WEEK 14 GAME SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2024
Liberty Flames at Sam Houston Bearkats
(CBSSN) 2:30 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
• Sam Houston and Liberty were 2 of the 4 teams to join Conference USA for the 2023 season, but had not met previously until their meeting in Lynchburg a year ago when the Flames held on in the final minute for a 21-16 win
Liberty Flames Notes
LIBERTY STORYLINES
• Liberty (8-2, 5-2 CUSA) will play at Sam Houston (8-3, 5-2 CUSA) in Friday’s regular-season finale, needing a win to return to the CUSA Championship Game for the second year in a row. • The Flames will play in Huntsville for the first time in program history. Host Liberty held off Sam Houston for a 21-16 victory on Oct. 5, 2023 in the first-ever meeting between the then first-year CUSA squads. • Liberty has won three straight games, rushing for 300+ yards in each contest. Most recently, the Flames racked up a season-best 419 yards on the ground in a 38-21 Senior Day win over WKU on Saturday. • Jamey Chadwell is 21-3 in his second year at Liberty and owns a 52-9 coaching record dating back to the start of 2020. He became the Flames’ fastest head coach ever to reach 20 victories (23 games). • QB Kaidon Salter threw for a TD and rushed for another against WKU, moving into third place in program history with 75 career TDs responsible for. • RB Quinton Cooley (166 yards) and RB Billy Lucas (season-high 131 yards) both went over the century mark on the ground against WKU. For Cooley, it marked his fourth-straight 100-yard game and eighth in 10 contests this season. He has gone over the 1,000-yard mark on the ground during both seasons in a Liberty uniform. • Liberty forced a season-high four turnovers against WKU, including a career-best two INTs by CB Amarian Williams.
“4 DOWNS” WITH SAM HOUSTON
1 – Friday’s regular-season finale at Sam Houston will mark Liberty’s first-ever visit to Bowers Stadium. It is the only stadium the Flames are playing in for the first time in 2024. Only one CUSA team has scored 30 points against Sam Houston this season (WKU – 31). Liberty is 19-0 under Jamey Chadwell when tallying 30+ points but only 2-3 when scoring 29 or fewer.
2 – Second-year CUSA member Jax State has clinched the right to host the Dec. 6 CUSA Championship Game. Fellow second-year members Liberty and Sam Houston are both in the running to face the Gamecocks. The Flames’ scenario is the simplest. Win Friday and return to the title game for the second year in a row. Liberty has climbed to No. 2 nationally in rushing yards per game (266.7) after ranking No. 1 a year ago at 293.3.
3 – Liberty is riding a three-game win streak, having rushed for 300+ yards in all three victories. If the Flames can do so on Friday, it would mark the first time in program history they have recorded four straight 300-yard efforts. All three of Liberty’s losses under Jamey Chadwell came after the Flames scored first. Liberty is 12-0 under Chadwell when the opponent scores first.
4 – After rushing for a season-high 419 yards against WKU on Saturday, Liberty will attempt to do so in back-to-back games for the first time in program history. No FBS team has recorded consecutive 400-yard rushing games in 2024. Liberty closed the 2023 regular season in Texas (at UTEP), rushing for 441 yards (No. 2 in program history).
LAST MEETING OCT. 5, 2023
LIBERTY 21, SAM HOUSTON 16 LYNCHBURG, VA. (WILLIAMS STADIUM)
• Wide receiver CJ Daniels had a career night and Liberty’s defense made a last-play stand to secure a 21-16 Midweek on the Mountain win. • Daniels led all receivers with five receptions for a career-high 157 receiving yards, including a 51-yard scoring play in the second quarter. • With Sam Houston facing a first-and-goal at the three-yard line, Flames’ cornerback Kobe Singleton recorded two of his three pass breakups on the final drive at the goal line, including his last on a fourth-down throw to the end zone ending the game
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD…
• Make the Flames the first team to compete in the CUSA Championship Game during each of its first two seasons as a conference member. • Give the Flames a program-record two-year total of 22 wins, breaking the current mark of 21 wins between 2022 and 2023. • Give the Flames back-to-back seasons with nine or more wins for the first time in program history and mark their seventh 9+ win campaign all-time. • Boost the Flames’ winning streak to four games, marking the first season since 1997 Liberty has posted two separate winning streaks of four or more contests. • Improve the Flames’ all-time record vs. CUSA opponents (at time of meeting) to 24-3. • Make Flames’ November record under Jamey Chadwell 8-0. • Represent the Flames’ fifth straight win when facing an opponent from Texas, improving the team’s all-time record against Lone Star State foes to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in Texas.
TEXAS TWO-STEP
Liberty is 7-2 all-time against teams from the state of Texas and 4-1 when playing in the Longhorn State. The Flames won at Texas State (17-14, Sept. 18, 1993), at Baylor (48-45, Sept. 2, 2017), at North Texas (35-26, Oct. 23, 2021) and at UTEP (42-28, Nov. 25, 2023). Liberty’s only loss in Texas was Sept. 17, 2016, when the Flames fell 29-14 at SMU. Liberty has won each of its last four meetings with teams from Texas since a 47-7 home loss to North Texas on Sept. 22, 2018.
