WEEK 11 GAME SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Liberty at MTSU (CBSSN) 12 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
The Blue Raiders and Flames have met three times on the football field and the series is led by Liberty 2-1. The teams first met in 1982 when they were called Liberty Baptist and MTSU won that game, 27-7. Both teams were I-AA members in the 1982 contest. The two teams met in 2021 at Liberty in a non-conference game with the Flames winning, 41-13. The meeting in 2023 was the first as conference foes and the Blue Raiders fell just short, 42-35.
Liberty Notes
LIBERTY STORYLINES
• Liberty (5-2, 3-2 CUSA) will kick off its November schedule on Saturday, traveling to Middle Tennessee (3-6, 2-3 CUSA) for the first time in 42 years. • The Flames are 2-1 all-time against the Blue Raiders with the home team winning all three contests. Liberty won a 42-35 midweek shootout with Middle Tennessee last season at Williams Stadium. • Liberty is 1-1 on the road this season, giving the Flames a 16-7 mark away from Williams Stadium since the start of 2020. • Following a 5-0 start to the season, Liberty has lost back-to-back games to CUSA opponents Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State. • The Flames are one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season and recording their 19th straight year with 6+ victories. • Jamey Chadwell is 18-3 in his second year at Liberty and owns a 49-9 coaching record dating back to the start of 2020. • RB Quinton Cooley has tallied five 100-yard rushing performances this season and 12 in his first 21 games as a Flame. That includes his team-high 133 rushing yards during last week’s 31-21 loss to Jax State and 134 of the Flames’ 401 rushing yards (and three rushing TDs) versus Middle Tennessee state a year ago. • DE TJ Bush, Jr. has recorded at least 0.5 sack in five of the last six contests. He currently paces the Flames and ranks No. 15 nationally with 5.5 sacks on the season.
“4 DOWNS” WITH MIDDLE TENN.
1 – Derek Mason is in his first year as Middle Tennessee’s head coach. Liberty is 3-0 versus first-year head coaches this season, opening the year with victories over Campbell, New Mexico State and UTEP. This will mark the Flames’ first Saturday contest since a 35-24 home win over East Carolina on Sept. 21. Due to a delay, most of that contest took place in the wee hours of Sunday, Sept. 22.
2- Liberty boasts CUSA’s No. 2 rushing attack (228.6 yards/game), while Middle Tennessee ranks No. 2 in the conference for passing yards per contest (259.7). These contrasting offensive styles were on full display during the teams’ 2023 matchup. Liberty rushed for 401 yards during its 42-35 home win over the Blue Raiders, while Middle Tennessee tallied 332 of its 428 total yards through the air.
3 – Saturday will be Liberty’s third road game of the season. This is the latest in the calendar year that the Flames’ third road contest of a season has ever taken place. Liberty will close out the regular season with three of its last four contests coming away from Williams Stadium. Currently 1-1 on the road, Liberty has won three or more road contests in each of the last four seasons.
4- It has been more than four decades since Liberty last played at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium. The Flames fell 27-7 during their only previous contest at Middle Tennessee, Sept. 18, 1982. That started a trend which has seen the home team win each of the first three Liberty-Middle Tennessee gridiron matchups.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD…
• Make the Flames bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season. • Secure the Flames’ 19th straight season of six wins or more, a streak which began in 2006. • Mark the Flames’ first-ever victory at Middle Tennessee’s Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium (in two tries). • Represent the Flames’ second triumph in Tennessee in program history, boosting their record in the Volunteer State to 2-8-1. • Improve the Flames’ record to 22-3 all-time when facing CUSA opponents (at time of meeting). • Boost the Flames’ November record under Jamey Chadwell to 5-0. • Keep the Flames unbeaten (13-0) in Saturday contests under Jamey Chadwell. • Enable the Flames to avoid losing three straight conference games within a single season for the first time since 2005, when Liberty went 0-4 in Big South play.
LAST MEETING WITH MTSU
OCT. 18, 2023
LIBERTY 42, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 35
LYNCHBURG, VA. (WILLIAMS STADIUM)
• Liberty outgained Middle Tennessee in a shootout, 541 to 428, including 401 rushing yards on 61 carries. • The Flames’ defense stepped up in the fourth quarter, holding the Blue Raiders to 45 total yards and picking off two passes. • QB Kaidon Salter carried the ball 16 times for 160 yards while RB Quinton Cooley finished the night with 24 carries for 134 yards and three rushing touchdowns • Brylan Green finished with five tackles (1 TFL), a forced fumble and an interception for the Flames.
