UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Liberty at Buffalo (CBSSN) 11 a.m.
FIU at UCONN (CBSSN) 2:30 p.m.
WKU at No. 6 Ohio State (Fox) 3 p.m.
North Texas at LA Tech (ESPN+) 6 p.m.
Murray State at MTSU (ESPN+) 6 p.m.
New Mexico State at New Mexico (MWN) 7 p.m.
UTEP at Arizona (Pac-12 Net) 10 p.m.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK,
PRESENTED BY BLENDERS
EYEWEAR (WEEK 2)
OFFENSE
RB KEJON OWENS, FIU
RS Sophomore, Miami, Florida
Owens posted a career-high 101 yards on 10 touches for an average of 10.1 per carry in FIU’s win over North Texas on Saturday. His three touchdowns tied the mark for the most ever by a FIU sophomore. The Miami native’s 47-yard touchdown run at 4:37 of the third quarter was the longest rush of his career, and his three rushing touchdowns tied for the second-highest single game total in FIU annals and marked the 12th time it has been accomplished. The Panthers were dominant on the ground in the win over North Texas as they rushed for a total 223 yards (most since 2020) and scored four rushing touchdowns.
DEFENSE
LB TYRICE KNIGHT, UTEP
RS Senior, Lakeland, Florida
Knight racked up another 14 tackles, a half sack and 1.5 tackles for loss at Northwestern on Saturday for the Miners. He leads CUSA with 43 tackles, 14.3 tackles per game and 28 solo stops. The Lakeland, Florida, native also leads the FBS in tackles and ranks second in tackles per game. For Knight, it marks his third consecutive double-digit tackle performance to start the 2023 season. Career-wise, Knight now has 15 career double-digit performances.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K, JACOB BARNES, LA TECH
RS Junior, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Barnes connected on field goals of 22, 32 and 36 yards, while also making all six extra points during the Bulldogs’ 51-21 win over Northwestern State on Saturday, marking the sixth time in his career that he has made at least three field goals in a single game. He now ranks seventh in program history with 48 field goals made during his career.
QUICK HITTERS
A LOOK AT WEEK 3
Seven Conference USA teams are in action in Week 3, all of which are non-conference matchups. Liberty (2-0) kicks off the day for CUSA teams when it travels to Buffalo (0-2) to take on the Bulls on CBS Sports Network at 11 a.m. CT. The Flames won their inaugural CUSA league game last week, 33-17 at home over New Mexico State, while Buffalo fell at home to FCS foe Fordham.
FIU (2-1) hits the road as well, at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network, when the Panthers take on UConn (0-2). FIU dispatched North Texas 46-39 at home last week behind strong performances by true freshman QB Keyone Jenkins and CUSA Offensive Player of the Week RB Kejon Owens, while UConn fell 35-14 at Georgia State.
WKU (2-0) and QB Austin Reed have a major opportunity on a big stage on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT at the Horseshoe when the Hilltoppers travel to take on No. 6 Ohio State (2-0) on Fox. WKU knocked off Houston Christian 52-22 last week at home, while the Buckeyes defeated Youngstown State 35-7 at home.
LA Tech (2-1) hosts a familiar foe this week in Ruston when the Bulldogs welcome former conference mate North Texas (0-2) to town at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. LA Tech took care of Northwestern State comfortably at home last week, 51-21, while the Mean Green surrendered 46 points in a road loss at FIU. UNT enters play ranked 132nd in FBS in scoring defense at 52.0 ppg allowed through its first two games.
Middle Tennessee (0-2) is set to open its home schedule on Saturday night when it hosts FCS foe Murray State (1-1) at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Blue Raiders fell just short of a potential SEC road win when they dropped a close one at Missouri, 23-19 last week, while Murray State was beaten 56-0 at Louisville.
New Mexico State (1-2) is back in action this week when it travels to rival New Mexico (1-1) in Albuquerque at 7 p.m. CT on The Mountain West Network. The Aggies dropped their conference opener last week, 33-17 at Liberty, while the Lobos knocked off FCS foe Tennessee Tech 56-10 at home.