COMEBACK KIDS
Liberty has trailed at some point in all 10 games so far this year. The Flames have overcome deficits of 17 (Sept. 21 versus East Carolina), 14 (Sept. 7 at New Mexico State) and 13 points (Nov. 16 at UMass), in wins. This is the first time in program history that Liberty has earned three wins in a season when overcoming deficits of 13 points or more in each 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 23-3 all-time against teams who were members of CUSA at time of meeting.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIO
Liberty would qualify for the Conference USA Championship Game with a win on Saturday at Sam Houston. In the Championship Game era (since 2005), 10 times has a team made the Conference USA Championship Game with two losses, last 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.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Liberty is 2-5 all-time when playing on Friday, including 2-1 at the FBS level. One of the top wins in program history came on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, when the Flames topped New Mexico State 49-35 to win the CUSA Football Championship Game. WORKING OVERTIME Liberty is 2-0 in overtime games this season, defeat- ing both FIU and UMass in overtime. This is the third time that Liberty has played two overtime games in the same season, going 2-0 in 1998 and 1-1 in 2014. Out of Liberty’s 10 overtime victories all-time, only two (Oct. 24, 1998 vs. Buffalo – Phillip Harrelson field goal; Nov. 16, 2024 at UMass – Colin Karhu extra point) ended with Liberty scoring points on the final play. BOWLING 300 Liberty has rushed for 300 or more yards in each of the last three games. The Flames have rushed for 300 or more yards 10 times under Jamey Chadwell, going 10-0 in those games. In the first 50 years of Liberty football history, the Flames posted 28 total 300-yard rushing games. Overall in his head coaching career, Chadwell’s teams are 36-0 when rushing for 300 or more yards and 8-0 when churning up 400 or more rushing yards. REGULAR-SEASON FINALE Liberty is 4-2 in regular-season finales in its FBS era. This will be just the second time in its seven seasons at the FBS level that Liberty’s regular-season finale has been played on the road (also Nov. 25, 2023 at UTEP).
Trends/Streaks
• Liberty has won eight or more games each of its last six seasons and 16 times total in program history (2019: 8-5; 2020: 10-1; 2021: 8-5; 2022: 8-5; 2023: 13-1; 2024: 8-2). • Since its first season of bowl eligibility in 2019, Liberty has posted a combined 74.3 winning percentage (55-19 record/2019-24). • During its first five seasons of full bowl eligibility, Liberty has played in five straight bowl games, winning its first three postseason FBS games (Wins – 2019 Cure Bowl, 2020 Cure Bowl, 2021 LendingTree Bowl; Losses – 2022 Boco Raton Bowl, 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl). • Liberty has posted a 37-7 record at home since making the move to the FBS level (2018). • Liberty is 2-0 in overtime games in 2024 and 10-9 all-time in overtime games following its Nov. 16 win at UMass. • Entering this week’s game at Sam Houston, Liberty has won seven of its last eight road games. • Liberty remains unbeaten in the month of November under second-year head coach Jamey Chadwell (7-0).
Offense
• The Flames finished the Western Kentucky game with 556 total offensive yards on 75 plays, averaging 7.4 yards per play. • Following the WKU game, Liberty now leads Conference USA in total offense and ranks No. 16 nationally in total yards per game (451.8). • Liberty has averaged 7.0 or more yards per play four times this season (7.0 vs. Campbell; 7.4 vs. New Mexico State; 7.6 vs. MTSU, 7.4 vs. WKU). • Liberty surpassed the 30-point mark for the seventh time this year during its 38-21 win over Western Kentucky. • The Flames enter the Sam Houston game ranked second in Conference USA in scoring, averaging 32.0 points per game. • For the fifth time this year, Liberty just creeped over the 100- yard mark in the first quarter against WKU, finishing the first quarter with 17 total plays for 101 yards. • The Flames continue to struggle during the first quarter of the game this season, averaging 89.9 yards of total offense during the first quarter (152 plays for 899 yards). • Conversely, Liberty continues to dominate the fourth quarter, averaging 131.1 yards of total offense during the final 15 minutes of the game (198 plays for 1,311 yards). • Liberty’s total average offensive yards per quarter in 2024: first quarter: 89.9 (152 plays/899 yards); second quarter: 126.9 (193 plays/1,269 yards); third quarter: 80.0 (141 plays/800 yards); fourth quarter: 131.1 (198 plays/1,311 yards). • LU has averaged 28.3 first downs during the last four games (27 vs. Jax State, 30 vs. MTSU, 27 vs. UMass; 29 vs. WKU) and lead Conference USA in first downs per game (24.8). • LU scored in three of the four quarters of the game against WKU and has scored in 82-of-96 quarters (in regulation) in 24 games under head coach