SATURDAY STREAK
Liberty is 12-0 on Saturday under second-year head coach Jamey Chadwell. The Flames’ only three losses in the last two seasons have come on Monday (Vrbo Fiest Bowl vs. Oregon) and Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2024 at Kennesaw State; Oct. 30, 2024 vs. Jacksonville State). Liberty has seen its double-digit regular-season (17), conference (11) and home winning streaks (12) all come to an end within the last two weeks.
STILL A CHANCE
Despite having two conference losses, there is still a path for Liberty to make the Conference USA Championship Game, should the Flames win out and get help. In the Championship Game era (since 2015), 10 times has a team made the Conference USA Championship Game with two losses, most recently North Texas in 2022. A two-loss team is 3-7 all-time in Conference USA Championship Game history, with Southern Miss (2011), East Carolina (2008) and Tulsa (2005) all going on the road to win the title game.
CUSA SUCCESS
Liberty went 8-0 in conference play last year, its first season in Conference USA. The Flames were the first CUSA team to win their first 11 regular-season Conference USA games as conference members prior to their loss to Kennesaw State, Oct. 23. Overall, Liberty is 21-3 all-time against teams who were members of CUSA at time of meeting.
CONTRASTING STYLES
Liberty ranks ninth nationally with 228.6 rushing yards per game. Middle Tennessee has CUSA’s second best passing attack at 259.7 yards per game, but the Blue Raiders rush for just 78.6 yards per game, 130th in FBS. Liberty is 34th nationally in total offense (434.1), while Middle Tennessee is 106th at 338.2.
Trends/Streaks
• Liberty has won eight or more games each of its last five seasons and 15 times total in program history (2019: 8-5; 2020: 10-1; 2021: 8-5; 2022: 8-5; 2023: 13-1). • Since its first season of bowl eligibility in 2019, Liberty has posted a combined 73.2 winning percentage (52-19 record/2019-24). • The Flames loss on October 23 at Kennesaw State snapped a six-game road winning streak, which tied the longest road win streak in school history. • The Flames finished the month October with a 1-2 record in 2024. Since 2020, Liberty has posted a 17-3 record during the month of October.
Offense
• After seeing its offensive numbers decline for five-straight games, the Flames saw an uptick in offense against Jacksonville State. • The Flames finished the Jacksonville State game with 420 total offensive yards, marking the sixth time in 2024 Liberty has surpassed the 400-yard mark. • Liberty also finished the Jacksonville State game with a season-high 81 total offensive plays, but averaged a season-low 5.2 yards per play. • Jacksonville State was the first team to outgain the Flames in a game in 2024 – Liberty 81 plays for 420 yards (5.2 yards per play) vs. Jacksonville State 59 plays for 458 yards (7.8 yards per play). • Liberty enters the MTSU game ranked second in Conference USA in both total offense (435.3 yards per game) and scoring offense (30.0 points per game). • For the second game in a row, the Flames scored on their opening drive, getting a 25-yard Vaughn Blue rushing touchdown at the 10:43 mark of the first quarter. • Liberty is 1-2 when scoring first in 2024 and 9-3 under head coach Jamey Chadwell when scoring first in a game. • For just the third time this year, Liberty finished the first quarter with 100+ offensive yards as the Flames recorded 17 plays for 101 yards during the first 15 minutes of the game. • The Flames continue to struggle to find their offensive flow early as Liberty is averaging 83.7 yards and 14.7 total offensive plays in the first quarter in 2024. • Conversely, the Flames continue to flourish in the fourth quarter, averaging 140.7 yards and 21 total offensive plays during the fourth quarter. • Liberty finished the Jacksonville State game with a season-high 31 fourth-quarter total plays for 149 yards. • After leading the country in rushing offense in 2023 (293.3 yards per game), the Flames have a more balanced offensive attack in 2024 – 1,600 rushing yards/228.6 yards per game and 1,439 passing yards/205.6 yards per game. • Liberty has scored 40 or more points in just over half of its games under head coach Jamey Chadwell (8-of-21), but the Flames have accomplished the feat just once in 2024 (41-24 win over Campbell). • Liberty scored in three of its four quarters against Jacksonville State and has scored in 71-of-84 quarters in 20 games under head coach Jamey Chadwell (84.5 percent). • The Flames combined scoring in the first three quarters of the game this year is 126 points (1st quarter – 34 points; 2nd quarter – 58 points; 3rd quarter – 34 points). • Liberty is currently being outscored by its opponents 47-34 in the first quarter. • Liberty is currently outscoring its opponents 77-41 in the fourth quarter. • Liberty trailed in the second, third and fourth quarters against Jacksonville State. Liberty has trailed in each of its seven games during the 2024 season. • The Flames finished the Jacksonville State game with a season-high 56 rushing attempts and its second-highest