UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17
MTSU at Liberty (CBSSN) 6 p.m.
WKU at Jax State (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18
FIU at Sam Houston (CBSSN) 6 p.m.
New Mexico State at UTEP (ESPN2) 8 p.m.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK, PRESENTED BY BLENDERS EYEWEAR (WEEK 7)
OFFENSE
QB DIEGO PAVIA, NEW MEXICO STATE
Junior, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pavia became the first Aggie to record a 100-yard rushing game this season as he totaled 115 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the win over Sam Houston to go along with 286 yards and two touchdowns through the air, accounting for 401 of the Aggies 456 total yards. Pavia became the first Aggie to have over 400 yards of total offense since 2017. On the week, Pavia led CUSA in total offensive yards (401), passing yards (286) and was tied for the most passing touchdowns (two) in Week 7. He also recorded the longest rush of the week and second-longest pass completion of the week among CUSA players. His 115 rushing yards were the second-most among CUSA players on the week.
DEFENSE
DL MAURICE WESTMORELAND, UTEP
Junior, Houston, Texas
Westmoreland recorded career highs in sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (3.5) and total tackles (six), while also adding a quarterback hurry in UTEP’s 27-14 victory at FIU on Oct. 11. Westmoreland got to the Panthers’ quarterback during the second, third and fourth quarters in the win. Westmoreland, who didn’t record a sack last season, leads the team with 4.5 in 2023, while tying for the league lead. The Houston native also is tied for ninth in CUSA with 5.5 tackles for loss on the season. Westmoreland helped lead a defense that registered eight sacks on the night, the most for the Miners since the 2001 season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
P JOSHUA SLOAN, UTEP
Junior, Melbourne, Australia
Sloan booted four punts for 176 yards (an average of 44.0 yards per attempt), which included a career-long 65-yard punt in UTEP’s 27-14 win at FIU on Oct. 11. Sloan placed a pair inside the 20 in the win. Sloan ranks third in CUSA at 42.9 yards per punt and the Melbourne, Australia, native ranks fifth in the league with 32 total punts.
C-USA QUICK HITTERS
A LOOK AT WEEK 8
Eight Conference USA teams are in action in Week 8, as midweek conference matchups continue to take center stage in front of a national television audience with a pair of doubleheaders on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Tuesday night’s games get kicked off at 6 p.m. CT, as Middle Tennessee (2-5, 1-2 CUSA) travels to Lynchburg, Virginia, to take on Liberty (6-0, 4-0 CUSA) on CBS Sports Network. MTSU won last week, 31-23 at home over Louisiana Tech, to get the Blue Raiders’ first league win of the season, while Liberty dispatched of a previously 5-1 Jax State, 31-13, comfortably on the road to remain undefeated.
Speaking of Jax State (5-2, 3-1 CUSA), the Gamecocks remain at home to host WKU (4-2, 2-0 CUSA) at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU. The Gamecocks fell 31-13 to Liberty last week, and though WKU was off last week, the Hilltoppers knocked off Louisiana Tech 35- 28 on the road back on Oct. 5 in Ruston its last time out.
A pair of Wednesday night contests get underway at 6 p.m. in Huntsville, Texas, as Sam Houston (0-6, 0-3 CUSA) is in search of its first win as an FBS program when it welcomes FIU (3-4, 0-4 CUSA) at 6 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. The Bearkats fell 27-13 on the road last week at New Mexico State, while FIU dropped a home game 27-14 to UTEP. Someone will leave Huntsville with its first conference victory.
The final CUSA game of the week kicks off at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2 in the 100th edition of the Battle of I-10 between New Mexico State (4-3, 2-1 CUSA) and UTEP (2-5, 1-2 CUSA) in El Paso at the Sun Bowl. The Aggies defeated Sam Houston 27-13 last week at home, while UTEP picked up a much-needed victory on the road at FIU, 27-14.
LIBERTY ONE OF 11 UNBEATEN
Liberty (6-0, 4-0 CUSA) is one of just 11 unbeaten teams remaining in the FBS. The Flames, under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell are atop the Conference USA standings at the midway point of the season, and in contention for the Peer Conference spot in the New Year’s Six.
REED ALL ABOUT IT!
WKU QB Austin Reed has opened his 2023 season by completing 150-246 passes for 1,665 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, while also carrying 24 times for 71 yards and three additional scores. He was 19-34 for 297 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Hilltoppers’ win on the road at Louisiana Tech on Oct. 5. Reed enters Week 8 ranked 10th in points responsible per game (17.3), 11th nationally in completions per game (25.00), is tied 15th in passing touchdowns (14), 15th in points responsible for (104), 22nd in passing yards per game (277.5) and 30th in passing yards (1,665), 30th in total offense per game (289.3).
SENSATIONAL SALTER
Liberty QB Kaidon Salter has had a tremendous start to his 2023 season for the 6-0 Flames. The sophomore has complete 76-132 passes for 1,353 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions, while also carrying 69 times for 337 yards and six more touchdowns. He completed 12-21 passes for 177 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions to go along with 10 carries for 31 yards in a 31-13 league road win at Jacksonville State last week. Through Week 7 of the season, Salter leads the nation in passing yards per completion (17.80), ranks sixth in points responsible for per game (20.0), sixth in yards per pass attempt (10.25), eighth in passing efficiency (175.6), eighth in total points responsible for (120), 15th in passing touchdowns (14), and 27th in rushing touchdowns (six).
