UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
LA Tech at SMU (ESPNU) 11 a.m.
Bowling Green at Liberty (CBSSN) 11 a.m.
East Tenn. State at Jax State (ESPN+) 1 p.m.
South Florida at WKU (CBSSN) 2:30 p.m.
Maine at FIU (ESPN+) 5:30 p.m.
MTSU at No. 4 Alabama (SEC Net) 6:30 p.m.
Western Illinois at New Mexico State (ESPN+) 8 p.m.
Incarnate Word at UTEP (ESPN+) 8 p.m.
Sam Houston at BYU (FS1) 9:15 p.m
QUICK HITTERS
A LOOK AT WEEK 1
All nine Conference USA teams are in action in Week 1, including four who will take the field for the first time in 2023.
Liberty (8-5 in 2022) makes its CUSA debut to help kick off the day at 11 a.m. CT when the Flames host Bowling Green (6-7 in 2022) on CBS Sports Network. Head coach Jamey Chadwell makes his Liberty debut as the Flames look to make an immediate impact in CUSA with a non-conference opportunity against the Falcons.
Also at 11 a.m. CT, Louisiana Tech (1-0, 1-0 CUSA) is in action as they travel to Dallas to take on SMU (7-6 in 2022) on ESPNU. The Bulldogs took care of business in their opener, knocking off FIU 22-17 at home, led by QB Hank Bachmeier (333 passing yards) and CUSA Offensive Player of the Week WR Smoke Harris (11 catches for 155 yards and a TD) in the win.
Jax State (1-0, 1-0 CUSA) kicks off the afternoon portion of the schedule at 1 p.m. CT, when the Gamecocks host FCS foe East Tennessee State (3-8 in 2022) on ESPN+. Rich Rodriguez and Jax State are coming off a monumental win in its first-ever game as an FBS program, taking down UTEP 17-14 at home in Week 0. CUSA Defensive Player of the Week S Jeremiah Harris intercepted a Miners pass in the final 1:15 to seal the Gamecock win.
WKU (9-5 in 2022) makes its season debut with a non-conference tilt against AAC foe South Florida (1- 11 in 2022) at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. The Hilltoppers are led by the nation’s leading passer from a year ago, and preseason Offensive Player of the Year QB Austin Reed (4,746 yards and 40 TDs in 2022) and the nation’s returning leader in receiving yards, WR Malachi Corley (101 catches for 1,295 yards and 11 TDs in 2022). Defensively, the Tops feature one of the best linebackers in the country in LB JaQues Evans (106 tackles, 14.0 TFL, 9.0 sacks in 2022).
FIU (0-1, 0-1 CUSA) is set to kick off its home schedule on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+ when they host Maine. The Panthers led nearly wire to wire in Ruston last week, but ultimately came up just short, falling 22-17 to LA Tech. Bright spots for FIU included transfer RB Shomari Lawrence, who carried 15 times for 139 yards and a score, and LB Donovan Manuel, who had a game-high 15 tackles.
Middle Tennessee (8-5 in 2022) travels to Tuscaloosa this week to open its season at No. 4 Alabama (11-2 in 2022) at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network. The Blue Raiders will have a new signal-caller under center in QB Nicholas Vattiato as they look to duplicate their efforts in an upset over a top-25 Miami team last season in Coral Gables.
A trio of late-evening kickoffs gets started in Las Cruces, as New Mexico State (0-1) hosts FCS foe Western Illinois (0-11 in 2022) at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Aggies fell last week, 41-30 to UMass at home to open the 2023 campaign.
Also at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN+, UTEP (0-1, 0-1 CUSA) opens its home slate with a visit from another FCS opponent, Incarnate Word (12-2 in 2022). The Miners dropped a tight one in their conference opener, 17-14 on the road at Jax State last week, despite outgaining the Gamecocks 364-275. WR Kelly Akharaiyi had a strong game on the outside, hauling in four passes for 102 yards and a TD.
The final game of the night involving a CUSA school is the FBS debut for Sam Houston (5-4 in 2022), who travels to Provo, Utah, for a 9:15 kickoff against BYU (8-5 in 2022) on FS1. The Bearkats are set to play their first game as a member of CUSA against the Cougars, who make their Big 12 debut as well