rushing total with 273 yards. • Liberty currently ranks second on Conference USA and No. 9 in the country in rushing offense (228.6 yards per game). • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams are 33-0 when rushing for 300 or more yards. • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams have rushed for 200 or more yards 99 times in 177 games (55.9 percent) during his head coaching career. • Liberty finished the 2023 season ranked No. 13 nationally in fewest passes intercepted (6). • The Flames have continued the trend in 2024 despite throwing interceptions in back-to-back games. Liberty currently ranks No. 4 nationally in fewest passes intercepted (3). • Liberty currently leads Conference USA and ranks No. 15 in the country in third-down conversion percentage (47.3 percent). The Flames were 6-of-14 on third-down plays against Jacksonville State. • Liberty has attempted eight fourth-down conversions in the last two games (3-of-5 against Kennesaw State and 1-of-3 against Jacksonville State). • The Flames had their second-lowest penalty total of the season against Jacksonville State, finishing the game with seven penalties for 61 yards. • Liberty currently ranks No. 123 in penalties per game (8.29) and No. 133 in penalty yards per game (87.3). • The Flames posted a season-best 12:28 time of possession advantage against Jacksonville State. Liberty has won the TOP battle in 5-of-7 games and rank No. 14 in average time of possession (32:25).
Defense
• Jacksonville State set opponent season highs for points (31), rushing yards (363) and total yards (458). • Jacksonville State’s Tre Stewart rushed for 232 yards, the most individual rushing yards against Liberty since AJ Hines of Duquesne rushed for 253 yards on Nov. 4, 2017. • Jacksonville State is just the second opponent to outrush Liberty in a game during the Jamey Chadwell era, with the other being Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. • After allowing a season-high 31 points to Jacksonville State, Liberty has fallen to fourth in Conference USA in scoring defense (23.4 points allowed per game). • After allowing a season-high 458 total offensive yards to Jacksonville State, Liberty has fallen to third in Conference USA in total defense (339.4 yards allowed per game). • After allowing a season-high 363 rushing yards to Jacksonville State, Liberty has fallen to third in Conference USA in rushing defense (149.6 yards allowed per game). • Liberty continues to be tough on third and fourth-down plays in 2024. The Flames rank No. 36 in the country in third-down conversion defense (34.1 percent) and No. 28 in fourth-down conversion defense (41.7 percent).
Special Teams
• Liberty ranks second in Conference and No. 26 nationally in punt returns, averaging 12.25 yards per return.
Middle Tennessee State Notes
QUICK HITTERS
• The Noon kick against Liberty is the earliest game time since Nov. 21, 2015 when the Blue Raiders had an 11 AM kick against North Texas. • MTSU’s road win over UTEP was its first away from Murfreesboro since the Dec. 24, 2024 Hawaii Bowl. • MTSU has 35 explosive plays (20 or more yards) on the season and 14 have been passes from Nicholas Vattiato to Omari Kelly. l MTSU has had eight different starting lineups among its offensive line unit in nine games, which ranks as the most in the country. • Nicholas Vattiato is 7th in the Group of 5 with 255.1 passing yards per game and Omari Kelly is 5th in receiving yards (811). • QB Nicholas Vattiato ranks 25th nationally in passing yards/game and 24th in completions/game. • The Blue Raiders have played 11 true freshmen this season (Amarrien Bailey, Jordan Beasley, Aidan Butts, Grant Chadwick, Zach Clayton, Austin Clemons, Josh Evans, Roman Gagliano, Evan Poticher, Tiyyan Robinson and Korey Smith). • With the TTU win, Derek Mason became just the seventh head coach out of 15 who won their opening game as head coach of the Blue Raiders. The other six were: Alfred Miles, Johnny Red Floyd, E.W. Midgett, Charles Murphy, Bill Peck and Rick Stockstill. • Between the 11 full-time coaches (head coach and 10 assistants), four have either played or coached at the NFL level (Derek Mason, Brian Stewart, Kendall Simmons and Calvin Lowry). l MTSU has played four home games in 2024 and two have had lightning delays. The delays have totaled four hours and 22 minutes or basically another complete game. • Consecutive Start Leader: Nick Vattiato: 21 l The Blue Raiders had seven one-score games in 2023, which went down as tied for the 8th most nationally behind ODU (11), Boston College (8), Colorado (8), Illinois (8), North Texas (8), Northern Illinois (8), Northwestern (8) and Washington (8). l 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 team that went 11-3 and knocked off top-ranked Indiana State in the playoffs to reach the 1-AA National Semifinals. • When the Blue Raiders kicked it off against TTU in the season opener, marked 1,372 days since Derek Mason was on the sidelines as a head coach (Nov. 28, 2020) or 196 weeks. • The 2024 season for MTSU is the 110th for Blue Raider football and the 26th at the FBS level.