Jamey Chadwell (85.4 percent). • Neither team scored during the first quarter of Liberty’s game against WKU. The Flames have been outscored 61-41 during the first quarter of the games in 2024. • Liberty outscored WKU, 10-0, during the fourth quarter last weekend. The Flames have outscored their opponents 108-59 during the fourth quarter in 2024. • Liberty surpassed 400 rushing yards for the fifth time in program history, rushing for a season-high 419 yards on 63 carries against WKU (6.7 yards per rush). • WKU took the game’s first lead early in the second quarter. Liberty has now trailed in all 10 games in 2024. • The Flames have surpassed the 300-yard rushing mark in their last three games and have tallied 1,067 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns during its three-game win streak. • Liberty enters the Sam Houston game lead in the conference in rushing and ranked No. 2 in the country in rushing yards per game (266.7 – trails Army, who leads the country at 322.1). • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams are 36-0 when rushing for 300 or more yards. • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams have rushed for 200 or more yards 102 times in 180 games (56.7 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 as they rank No. 6 in the country in fewest passes intercepted with four. • Liberty was held to 137 passing yards on a blustery day at Williams Stadium against WKU, its third lowest passing total of 2024. • LU’s passing numbers through the first four games of 2024: 961 yards (240.3 yards per game) with seven touchdowns. • LU’s passing numbers through the last six games of 2024: 890 yards (148.3 yards per game) with six touchdowns. • Liberty currently leads Conference USA and ranks No. 8 in the country in third-down conversion percentage (49.2 percent). The Flames were 8-of-13 on third-down plays against WKU. • Liberty has its second-lowest penalty total of the 2024 season, finishing the WKU game with three penalties for 20 yards. • Liberty currently ranks No. 115 in penalties per game (7.6) and No. 129 in penalty yards per game (75.30). • This week’s game will feature the top teams in Conference USA in average time of possession – Sam Houston (32:16); Liberty (31.59). Liberty ranks No. 20 in the country in average time of possession.
Defense
• After allowing UMass to rush for 263 yards, Liberty’s defense returned to its more normal form and limited WKU to 106 yards on 27 carries (3.9 yards per carry). • This week’s game will feature the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked rushing defenses in Conference USA: Sam Houston (138.09 yards allowed per game) and Liberty (149.6 yards allowed per game). • The Flames came into the WKU game with four total interceptions the year. Liberty finished the WKU with a season-high three interceptions. • Liberty picked off passes on each of WKU’s first two possessions of the game. Liberty also picked off an opponent on back-to-back drives earlier this year against UTEP. • Liberty is 5-0 this year and 16-0 all-time under second-year head coach Jamey Chadwell when leading going into the fourth quarter. • The Flames rank fourth in Conference USA in passing defense, allowing 201.7 passing yards per game. • Liberty ranks second in Conference USA in passing touchdowns allowed (9) after allowing two against WKU. • Liberty ranks No. 17 in the country in fourth-down conversion defense (41.2 percent/7-of-17) after WKU converted on 1-of-2 fourth-down plays. • The Flames finished the WKU game without recording a sack and now No. 97 nationally in sacks per game (1.70).
Sam Houston Bearkats Notes
BEARKATS’ TITLE HOPES ON THE LINE IN 2024 FINALE
• Despite the Bearkats falling last week at Jax State, the Kats can still earn a rematch with the Gamecocks in the CUSA Championship Game on Dec 6 in Jacksonville. The Bearkats would need to defeat Liberty in the regular-season finale, then have Jax State defeat WKU a day later to create a scenario which would send the Kats back to JSU • The Kats became the first CUSA team in 2024 to secure bowl eligibility with its win at FIU. Sam Houston is the fourth consecutive program in NCAA to make the transition up and become bowl eligible within the first 2 seasons of being at the FBS (Jax State 2023, James Madison 2023, Liberty 2018) • The Bearkats have won 11 of their last 15 games after starting their venture into FBS with an 0-8 start in 2023 • Sam Houston is the first FBS program to start a season 0-8 and win at least 8 of its first 10 games the following year n Sam Houston is 18-13 under KC Keeler following a loss; however, excluding the Kats’ FBS transition years (2022 & 2023), they are 15-4 under Keeler • Sam Houston is 9-1 in regular-season finales under KC Keeler with the lone loss coming in 2022, the Kats’ initial FBS transition season • Now with 96 victories at Sam Houston, head coach KC Keeler stands in second place all-time at the school with only longtime SHSU head coach and former AD Ron Randleman’s 131 career victories.