The final game of the night in the entirety of FBS kicks off at 10 p.m. CT on Pac-12 Network when UTEP (1-2) travels to Tucson to battle Arizona (1-1). The Miners suffered a 38-7 setback at Northwestern last week, while Arizona dropped a heartbreaker in overtime at Mississippi State, 31-24.
HOT TAKE(AWAYS)
Liberty enters Week 3 as the national leader in interceptions, as the Flames have a total of seven through the first two games of the season.
SALTER LEADS LIBERTY TO FIRST CUSA WIN
Liberty (2-0, 1-0 CUSA) won its first conference game on Saturday, 33-17 over fellow newcomer New Mexico State (1-2, 0-1 CUSA) at home. Redshirt sophomore QB Kaidon Salter led the way for the Flames, completing 15-25 passes for 276 yards with four total touchdowns (two passing and two rushing) and no interceptions. WR j Daniels hauled in four catches for 129 yards and a score, while RB Quinton Cooley carried 20 times for 106 yards in the win. Defensively, Liberty forced three turnovers and
LB Tyron Dupree led the team with 11 tackles in the victory.
FIU, BISCAYNE BLUE BEAT MEAN GREEN 46-39
FIU (2-1) rolled up 46 points and 514 yards of total offense against former conference-mate North Texas (0-2) in a 46-39 win on Saturday night in Miami. True freshman QB Keyone Jenkins improved to 2-0 as a starter, completing 20-32 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown, while RB Kejone Owens carried 10 times for 101 yards and three scores, including the game-winner. Last week’s CUSA Offensive Player of the Week, WR Kris Mitchell caught seven passes for 94 yards and a score. LB Donovan Manuel led the way with nine tackles, 2.0 TFL and a half sack in the win.
BLUE RAIDERS FALL JUST SHORT AT MIZZOU
Following a safety, Middle Tennessee (0-2) had the ball in the final four minutes and a chance to take the lead, however fell 23-19 at SEC foe Missouri (2-0) on Saturday night on the road. QB Nicholas Vattiato played very well for MTSU, completing 22-36 passes for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions. The Blue Raiders defense allowed just 316 yards of total offense in a losing effort, and was led by S Tra Fluellen’s nine tackles (and 1.0 TFL), and LB Drew Francis, who finished with seven stops and a pair of sacks.
WKU IMPROVES TO 2-0 WITH 52-22 WIN
WKU (2-0) won its second straight game on Saturday night at home, defeating Houston Christian (1- 1) 52-22 behind another stellar performance by QB Austin Reed, who completed 27-33 passes for 253 yards four touchdowns and no interceptions to go along with another score on the ground. WR Easton Messer hauled in a game-high nine receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown in the win. The Hilltoppers’ defense forced three turnovers, including a 53-yard pick-six by DB Upton Stout in the win.
LA TECH BEATS NORTHWESTERN STATE 51-21
LA Tech (2-1) took care of business on Saturday night in Ruston, knocking off Northwestern State (0-2), 51-21. Freshman RB Keith Willis, Jr., carried 13 times for 188 yards and two scores in the win, as the Bulldogs piled up 357 yards on the ground. DB Myles Heard recorded 15 tackles and 2.5 TFL in the win, while the LA Tech defense totaled 12 TFL as a group.
SAM HOUSTON CONTINUES TO FLEX DEFENSIVE MUSCLE
Sam Houston (0-2) fell 13-3 to Air Force (2-0) at NRG Stadium in Houston on Saturday night, but continued to show off its stout defense. The Bearkats defense held the Falcons to 255 yards of total offense and Sam Houston has allowed just 27 points (13.5 ppg) over the first two games of the season against BYU and Air Force. LB Trevor Williams finished with 14 tackles (11 solo) and 1.0 TFL in defeat.