BLOCK PARTY
Since MTSU joined the FBS ranks in 1999, the Blue Raiders own 75 total blocked kicks in 312 games. That total breaks down as 34 field goals, 27 punts and 14 PATs. MTSU has at least one blocked kick in 24 straight years entering the ‘24 campaign (no blocks so far in 2024). The most blocked kicks in a single-season in the I-A era is eight set in 2009.
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Winning the turnover battle is critical in collecting victories in football. Over the last 153 games (since middle of 2012), MTSU is 53-13 when winning the turnover battle. The Blue Raiders are 11-3 over the past two years when winning the turnover battle
OVERTIME GAMES
Middle Tennessee has competed in 11 overtime games as an FBS member (since 1999) and carries a mark of 6-5. As a head coach, Derek Mason is 2-0 in OT games all-time. Here is a list of MTSU’s overtime games:
Kennesaw State at UTEP (ESPN+) 3 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY … • Wednesday night’s matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Kennesaw State and UTEP
Kennesaw State Notes
TOP STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State football wraps up its two-game road swing when it heads West to take on UTEP on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Sun Bowl. • The game will mark the first Saturday that Kennesaw State has played on since Sept. 28 due to Conference USA’s midweek action during the month of October, officially marking 42 days in-between weekend contests. • Kennesaw State and UTEP will be meeting for the first time in program history, but KSU head coach Brian Bohannon and UTEP HC Scotty Walden have met previously when Walden was the leader at Austin Peay. • Kennesaw State is coming off a gauntlet of an opening slate to start its time as a member of Conference USA, playing three of the top four teams in the league’s standings through its first four conference games. • Kennesaw State has been markedly better in the ground attack of late, averaging 157.5 yards/game and recording five rushing touchdowns in the last four games. This comes after averaging just 73.0 yards per game and tallying two TDs through the first four games of the season. Helping spur that effort has been Sr. RB Michael Benefield, who has 312 rushing yards and three TDs over the last four games to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for his career at Kennesaw State. • Defensively, both r-Jr. LB Garland Benyard and r-Jr. DB Tyler Hallum have shined of late. • With a huge tackle for loss last week against WKU, Benyard has now tallied 7.0 tackles for loss on the season. A whopping 6.5 of them have come over the last three games. • On the backend, Hallum has been terrific the last three weeks, totaling 17 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups during that time frame. • Last week against WKU, Hallum led Kennesaw State’s defense with seven tackles. • Also continuing to shine defensively has been Kennesaw State’s tackling leader r-Jr. DB/OLB Sidney Porter, who has recorded 29 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss since moving to outside linebacker in Week 5.
A KENNESAW STATE WIN WOULD … • be its second NCAA FBS victory in school history. • move it to 2-3 in Conference USA action. • move it to 2-7 on the season. • move it to 1-0 against UTEP. • move it to 2-4 against members of Conference USA.
A KENNESAW STATE LOSS WOULD … • fall to 1-8. • move it to 1-4 in Conference USA. • move it to 0-1 against UTEP
OFFENSE
• Kennesaw State has boasted one of the top offenses over the last few years, despite transitioning from an option system to one with multiple formations. • Leading the offense this season is co-offensive coordinator/QBs coach Chandler Burks and co-offensive coordinator/TEs coach Stewart Cook. • Burks was promoted to co-offensive coordinator after four years as the Owls’ quarterbacks coach. • A standout QB at Kennesaw State, every KSU passing or quarterback rushing record was either set by Burks, a teammate of his who benefited from his leadership, or played under his tutelage. • At just 28 years old, Burks is tied for the youngest offensive coordinators in the country. • Also leading the offense this season will be veteran coach, Cook, who spent nine seasons coaching the tight ends and tackles at KSU prior to being promoted to co-offensive coordinator. • Under Cook’s mentorship, the tackles have helped pave the way for an explosive running attack that ranked amount the top three nationally in FCS from 2017-22 – leading the country in 2017 and 2019. • Cook also built the tight end position from the ground up at Kennesaw State as the program shifted from a spread option attack to a more multiple schematic. • Last year, redshirt sophomore Carson Kent shined from the tight end position, ranking third on the team with 150 yards receiving over the Owls’ nine-game schedule. • Regardless of the offensive scheme, Kennesaw State is going to attack the trenches and has won the ground game. • No team in the conference has bettered Kennesaw State’s 284 rushing yards per game since 2015.