THE LAST TIME
• The Bearkats were on the verge of shocking Conference USA early in the league slate in a narrow loss in Lynchburg in 2023. The Kats had a 1st and Goal opportunity in inside the game’s final minute in last year’s meeting, but were denied 4 straight times by the Flames’ defense, including an incompletion on 4th down from the 2-yard line
TEAM NOTES
• Sam Houston’s bowl eligibility and likely bowl selection means it will have reached postseason play in 10 of the last 12 seasons in which it was eligible • Sam Houston’s 8 wins have secured its first winning season at the FBS level and 14th in the last 15 seasons overall. The Kats have not had a season with a losing record since 2009 and finished its run at the FCS level with 13 consecutive winning seasons n Sam Houston’s 18-day layoff prior to its game at Kennesaw State is the longest layoff of any team in the nation in 2024 • Sam Houston was whistled for 5 penalties at Jax State compared to just 3 for the Gamecocks it was only the second time this season the Kats have had more penalties than its opponent, the other coming in the loss to WKU • The Kats won games vs FIU and LA Tech despite scoring just 19 total points. The 10 points vs FIU and the 9 points vs LA Tech are the lowest winning scores in a single game in the nation this season • Those scores held up in large part thanks to the Bearkat defense which has held those opponents to 10 total points in those games. The wins marked the first time the Kats have held consecutive opponents to single digits since 2021 and is the least amount of total points allowed in consecutive games since allowing just 7 points in wins over Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana in 2012 n Sam Houston has done a great job of mining homegrown talent from the Lone Star State with 96 of the 116 players list- ed on its roster being from the State of Texas. Per research from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the 83-percent homegrown roster is the highest percentage of players from the Lone Star State on the roster for any of the 13 FBS programs in Texas • Sam Houston averaged 282.0 yards per game on the ground in its 4-game win streak earlier this year before falling to WKU, becoming the first team in CUSA to rush for 250+ yards in 4 straight games since FAU did so during the 2018 season n After finishing 2023 last in Conference USA in rushing, the ground game has been the strength of the offense for the Bearkats in 2024. Despite completing a season-high 22 passes against Kennesaw State, the Kats still have yet to throw for 250 yards in a game this year in a contest. They are currently 1 of 4 teams in the FBS with at least 8 wins to their credit to not have a single game with at 250 passing yards. The other teams to do so include Army, Navy and UNLV • The Kats have captured 6 CUSA weekly honors this year after punter Jadon Cardell was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after the win at UTEP. Additionally, quarterback Hunter Watson and kicker Christian Pavon have twice earned Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week after the Kats’ wins over Rice and Texas State, while defensive back Caleb Weaver was the Defensive Player of the Week after his effort in the win over Hawaii
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2024
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Florida International Panthers
(ESPN+) 1 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
The Blue Raiders and Panthers have met 19 times in football with Middle Tennessee holding a 14-5 advantage in the series, which began in 2005. The Blue Raiders have won five in a row over the Panthers and eight of the last nine. MTSU has won three of the last four in Miami and are 5-4 overall at Pitbull Stadium.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Notes
QUICK HITTERS
• Since joining the FBS ranks in 1999, the Blue Raiders have a mark of 4-1 when the final regular season game of the year is in the state of Florida. • MTSU’s road win over UTEP was its first away from Murfreesboro since the Dec. 24, 2024, Hawaii Bowl. l Last week against NMSU, the Blue Raiders had their most rushing yards all season with 170 and the second most total yards (447). • MTSU has had nine different starting lineups among its offensive line unit in 11 games, which ranks as the most in the country. • Holden Willis ranks 8th nationally among TE’s with 47 receptions. • Nicholas Vattiato is 6th in the Group of 5 with 257.8 passing yards per game and Omari Kelly is 11th in receiving yards (869). l QB Nicholas Vattiato ranks 20th nationally in passing yards/game and 17th in completions/game. • The Blue Raiders have played 12 true freshmen this season (Amarrien Bailey, Jordan Beasley, Brody Benke, 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). • MTSU has played five home games in 2024 and two have had lightning delays. The delays totaled four hours and 22 minutes or basically another complete game. • Consecutive Start Leader: Nick Vattiato: 23 (next in line is Mateo Guevara and John Howse with 11 straight) • 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.
FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME
Since the Blue Raiders joined the FBS ranks in 1999, they hold a 17-8 overall record in final regular season home games. MTSU has won eight of the last 11 final regular season games. When the final regular season game is in the state of Florida, the Blue Raiders are 4-1 with lone loss coming at FIU in 2005.
Florida International Panthers Notes
PANTHERS CLOSE OUT 2024 AGAINST MIDDLE TENNESSEE
The Panthers will play their final game of the 2024 campaign when they host Middle Tennessee at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a 2 p.m. ET. FIU and will be meeting for the 20th time in program history on Saturday and the Panthers will be looking for their first win over the Blue Raiders since 2018. Saturday’s game will be aired on ESPN+ and called by Corey Brooks (pxp) and Zach Letson (analyst). The audio broadcast can be heard on The Panther Online Network with AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Jackson McDonald (analyst) on the mic. The pregame show on The Panther Online Network will start 15 minutes prior to kickoff and a postgame show will follow the conclusion of the contest. The Panther Online Network can be accessed by visiting fiusports.com/listen.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will shift their focus to the first signing period for incoming student-athletes which is slated for Wednesday, Dec. 4.