TACKLING MACHINES
Through Week 7 of the season, CUSA boasts three of the top-10 in the country in tackles per game. 3. Trevor Williams, Sam Houston 11.6 4. Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP 11.7 10. Donovan Manuel, LB, FIU 10.3
WHY THE RUSH?
Liberty enters Week 8 ranking second in the country in rushing offense, averaging 253.5 yards per game, trailing just Air Force for the national lead. Jax State ranks 15th in FBS at 204.0 yards per game and New Mexico State is 24th at 194.6 yards per game.
HOT TAKE(AWAYS)
Liberty enters Week 8 as the national leader in interceptions, as the Flames have a total of 13 through its first six games of the season. Liberty’s 13 turnovers forced is also eighth-best in the nation. WKU leads the nation in takeaways with 16 (and also ranks 18th nationally with eight interceptions), while Jax State is tied with WKU for the national lead with 16 (and ranks fourth nationally in interceptions with 10).
ON THE (TURNOVER) MARGINS
Entering Week 8 Liberty and WKU are +1.33 in turnover margin, which is tied for fifth nationally, while Jax State is seventh at +1.29 per game. The Gamecocks are +9 for the season, while WKU and Liberty are both +8.
RECOVERY IS KEY
WKU is second in the nation in fumble recoveries entering Week 8, with eight. FIU ranks 24th nationally with five.
MINERS SPOIL VICE NIGHT, BEAT FIU 27-14
UTEP (2-5, 1-2 CUSA) traveled to Miami and spoiled Vice Night, picking up a very much-needed win, 27- 14 over FIU (3-4, 0-4 CUSA) on Wednesday night. UTEP raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and held on to pick up the victory, their first since Week 1 in a win over Incarnate Word. WR Kelly Akharaiyi had a career night for the Miners, hauling in eight catches for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while QB Cade McConnell completed 11-17 passes for 262 yards in his first career start. Defensively, DE Praise Amaewhule became the UTEP program-leader in career sacks, with 21.5 (previous record was 20.0 held by Gonzalo Floyd since 1993). Amaewhule recorded a pair of sacks in the win for the Miners, who picked up their first-ever win in the state of Florida and second-ever in the Eastern Time Zone (now 2-26-1 in program history in that situation). DE Maurice Westmoreland had a monster performance as well for UTEP, as he recorded six total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry.
AGGIES ROLL, ABOVE .500 WITH 27-13 WIN
New Mexico State (4-3, 2-1 CUSA) beat Sam Houston (0-6, 0-3 CUSA) 27-13 at home on Wednesday night to close out the Week 7 CUSA slate. QB Diego Pavia had a very productive night for the Aggies, both with his arm and his legs. He completed 20-36 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, and 15 carries for 115 yards and another score. WR Trent Hudson caught three passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns in the win. New Mexico State opened the game with 27 unanswered points and held a 27-0 halftime lead. Sam Houston cut the lead to 27-13 and appeared to be headed for a late fourth quarter touchdown to cut it to a one-score game, but New Mexico State’s defense forced a turnover on downs inside the red zone. Defensively, the Aggies were led by DB Myles Rowser, who finished with a team-high 10 tackles.
LIBERTY STAYS UNBEATEN, IS BOWL ELIGIBLE
Liberty (6-0, 4-0 CUSA) kept its record unblemished, knocking off Jax State (5-2, 3-1 CUSA) 31-13 on the road Tuesday night to become the first CUSA team to reach bowl eligibility. RB Quinton Cooley was fantastic for the Flames, showcasing the nation’s second-ranked rushing attack. Cooley finished with 28 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns. QB Kaidon Salter was 12-21 for 177 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while also carrying 10 times for 31 yards in the win. The Liberty defense now leads the nation in interceptions after Tuesday’s pair of picks lifted the Flames to 13 on the season, passing Oklahoma for the FBS lead. LB Tyren Dupree finished with a game-high 12 tackles and a pass breakup, while DB Brylan Green recorded his CUSA-leading fourth interception of the season, and DB Kobe Singleton snagged his third. The Flames are one of 14 unbeaten teams remaining in the FBS, and with a win over Jax State continue to build their resume during their first season as a member of CUSA.
MTSU PICKS UP FIRST CUSA WIN, 31-23
Middle Tennessee (2-5, 1-2 CUSA) picked up a much-needed victory at home Tuesday night over Louisiana Tech (3-5, 2-2 CUSA), 31-23. LA Tech had an opportunity to try and tie things up late, but the Blue Raider defense stood up, forcing a turnover on downs to secure the victory, the team’s first since a Sept. 16 win over Murray State, also at home. QB Nicholas Vattiato completed 23-29 passes for 248 yards with three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) and no interceptions in the win. WR Holden Willis had four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown (a key 60-yard score in the fourth quarter). Defensively, LB Parker Hughes led the Blue Raiders with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a half back in the win.