DEFENSE
• Kennesaw State’s defense will be under the direction of defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Greg Harris. • Harris was previously Kennesaw State’s linebackers coach for four years before being promoted. • Harris has previously been the defensive coordinator at VMI and North Greenville (Division II). • It was a tale of two halves at UTSA (Aug. 31) as Kennesaw State’s defense was gashed for 8.1 yards per play in the first half, before being stuffed for just 2.5 yards/ play in the second. • A big part of that was stuffing the run game. After averaging 3.0 yards per rush in the first half, UTSA was only able to muster 1.3/rush against the Owls in the second half. • The Owls also tallied five sacks at UTSA, tying the program’s single-game high last recorded against Gardner-Webb (Nov. 23, 2019). • Kennesaw State struggled against the bigger, older Ragin’ Cajuns against Louisiana (Sept. 7), failing to record a sack and surrendering 454 yards (7.8 yards per play). • The 454 yards allowed is the most since Kennesaw State allowed 564 yards to Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 19, 2022. • The defense was once again a bright spot against UT Martin (Sept. 28), only surrendering 17 points and holding the Skyhawks to their second-lowest offensive output of the season (284 yards). • Kennesaw State also converted its first pick-six of the season and its first since Nov. 11, 2023 (Markeith Montgomery vs. Virginia-Lynchburg. • For the fourth time in program history, Kennesaw State was able to force three fumbles on Sept. 14 at San Jose State. It marked the first time since Feb. 27, 2021 against Shorter the Owls had accomplished the feat. • The Owls continue to be a force on creating fumbles, ranking tied for second overall in the conference with eight. • Entering Jax State, Kennesaw State’s defense ranked fourth in Conference USA in total yards allowed at just 392.8 per game, but a rough fifth game that saw Jax State (Oct. 4) tally 577 yards pushed KSU to seventh in CUSA (429.6). • A main culprit to the uncharacteristic yardage totals was missed tackling against JSU. According to Pro Football Focus, the Owls missed 23 tackles against the Gamecocks after averaging just 7.8 missed tackles over the first four games. • Kennesaw State looked back to its usual self at Middle Tennessee (Oct. 15), holding the Blue Raiders to just 2.4 yards per rush and 4.1 yards per play. • Kennesaw State was once again outstanding against the run game versus Liberty (Oct. 23), holding the Flames to its lowest rushing output (180 yards) since last season (January 1, 2024 vs. Oregon). • Only twice in the last two seasons has Liberty been held to 180 rushing yards or fewer — Oregon and Kennesaw State. • The 37 yards yielded to Liberty’s preseason all-conference running back Quinton Cooley was tied for the lowest of his career. • Playing its final of the top 3 offenses in Conference USA last week against Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers looked true to form, hitting Kennesaw State for 462 yards – the second-most allowed this season by the Owls. • Last season, Kennesaw State held opponents to just 17.9 points per game, which ranked ninth in FCS and would’ve ranked 12th in FBS, leading Conference USA. • The Owls also held opponents to just 308.2 yards of offense per game last season (which would’ve ranked 15th in FBS and led CUSA). • Kennesaw State allowed just 118.8 rushing yards (25th in FBS, 3rd CUSA) and 189.4 passing yards (24th FBS, 3rd CUSA) last season en route to the effort. • With Harris at the helm in the first season of FBS competition, Kennesaw State will have to contend without three of its Top 5 tacklers with Deontre Morris and Markeith Montgomery graduating. • The Owls’ Top 2 returners on defense are redshirt sophomore Donelius Johnson (40 tackles) and redshirt junior Sidney Porter (27 tackles).
SPECIALISTS
• Ulrich’s 54.6-yard average led the nation in Week 1 (min. 4 attempts – the NCAA prerequisite) by more than half a yard. Only three punters averaged a better mark, but with only three tries (Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Southern California). He led Conference USA by more than 7 yards per punt.