SCOUTING MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Middle Tennessee enters Saturday’s meeting with FIU losers of each of its last two games and three of the last four overall. The Blue Raiders are 1-4 on the road this season with the lone victory coming by a 20-13 margin at UTEP on Nov. 2. Middle Tennessee is averaging 17.6 points per game and allowing 34.2. Offensively, the Blue Raiders have done most of their damage thru the air as they have posted an average of 261.6 passing yards per game against 87.7 on the ground. Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato leads the offense and has completed 248-of-385 pass attempts for 2,836 yards and 14 touchdowns. His top targets are Omari Kelly and Holden Willis who have combined for over 1,600 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Jaiden Credle leads the rushing attack with 460 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, the Blue Raiders have posted 20 sacks and forced 10 turnovers.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
(ESPNU) 3 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s game will be the seventh all-time between WKU and Jax State. The Hilltoppers lead the series 4-2 and are 3-0 in games against the Gamecocks in Bowling Green. Last year’s meeting – the first as CUSA foes – marked the first time the two programs had played since 2003. The Gamecocks won that meeting last season 20-17 in Jacksonville, Alabama. This week’s matchup will mark only the second time the two teams have played outside of the month of October.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks Notes
Quick Hits
• The 2024 season marks the second year as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Conference USA for Jax State. The Gamecocks posted a 6-2 record last season in Conference USA play which was their first season as members of the league. • Jax State is bowl-eligible in each of its first two FBS seasons, becoming the first team to reach bowl games in each of its first two seasons at the FBS level since Marshall in 1997 and 1998. • The Gamecocks clinched a spot in the Conference USA championship game in their first-year eligible to do so with last week’s 21-11 win over Sam Houston. Jax State will host the game on Friday, December 6th at 6 p.m. Central Time. • Jax State has won eight straight contests for the first time since the 2017 season when it won nine-straight. • Each of the last four games Jax State has played was decided by 10 points or less. • This marks the ninth nationally televised game this season for Jax State which is the most in program history. • Jax State visits Bowling Green for the first time since the first round of the 2003 NCAA Playoffs. • Under Rich Rodriguez, the Gamecocks are 18-2 in conference games.
JSU vs. Conference USA
Before joining Conference USA prior to the 2023 season, Jacksonville State had faced all but two of the nine other members of CUSA. After entering the conference with a 11-28-2 all-time record versus teams from CUSA, Jax State turned in a 6-2 conference record in 2023. In the last 22 seasons (CUSA, OVC and ASUN), the Gamecocks are 128-36 in league play. Below is a series breakdown against members of CUSA.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Notes
LAST TIME OUT
WKU Football lost to Liberty 38-21 on Saturday, Nov. 23, at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia, to fall to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in CUSA play. The Hilltoppers scored first in the second quarter, but the Flames put up 21 unanswered points before halftime and WKU never caught back up in the loss.
CUSA STANDINGS
The Hilltoppers are still in the hunt for a berth in the CUSA Championship game entering the final week of the regular season. While Jax State has already locked up hosting duties for the league’s title game, WKU could play in its first CUSA Championship game since 2021 with a win over the Gamecocks on Saturday and a Sam Houston victory over Liberty on Friday. Jax State is unbeaten in league play at 7-0, while WKU, Liberty and Sam Houston are all 5-2 entering the week.
BOWL ELIGIBILITY
WKU became bowl eligible for the sixth time in six seasons under Tyson Helton with its 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.
TYSON HELTON IN NOVEMBER
WKU is 16-6 under Tyson Helton in games played in November, including a 15-5 record against CUSA competition. This is the first season in which the Hilltoppers have lost multiple games in November under Helton.
Kennesaw State Owls at LA Tech Bulldogs
(ESPN+) 3 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY …
• Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Kennesaw State and Louisiana Tech
Kennesaw State Owls Notes
• Kennesaw State football closes out its inaugural FBS season on Saturday, Nov. 30 when it travels to take on Louisiana Tech in the season finale. • Kennesaw State is coming off a thrilling 27-26 triumph over FIU to close out its home schedule in 2024, thanks to 10 points in the fourth quarter and a 19-yard field goal by kicker Austin Welch. • Welch was lauded by the league, earning Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week honors – his second of the season. • Kennesaw State has been involved in some back-breaking games over the last three weeks, losing back-to-back games in overtime before scratching and clawing to earn the one-point victory over FIU. • The game was iced with an interception by DB JeRico Washington, Jr., who already leads Conference USA with three forced fumbles on the season. • Continuing to shine is RB Qua Ashley, who finished with 180 all-purpose yards last Saturday. • Kennesaw State leads the nation with 989 kick return yards – 166 more than the next-closest team and 243 more than the next-closest CUSA team. • Since the Oct. 23 win over Liberty alone, KSU has 437 kick return yards – 140 more than the next closest team (Liberty). • Since Oct. 23, Ashley has 331 kick return yards by himself – 34 more than the entire kickoff return total of Liberty during that span. • Making a case for CUSA’s Special Teams Player of the Year honors, Ashley’s 529 kick return yards this season are more than 103 FBS teams through Week 13. • Ashley is one of just three players in the nation with two kickoff return touchdowns, joining Rayshawn Pleasant (Tulane) and Keelan Marion (BYU).
