UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
Coastal Carolina at Jax State (CBSSN) 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
UTEP at [RV] Nebraska (FOX) 2:30 p.m.
FIU at Indiana (Big Ten Network) 2:30 p.m.
Kennesaw State at UTSA (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m.
Campbell at [RV] Liberty (ESPN+) 5 p.m.
WKU at No. 5 Alabama (ESPN) 6 p.m.
Sam Houston at Rice (ESPN+) 6 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at MTSU (ESPN+) 6 p.m.
Nicholls State at LA Tech (ESPN+) 7 p.m.
SE Missouri at NM State (ESPN+) 8 p.m.
QUICK HITTERS/RANKINGS
CUSA ADDS NEW MEMBER
Conference USA enters 2024 with a 10-team composition, having welcomed Kennesaw State to the fold on July 1, 2024. The Owls follow in the footsteps of four second-year members in Jacksonville State, Liberty, NM State and Sam Houston, along with FIU, LA Tech, MTSU, UTEP and WKU. Delaware and Missouri State are set to join on July 1, 2025, bringing the roster to 12 institutions.
WEEKDAY CUSA
The 2024 season marks the return of Weekday CUSA after a successful debut of the mid-week scheduling model as part of Conference USA’s new television deal with partners CBS Sports Network and ESPN. Eight of last season’s weekday games were decided by one possession, setting the stage for plenty of excitement in this year’s 18-game schedule.
GUESS WHO’S BACK, BACK AGAIN
CUSA institutions are set to return nearly 50 percent of their starters from 2023, including four schools who return at least 13 of their 22 offensive and defensive starters. Kennesaw State leads the way with 16, followed by defending CUSA champion Liberty with 15. FIU returns 70 total letterwinners and 14 starters, while WKU welcomes back 13 starters.
LEXINGTON & CONQUER
FIU running back Lexington Joseph overcame a knee injury that forced him to sit for the entire 2023 season and is poised to return to glory for the Panthers. In 2022, he led the team in rushing with 536 yards and five TD. Joseph also ranked second in kick return average (21.0) among CUSA athletes with at least 25 returns.
HISTORY MADE
Jax State’s debut season in CUSA made plenty of history as the Gamecocks became the first program in NCAA history to win a bowl game in its first season of FBS competition. JSU was just the third team in NCAA history to win at least nine games in its first FBS season and the fifth school to appear in a bowl game in their first season.
MORE THAN ONE TRANSITION
In addition to embarking on year two of its transition from FCS to FBS, Kennesaw State will also be entering its second season operating a pistol offense. Following the departure of offensive coordinator Chris Klenakis, the “Godfather of the Pistol Offense,” former Kennesaw State quarterback Chandler Burks is taking over as co-offensive coordinator and will be calling plays for the Owls.
RUN IT BACK
Liberty returns its top three rushers from an offense that led the nation in rushing (293.3). Quinton Cooley paced the way with 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns, while quarterback Kaidon Salter added 1,089 yards and 12 scores. The duo was joined by Billy Lucas, who ran for 597 yards and found the endzone six times in 2023.
MARQUIS EVENT
Week one will mark the return to the field for LA Tech running back Marquis Crosby, who earned Honorable Mention Freshman All-America honors after leading the Bulldogs in rushing as a rookie before missing the entire 2023 season. He rushed for 918 yards and nine touchdowns on 183 carries and eclipsed the century mark in four games, while rushing for multiple touchdowns in three games.
NEW ERA NOW
Not much has remained unchanged within the MTSU football program after Derek Mason took over last December. There’s not a single returning staff member throughout the program, and nearly half the list of scholarship athletes consists of new players. Mason has also made additions to the staff with a Chief of Staff and a dedicated Special Teams Coordinator in former MTSU wideout Luke Pascall.
AGGIES SET IN THE TRENCHES
NM State returns all five starters from an offensive line that helped the team finish 14th nationally in rushing yards per game. The group is anchored by tackle Shiyazh Pete, who earned First Team All-CUSA honors last season and appeared on the Outland, Lombardi and Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch Lists, and guard Canaan Yarro, a Second Team All-CUSA honoree and member of the Rimington Award Watch List.
KATS READY TO POUNCE
Sam Houston, which won three of the last four games to cap the 2023 season despite a litany of injuries, ended spring ball completely healthy and ready to make waves in year two in CUSA. The Bearkats got down to a seventh running back last season in Adrian Murdaugh – a converted walk-on wide receiver that ran for a 52-yard touchdown against LA Tech.
MINERS ON THE MOVE
Scotty Walden’s “Blue Blaze” offense is poised to mirror the fiery energy of UTEP’s first-year coach as he plans to get a play in every 12-14 seconds. “Fast, physical and fearless” is just another saying around the Miners’ camp as they complete a 180 on the program’s offensive philosophy. Other focuses will be on moving receiving tight ends to wideout, emphasizing blocking tight ends and getting the ball out fast and into space.
TURNOVER TOPS
While known for its offensive fireworks, WKU has also developed an explosive defensive identity. The Hilltoppers have created more than 50 turnovers and nine defensive touchdowns in the last two seasons, the most by any FBS school. Lockdown corners Upton Stout and Anthony Johnson Jr., combined for five interceptions last season as the Tops’ ranked 15th nationally with 15 picks on the year