UTEP Notes
UTEP HOSTS KENNESAW STATE ON SENIOR DAY, 92ND HOMECOMING SATURDAY AFTERNOON
• UTEP will conclude the home portion of the schedule as the Miners are set to host Kennesaw State on Saturday, Nov. 9, on ‘Senior Day,’ while it’s also the 92nd Homecoming Game. The Miners and Owls – in their first ever meeting – will kick off at 2 p.m. MST in Sun Bowl Stadium. Proud partner Deadbeach Brewery is the game sponsor.
• TRUE FRESHMAN GETS THE NOD QB JP Pickles was the first UTEP true freshman QB to make a start under center since 2013 (QB Mack Leftwich).
• UTEP RUN D THE LAST THREE GAMES The Miners have yielded 186 yards (62.0 ypg) on the ground in the last three games.
• SCORING DEFENSE THE LAST THREE CUSA GAMES The UTEP defense has only allowed 55 points in the last three contests (18.3 avg.).
• SACK ATTACK UTEP leads CUSA in sacks (22), sacks per game (2.4), and ranks second in sack yards (117).
• TACKLING BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE UTEP leads CUSA in TFLs (61), TFLs per game (6.8) and TFL yards (212).
• MINER PICKS UTEP has recorded 8 interceptions, ranking fourth in CUSA. The Miners’ 8 picks surpass their total (6) from last season.
• SOLO STOPPER CB Josiah Allen leads the team with 30 solo tackles. He ranks tied for 10th in CUSA.
• JJ THE LAST 3 GAMES RB Jevon Jackson has rushed for 343 yards in the last three games (114.3 ypg)
ABOUT KENNESAW STATE
The Owls made national headlines when they upset Liberty 27-24 on Oct. 23 in Fifth Third Stadium. It marked Kennesaw State’s first-ever FBS victory on top of its first CUSA win. Overall KSU is 1-7 overall and 1-3 in league play. Kennesaw State’s first FBS game came on Aug. 31 in a loss at UTSA 28-16. KSU’s first CUSA game came against Jax State during a 63-24 loss on Oct. 4. Following its update win over the Flames, the Owls followed with a 31-14 setback at WKU on Oct. 30. KSU averages 14.9 points per game and gives up 31.1. The Owls rank as one of the lowest FBS teams in total offense, averaging 245.4 yard per game. Its defense yields 410.0 yards per contest. RB Michael Benefield leads the rushing attack with 394 yards (4.3 avg.) and has scored three touchdowns. QB Davis Bryson has thrown for 901 yards on 86-of-157 passing, seven interceptions and three touchdowns. RB Qua Ashley leads the team in receptions (17) and ranks second in receiving yards (156). WR Blake Bohannon leads the team in receiving yards (166) on 15 catches. DB Sidney Porter paces the squad with 45 tackles.
A BIT OF HOMECOMING HISTORY
UTEP is 40-50-1 all-time in homecoming games. UTEP last won a homecoming game in 2021, defeating Old Dominion 28-21. Since winning five consecutive homecoming games from 2008 thru 2012, UTEP is 2-8 in its last 10. The Miners beat NM State 8-0 in the very first homecoming game in 1929.
NOTES UNDER CENTER
UTEP has started three quarterbacks in back-to-back seasons (Skyler Locklear, Cade McConnell and JP Pickles in 2024; Gavin Hardison, Kevin Hurley and McConnell in 2023). The last time it had happened in a season was in 2018 (Brandon Jones, Kai Locksley, Ryan Metz). Four quarterbacks have played for the Miners in back-to-back seasons. The last time it had happened in a season was in 2017 (Zach Greenlee, Kavika Johnson, Metz, and Mark Torres). Four Miner quarterbacks have attempted more than one pass in back-to-back seasons. McConnell, Locklear, Pickles and Shay Smith have attempted passes in 2024. Jake McNamara was the fourth QB to throw a pass in 2023. The last time it had happened in a season was in 2013 (Mack Leftwich, Jameill Showers, Garrett Simpson, and Blaire Sullivan).
Jax State at LA Tech (CBSSN) 3:30 p.m.
