UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Jax State at No. 22 Louisville (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m.
MTSU at No. 6 Ole Miss (SEC Network) 3:15 p.m.
Central Michigan at FIU (ESPN+) 5 p.m.
Sam Houston at UCF (ESPN+) 5:30 p.m.
Louisiana at Kennesaw State (ESPN+) 6 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky at WKU (ESPN+) 6 p.m.
Southern Utah at UTEP (ESPN+) 8 p.m. [RV]
Liberty at NM State (ESPN2) 9:30 p.m.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player of the Week
– Hunter Watson, SHSU Watson earned the start in the season opener and showed why, staying in control of the game throughout Saturday evening in leading the Kats to a 34-14 win at Rice. The transfer from Iowa Western CC completed 16-27 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while also adding a team-best 57 yards on the ground. On just his second pass, he hit Qua’vez Humphreys for a 67-yard touchdown, and Watson also connected on an explosive scoring play with a 32-yard strike to Ife Adeyi.
Defensive Player of the Week
– Tayden Barnes, NMSU Barnes came up with one of the biggest plays of the Aggies’ 23-16 season-opening win over SEMO with a game-sealing interception on the Redhawks’ final possession. He also assisted on a crucial fourthdown stop that gave NM State the ball at the SEMO 35-yard line, setting up the eventual game-winning score. Barnes finished with a team-high nine tackles in his first appearance with the program, including five solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. Barnes had two critical pass breakups, tying for the most passes defended (3) among the league in week one.
Special Teams Player of the Week
– Christian Pavon, SHSU Pavon handled all kicking duties in Saturday’s 34-14 win at Rice, connecting on a pair of field goals and a quartet of extra points. The junior kept the early momentum in the Bearkats’ favor in the first quarter when he made it a 17-0 lead by connecting on a 52- yard field goal on his first career field-goal attempt before later adding a 26-yarder. His 52-yard make tied for the seventh-longest field goal of any FBS kicker in the opening week and matched the sixth-longest field-goal made in program history.
Conference USA will name an Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week each Monday during the season. The awards are selected by a panel of media members with one representative in each league city.
The conference office also will produce a weekly football release Mondays during the season. It will be distributed directly to members of the media upon request and available at ConferenceUSA.com.
QUICK HITTERS
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.
RUN IT BACK
Returning its top three rushers from an offense that led the nation in rushing (293.3), Liberty picked up right where it left off with 279 yards on the ground in week one. Quinton Cooley paced the Flames with 110 yards on 16 carries (6.9 YPC) with a touchdown, while Billy Lucas racked up 81 yards on 17 carries with a score. Defending CUSA MVP Kaidon Salter carried the ball nine times for 53 yards and a touchdown.
MARQUIS EVENT
Week one marked 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. Despite earning just nine carries, Crosby averaged 4.9 YPC in the season opener. In 2022, he rushed for 918 yards and nine touchdowns and eclipsed the century mark in four games.
ADEYI SHINES IN RETURN
After suffering a season-ending injury in week 3 last season, Sam Houston wide receiver Ife Adeyi made his triumphant return to the gridiron with five grabs for 63 yards and a touchdown as the Bearkats downed Rice 34-14 in the season opener. He hauled in a 32-yard strike to put SHSU ahead 24-7 and also made the highlight reel with a spin move as part of a 21-yard gain on a scoring drive in the third quarter.
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 another saying around the Miners’ camp as they complete a 180 on the program’s offensive philosophy. Other focuses will be moving receiving tight ends to wideout, emphasizing blocking tight ends and getting the ball out fast.
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.