A KENNESAW STATE WIN WOULD …
• be its third NCAA FBS victory in school history. • move it to 3-5 in Conference USA action. • move it to 3-9 on the season. • move it to 1-0 against Louisiana Tech. • move interim head coach Chandler Burks’ overall record to 2-1.
A KENNESAW STATE LOSS WOULD …
• fall to 2-10. • move it to 2-6 in Conference USA. • move it to 0-1 against Louisiana Tech
LA Tech Bulldogs Notes
Texas-El Paso Miners at New Mexico State Aggies
(ESPN+) 3 p.m.
THE SERIES:
UTEP leads the all-time rivalry 59-39-2. The Aggies lead the Miners 21- 20-1 all-time in Las Cruces. Last season, the UTEP and NM State were tied at seven at the half, but the Aggies outscored the Miners 21-0 in the second half led by a pair of Diego Pavia touchdown passes and TD rush. Pavia opened the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 with just over a minute in the first quarter. UTEP tied the game on a QB Kevin Hurley one-yard touchdown rush at the 12:26 mark of the second. In 2022, after taking a double-digit lead into halftime, UTEP won 20-13 in Sun Bowl Stadium on Sept. 10, 2022, to extend the win streak to two games. The Orange and Blue beat NM State 30-3 in Aggie Memorial to open the 2021 campaign. The Aggies had previously won three in a row, defeating the Miners 44-35 (2019 in LC), 27-20 (2018 in EP) and 41- 14 (2017 in LC). Prior to that stint, UTEP won eight consecutive games from 2009 to 2016. The 2015 matchup was one of the more exciting of the 100-year rivalry as the Miners rallied to a 50-47 OT victory in Aggie Memorial Stadium. It was the first overtime game in the history of the rivalry. UTEP trailed 30-16 and 44-30 with a little over four minutes remaining in regulation. QB Ryan Metz orchestrated a three-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 48-yard TD pass to fellow El Pasoan WR Cole Freytag. He then led UTEP on an eight-play, 98-yard march, taking it into the end zone himself with an eight-yard scamper. Aggie K Sy Slater hit a 44-yard FG to open the extra period, but Metz capped the game with a six-yard touchdown pass TE Cedrick Lang. The eight-game winning streak by the Miners is the longest of the series. The two programs first met on Oct. 24, 1914, in Las Cruces, with the Aggies coming out on top 19-0. NMSU won the 1915 meeting 30-0, while the Miners’ first victory was a 7-6 outcome in 1916. The Aggies’ longest win streak of the series was five games from 1920 to 1924 before tying 6-6 in 1925. The Miners won 92-7 in 1948 (most points by UTEP in the series), while the Aggies’ top score was 64 during a shutout in 1922.
Texas-El Paso Miners Notes
UTEP CLOSES OUT ‘24 AT RIVAL NM STATE IN THE 101ST BATTLE OF I-10
The first year of the Scotty Walden era will conclude in the 101st Battle of I-10 as UTEP will square off against rival NM State on Saturday, Nov. 30, in a Conference USA contest. The Miners (2-9, 2-5 CUSA) and Aggies (3-8, 2-5 CUSA) are set for a 2 p.m. MST kick in Aggie Memorial Stadium. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be heard on “The Home of UTEP Football” 600 AM ESPN El Paso.
FIRST TIME SINCE 1960
UTEP and NM State are closing out the season against each other for the first time since Nov. 23, 1960
ODOM’S SEASON SO FAR
WR Kenny Odom leads UTEP in receptions (44), receiving yards (712), yard per catch (16.2) and receiving TDs (7).
LIMITING PENALTIES
After averaging 7.8 penalties in the first five games, the Miners are averaging 3.5 in the last six games.
SACK ATTACK
UTEP tallied three more sacks at no. 10/11 Tennessee.
LEADER OF THE SACK
UTEP leads Conference USA and ranks tied for 35th nationally with 28 sacks in 2024.
TFL LEADER
UTEP leads CUSA and ranks t-20th in FBS with 76 tackles for loss. Miners lead CUSA in TFLs/game (6.9) & TFL yards (257).
CUSA LEADERS
Spur Kory Chapman leads CUSA in TFLs (11.5); Bandit Maurice Westmoreland is tied for first in sacks (5.5).