Jacksonville State Notes
LA Tech Notes
Top Storylines
• Louisiana Tech returns to normally scheduled Saturday football as the Bulldogs will host the Jacksonville State Gamecocks for homecoming on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Tech enters Saturday’s Conference USA contest with a 3-5 (2-3 CUSA) record. Jax State enters the matchup tied for first in the CUSA as they hold a 5-3 (4-0 CUSA) mark. LA Tech will look to win its first homecoming game since 2020. • LA Tech finished its CUSA Weekday schedule with a 2-2 record. The Bulldogs defeated Middle Tennessee and UTEP at home, while narrowly falling to New Mexico State and Sam Houston on the road. The two losses were decided by a combined nine points. • LA Tech will look to pick up its 4th win at home this season, which would be the most since the Bulldogs won six games at Joe Aillet Stadium in 2019. The Bulldogs enter Saturday’s contest with a 3-1 record at home with wins over Nicholls, Middle Tennessee, and UTEP. With two home games remaining, Tech could finish with a 5-1 mark at home. • The Bulldogs will look to move to 71-26-2 on homecoming with a win over Jax State on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs have gone 0-3 in their last three homecoming games, falling to UTSA, Rice and SHSU. LA Tech defeated in UTEP 21-17 in 2020 for their last homecoming victory. • The Bulldog defense climbed to 14th nationally in total defense after allowing just 268 yards to Sam Houston, marking the second consecutive game and third time this season they’ve held an opponent under 270 yards. The Bulldogs held the Bearkats to 105 yards on the ground, which is the 5th time they’ve held a team under 105 rushing yards. The Bulldogs now rank 28th in run defense (112.0 YPG), and 31st in pass defense (190.1 YPG). LA Tech is the only team in the CUSA that hasn’t allowed 1,000 rushing yards and is one of 20 teams in the FBS to do so.
A LA TECH WIN… • Would give head coach Sonny Cumbie his first homecom- ing win as the Bulldogs’ head coach. • Would make LA Tech 4-1 at home this season. • Would even out the Bulldogs’ CUSA record. • Would be LA Tech’s first win over Jacksonville State in 85 years. • Would make LA Tech 3-0 this season when playing on CBS Sports Network. • Would be Sonny Cumbie’s second November win as head coach of the Bulldogs.
WKU at NM State (ESPN+) 5 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
WKU and New Mexico State will meet for the second time ever and for the first time in Las Cruces, New Mexico, when the two teams face off on Saturday. The Aggies won the lone meeting between the program last season in Bowling Green, 38-29. WKU jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the game, but New Mexico State stormed back and used three touchdowns in the second half to win the game.
Western Kentucky Notes
OPENING KICKOFF
LAST TIME OUT
The Hilltoppers beat Kennesaw State 31-14 on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Houchens-Smith Stadium in their final Weekday CUSA game of the season. The Hilltoppers improved to 6-2 overall, 4-0 in CUSA play and 4-0 at home with the win. WKU held the Owls to 272 total yards and finished with 462 yards of offense themselves, with 232 coming in the first quarter. Caden Veltkamp threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 17-22-0 passing, with touchdown passes to Easton Messer, Trevor Borland and Noah Meyers. Elijah Young rushed for 114 yards on 15 attempts, and George Hart III recorded a 30-yard touchdown run.
CUSA STANDINGS
The Hilltoppers sit atop the CUSA standings entering this week’s games. They’re one of two unbeaten teams in league play, along with Jax State, with both currently boasting a 4-0 record. It’s the first time the program has been 4-0 in league play since 2019, when Tyson Helton was in his first season with the program and the Hilltoppers started 4-0 against CUSA competition. WKU has started 4-0 in CUSA play only twice since joining the league ahead of the 2014 season – in 2019, and in 2015, when the Hilltoppers went 8-0 in regular-season CUSA play before claiming the conference championship. Sam Houston is behind WKU and Jax State at 4-1 in CUSA play, while Liberty is fourth at 3-2.
BOWL ELIGIBILITY
WKU became bowl eligible for the sixth time in six seasons under Tyson Helton with the 31-14 win over Kennesaw State. The win marked the first time WKU has become bowl eligible before November under Helton and the first time the program has become bowl eligible before November since 2016. WKU became bowl eligible in October three times before – in 2012, 2015 and 2016. WKU is one of only 16 programs that played in a bowl game each of the five seasons from 2019-23, and one of only seven programs to win a bowl game each year from 2021-23.
DEFENSE HOLDING STRONG
WKU has been tough to score on since the season-opening loss at Alabama. The Hilltoppers are allowing only 15.4 points per game over their last seven games, and have not allowed more than 21 points in a game during that stretch. WKU has been especially good in the red zone all season, allowing scores just 60% of the time. The Hilltoppers rank first in CUSA and second nationally entering this week’s games.
