and Treon Sibley had three grabs for 106 yards and a touchdown. WR Elijah Smoot caught four passes for 99 yards and two scores in the win. Defensively, LB Tyren Dupree picked off a pair of passes, the second Flames linebacker to do so in the first three games. Liberty’s defense has nine interceptions in three games.
FIU PICKS UP ROAD WIN AT UCONN
FIU (3-1) won its third consecutive game, improving to 3-1, after holding on to a 24-17 road victory at UConn. True freshman QB Keyone Jenkins completed 15-27 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in the win, and is now 3-0 as a starter. WR Jalen Bracey led the way for FIU, hauling in five catches for 90 yards and a score. Defensively, LB Donovan Manuel recorded a gamehigh 10 tackles (nine solo) and a pair of tackles for loss in the win. DB D’Verik Daniel also chipped in with nine stops and a tackle for loss.
NM STATE KNOCKS OFF RIVAL NEW MEXICO
New Mexico State (2-2) won the 113th edition of the Rio Grande Rivalry 27-17 at New Mexico on Saturday night, thanks largely in part to some explosive plays and a stout defensive performance by the Aggies. QB Diego Pavia was 9-14 for 203 yards with two touchdowns and also carried 11 times for 96 yards in the win. Big-play threat WR Jonathan Brady caught three passes for 109 yards and both of Pavia’s scoring tosses. Defensively, LB Keyshaun Elliot recorded a game-high 10 tackles (seven solo) with a pair of TFL and a quarterback hurry in the victory. A 17-point second quarter for the Aggies proved to be the difference, as NM State improved to 2-2 on the young season.
MTSU WINS HOME OPENER 35-14
Middle Tennessee (1-2) picked up its first win of the season following a pair of road SEC tilts to open the season. The Blue Raiders knocked off Murray State 35-14 behind strong offensive efforts by QB Nick Vattiato (28-34 for 291 yards and two touchdowns and 41 yards on the ground) and RB Jaelin Credle (11 carries for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving). Defensively, LB Sam Brumfield had a game-high 13 tackles (10 solo), 1.5 TFL, a sack and a forced fumble. MTSU’s defense forced three turnovers in the win, and the offense rolled up 508 yards (8.5 yards per play).
LA TECH COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT
Louisiana Tech (2-2) trailed by 17 points with six-and-a-half minutes to play against North Texas, and mounted a furious comeback effort to tie things at 37-37 with 1:04 to go. Ultimately, the comeback fell just short, as the Mean Green kicked a game-winning 31-yard field goal with three seconds on the clock. Offensively for the Bulldogs RB Tyre Shelton carried 16 times for 152 yards and a touchdown, while WR Smoke Harris hauled in four catches for 77 yards and two scores (including a 36-yard score that tied it up late). Backup QB Jack Turner came on in relief of an injured Hank Bachmeier and completed 9-14 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. DBs Myles Heard and Cecil Singleton recorded 14 and 11 tackles, respectfully.