MINER PICKS
UTEP has recorded 10 INTs in 2024, the most since 2014 (11 INTs); ranks t-second in CUSA, t-47th in FBS
ABOUT NM STATE
Then-no. 7 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC) dropped its last game to no. 12 Georgia, 31-17, on Nov. 16 in Athens. The Volunteers were shutout in the second half 14-0 after being tied 17 apiece with the Bulldogs at the half. Dylan Sampson’s 21st rushing touchdown of the season gave UT a 17-14 edge with 1:54 left in the first half. Tennessee, which boasts one of the top defenses in the nation, allowed 31 points and 453 yards of total offense. Sampson finished with 101 yards on 19 carries (5.3). Will Brooks led the defense with seven tackles, all solo stops while adding a breakup. Overall, Sampson ranks first in the SEC and second in FBS with 21 rushing touchdowns. Sampson’s 1,230 yards rank first in the SEC and sixth in FBS. Sampson averages 123.0 rushing yards per game. Sampson’s 12.6 points per game ranks first in the SEC and fourth in FBS. Nico Iamaleava has thrown for 2,046 yards on 164-of-254 passing. He’s tossed 11 TDs and four INTs. Bru McCoy and Squirrel White each lead the Vols with 31 receptions, while Don’t’e Thornton Jr. leads with 505 receiving yards and four receiving TDs. Arion Carter leads the D with 54 tackles, while Brooks ranks second with 48. Brooks leads the team with three INTs. Overall, Tennessee’s defense ranks ninth in total defense (289.7), eighth in scoring defense (14.4), seventh in rushing defense (100.6) and 16th in first-down defense (171).
NOT SEEING A LOT OF YELLOW
The Miners endured early-season problems with penalties—nine at Nebraska, 14 versus SUU, and 12 versus Sam Houston. UTEP averaged 7.8 penalties in the first five games of the season. Since then, the Miners have averaged 3.5 in the last six games. UTEP drew four penalties on Nov. 9 against Kennesaw. At one point, UTEP was penalized only seven times during a three-game span (at WKU, vs. FIU, at LA Tech).
New Mexico State Aggies Notes
ROAD WARRIORS
NM State returned to the win column on Saturday night in Murfreesboro, Tenn., as it defeated the Blue Raiders to put an end to a seven-game losing streak in games away from Aggie Memorial Stadium. Last week, the Aggies were also the lone member of CUSA to earn a victory as the road team. This was also the first time in the series history between NM State and Middle Tennessee that the visiting team emerged with the win.
BALLHAWKING
Creating turnovers has been an emphasis for Head Coach Tony Sanchez and his staff as of late and this has been showing dividends. The Aggies have now come up with two interceptions in each of the last three contests. The six interceptions across three games doubles the turnover output of the first eight games when NM State only came up with three picks.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
On the contrary, the Aggie offense has managed to take care of the ball during the last two games. In fact, Saturday marked the first time this season that NM State amassed zero turnovers in back-to-back games.
CONVERTING IN THE RED ZONE
While the Aggies have struggled to put points on the board this season, they have consistently been able to convert when crossing the 20-yard line. Entering the regular season finale, the Aggies rank first in red zone offense among CUSA teams – coming away with points 88.9% of the time. This includes 17 touchdowns and seven field goals on the season.
LIMITING THE OPPOSITION
The Aggie defense managed to hold the Blue Raiders to 21 points on Saturday to mark just the second time this season that an NM State opponent failed to score 30 or more points this season. The only other time the Aggies have bee able to accomplish this was in the season opener against SEMO when it limited the Redhawks to 16 points.
SANCHEZ ENTERS 1-0 VERSUS UTEP IN CAREER
While Saturday’s game will represent the first time that Tony Sanchez serves as the head coach of the Aggie program during the Battle of I-10, he already has his fair share of experience with the heated rivalry. In fact, Sanchez has participated in five of the 100 rivalry bouts – twice as a player twice and three times as a staff member. In games Sanchez has been involved in, the Aggies are 3-2 against the Miners. As a player, Sanchez was 2-0 against UTEP – including a come-from-behind win in 1994 when Aggies erased a 19-point deficit and earned the win thanks to a game-winning touchdown pass with four seconds on the clock. One year later, Sanchez hauled in a pair of passes to help the Aggies earn a 45-17 win over the Miners to mark NM State’s largest margin of victory in the rivalry in 34 years. Over the last two seasons, Sanchez served as the Aggies’ wide receivers coach and last year he helped NM State put an end to a two-game losing skid to the Miners.