PENALTY FREE
WKU did not have a penalty in the win over Kennesaw State. It was WKU’s first penalty-free game since the Oct. 10, 2020, game against Marshall – a span of 57 games. The Hilltoppers rank first in CUSA and sixth nationally in fewest penalties (34) and fewest penalties per game (4.25), as well as first in CUSA and 16th nationally in fewest penalty yards (334). WKU’s 41.75 penalty yards per game are the second-best mark in CUSA and rank 21st nationally in fewest penalty yards per game.
New Mexico State Notes
PICK SIX
3 – The Aggies are seeking their third consecutive season with three or more wins at home – a feat they had not accomplished since 2017 prior to the 2022 season.
10 – Following a performance worthy of CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week honors, kicker Abraham Montaño remains 10th in the nation in field goal percentage at 92.3% (12 of 13).
4 – Following a trio of #WeekdayCUSA games, NM State will return to Saturday gamedays for the final four games of the 2024 season with two coming in Aggie Memorial Stadium.
1 – Saturday will mark the first-ever time that the Aggies play host to Western Kentucky and will be just the second meeting between the two programs.
200 – NM State rushed for a total of 216 yards last Tuesday at FIU to mark the fourth time this season Aggie rushers have combined to eclipse 200 yards in a game.
8 – With eight field goals across five Conference USA games, the Aggies are tied for first in the league in total field goals in conference games.
SIMILAR SPOT
The Aggies carry a 2-6 record into the meeting with the Hilltoppers. Despite recording two of the most successful seasons in program history during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, the Aggies are familiar with slow starts.
During a 2022 season which was capped off by a win in the Quick Lane bowl to finalize their record at 7-6, the Aggies entered week seven with a 1-5 record – identical to their record through six games this season. In 2022, a 21-9 Aggie victory over New Mexico ended a streak of three consecutive losses to the Lobos and ignited a back half of the season in which the Aggies finished 6-1 to earn the program’s first bowl bid since the 2017 campaign.
One year later, the Aggies would travel to Albuquerque with a 1-2 record in hand. NM State would then improve to 2-2 with a 27-17 win at University Stadium. After dropping the following game on the road at Hawaii, the Aggies would fall to 2-3 prior to kicking things in gear to finish the regular season with a 10-3 record.
While Tony Sanchez and the staff would not opt to be in a position with two wins through eight games, it is a space that the Aggies have proven they can bounce back from. In fact, in six of the Aggies’ last seven seasons that resulted in plus-.500 winning percentage, NM State held a losing record through at least five games.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player of the Week – Eric Rivers, FIU
Rivers hauled in 11 passes for a program-record 295 yards, which is the second-most by an FBS player this season and the third-most in a game in CUSA history. He logged a career-high three touchdowns, all of which were over 50 yards (62, 52, 51), to lead the Panthers (3-6, 2-3 CUSA) to a 34-13 victory over NM State on Tuesday night. Rivers recorded 113 of his 295 yards after the catch on his way to his third 100-yard receiving effort of the season. Through week 10, he is the CUSA leader with eight receiving touchdowns
Offensive Player of the Week – Tre Stewart, Jax State
Stewart became the first CUSA player to amass 210 rushing yards in back-to-back games since 2015 after racking up 232 yards on the ground in the Gamecocks’ (5-3, 4-0 CUSA) 31-21 win at Liberty. He found the end zone four times, becoming the first in the league to have four rushing touchdowns twice in a season since Devin Singletary in 2017. Stewart is one of three FBS players to have multiple four-touchdown performances this season. He got Jax State on the board with a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added a 28-yard score in the second quarter.
Defensive Player of the Week – Geimere Latimer, Jax State
Latimer virtually sealed Jax State’s fifth-straight win – a 31-21 triumph over Liberty – with a late interception that set the Gamecocks up for a crucial insurance score. He jumped in front of a pass with 2:42 left in the game and the Gamecocks leading by three and returned it all the way down to the one-yard line. Stewart punched it in to put Jax State up 10, ultimately snapping the Flames’ 12-game home win streak. The sophomore also added six tackles to go along with his second interception of the season.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Abraham Montano, NM State
Montano continued his impressive season as he connected on attempts from 57 and 53 yards out in the Aggies’ road tilt at FIU. The 57-yarder tied for the longest kick in program history and the fourth-longest kick in CUSA history. With his 53-yarder, Montano became the first Aggie kicker since 1978 to have two kicks of 50+ yards in a single game. He’s also the second FBS kicker this season to make two kicks of 50 yards or longer in a single game. Montano is now 12-13 on field goal attempts and is tied for 10th in the nation in field goal percentage.