BATTLE OF I-10 RETURNS TO RIVALRY WEEK
Saturday will mark the first time since Nov. 23, 1960, and just second time ever, that the two programs will play their final game of the regular season against one another The Aggies also played their final regular season game against the Miners in 1966, however, it was not the final regular season game for UTEP.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player of the Week – Tyler Huff, Jax State
Huff rushed for a season-best 177 yards on a career-high 30 carries and found the end zone three times in a 21-11 win over Sam Houston to clinch a spot in the CUSA Championship Game. The win marked the eighth straight for the Gamecocks (8-3, 7-0 CUSA). He also completed nine passes to nine different receivers on the day. Huff was crucial rushing on third downs with 81 yards on nine attempts (9.0 YPC) with two touchdowns. His 13 rushing touchdowns on the year are tied for the most by a quarterback in CUSA history
Defensive Player of the Week – Dylan Early, NM State
Early recorded an interception return for a touchdown on MTSU’s opening drive to set the tone in the Aggies’ (3-8, 2-5 CUSA) first road win of the season – a 36-21 victory over the Blue Raiders. He also tallied five tackles, including three solo stops. Early also broke up a pass in a key moment, forcing a fourth down with MTSU in Aggie territory and threatening to score before halftime. His pick six marked NM State’s first defensive touchdown of the season.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Austin Welch, KSU
Welch booted the game-winning field goal with a little more than a minute left in the Owls’ (2-9, 2-5 CUSA) 27-26 triumph over FIU. He also connected on a 36-yard attempt in the first quarter and rebounded from a missed 44-yard try earlier in the fourth quarter to drill the game-winner. Welch was also a perfect 3-3 on extra-point attempts. His 14 made field goals are the most among CUSA kickers.
QUICK HITTERS
BARNES ON THE PROWL
FIU linebacker Travion Barnes has made an immediate impact in his first year with the Panthers’ defense, leading CUSA and ranking in the top 10 nationally in total tackles (3rd, 12.0) and solo tackles (10th, 5.3). He has recorded double-digit tackles in eight of his 10 starts, including five games with at least 14 tackles. Barnes has tallied five solo stops in seven of his 10 contests, including four with at least seven solo efforts. He has also tallied 10.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, four quarterback hurries, an interception and a fumble recovery.
GROUND POUND GAMECOCKS
Jax State’s rushing offense has imposed its will against defenses all season, ranking third nationally in rushing yards per game (260.0) and 10th in yards per carry (6.00). The Gamecocks’ 41 rushing touchdowns are the most in all of FBS and tied for the third most in a season in CUSA history. Jax State is just the second team in league history to have a quarterback and running back each run for at least 1,000 yards, and running back Tre Stewart needs just one more touchdown to make the Gamecocks the first in CUSA history to have a running back with 20 rushing touchdowns and a quarterback with 10 rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Tyler Huff has tied the league record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (13) and ranks third in single-season rushing yards by a quarterback (1,079). Huff is also just 34 passing yards from becoming the fourth quarterback in league history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards.
REKINDLE THE FLAMES
After losing back-to-back games for the first time since 2022, Liberty has bounced back with three-straight wins while averaging 355.7 yards per game on the ground. The Flames are fresh off a season-high 419 rushing yards in a statement win over WKU to keep Liberty’s title game hopes alive. The Flames have averaged 6.63 yards per carry and scored 12 of their 16 offensive touchdowns on the ground in the last three games. Running back Quinton Cooley has averaged nearly 150 yards per game with six touchdowns during the winning streak, while quarterback Kaidon Salter has averaged 72.7 yards per game with four touchdowns to aid the running game.
BEARKATS’ D BEARING DOWN
While the offense has failed to find the same groove that led Sam Houston to its hot start to begin the year, the defense has taken the torch to keep the team in the race for the CUSA Championship Game. Below is a breakdown of the team’s defensive improvements during the second half of the season: First five: 24.4 PPG, 4.2 TFL, 1.4 sacks, 1.6 turnovers Last six: 16.7 PPG, 6.2 TFL, 2.7 sacks, 2.0 turnovers The Bearkats have also limited opponents to red zone scores at a 60 percent rate in the last four games, including keeping FIU out of the red zone altogether.
ORANGE SWARM DEFENSE
One of UTEP head coach Scotty Walden’s philosophies includes the “Orange Swarm Defense” with the goal of all 11 hats being on the ball on any play. The Miners have exemplified that mission so far this season as they rank in the top 35 nationally in both sacks (35th, 2.55) and tackles for loss (20th, 6.9). UTEP has averaged 7.5 TFL and 3.0 sacks in the last two outings, including a win over Kennesaw State that saw the team rack up three sacks and 10 TFL. This season, seven UTEP players have at least two sacks, and nine Miners have at least 4.5 TFL. Senior bandit Maurice Westmoreland leads the team with 5.5 sacks. Senior spur Kory Chapman paces the Miners with 11.5 TFL and ranks 17th nationally with 1.3 per game.
BALL, BALL, BALL
Kennesaw State has been among the best in the league at dislodging the ball from its opponents’ hands. The Owls lead CUSA in both fumbles forced (11) and forced fumbles per game (1.00) in their debut season in CUSA. Redshirt freshman defensive back JeRico Washington Jr. leads the league with three forced fumbles and is one of seven different players with a fumble recovery.
