WEEK 7 GAME SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8
FIU at Liberty (CBSSN) 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9
NM State at Jax State (ESPN2) 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
MTSU at LA Tech (CBSSN) 7 p.m.
UTEP at WKU (ESPNU) 7 p.m.
Tuesday October 8, 2024
Florida International Panthers vs Liberty Flames
Florida International Notes
PANTHERS HEADS NORTH TO BATTLE LIBERTY
The Panthers head to Lynchburg, Va., for their first conference road game of the season and the first of four consecutive weeknight clashes when they face Liberty on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff. Saturday’s game will be aired on CBS Sports Network and called by Jordan Kent (pxp) and Donte Whitner (analyst). The audio broadcast can be heard on The Panther Online Network with AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Corey Brooks (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.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
4th
Junior linebacker Travion Barnes enters the weekend ranked fourth nationally and first in CUSA in solo tackles with an average of 10.8 per game
0
Amount of time FIU trailed in its win over Louisiana Tech in its CUSA opener on Sept. 28.
4
Number of times the FIU defense stopped La Tech from the one-yard line in a goal line stand on Sept. 28.
10
Points allowed by FIU in win over La Tech on Sept. 28 – its fewest in a CUSA game since limiting UTSA to seven on Nov. 10, 2018.
SCOUTING LIBERTY
Liberty enters Tuesday night’s meeting with the Panthers sporting a perfect 4-0 mark – which includes a 2-0 mark in CUSA action following wins over New Mexico State and UTEP. The Flames also boast previous wins over Campbell and East Carolina. Their most recently scheduled contest at Appalachian State was cancelled due to Hurricane Helene. Liberty has not dropped a regular season game since losing to New Mexico State (49-14) on Nov. 26, 2022, in Lynchburg. Liberty is led by Jamey Chadwell, who is in his second season at the helm of the Flames’ program and boasts a record of 17-1 during his time in Lynchburg. The Flames are averaging 33.5 points over the first four games and have posted a well-balanced average of 240.3 passing yards and 218.5 rushing yards on the offensive side. Treon Sibley leads the Liberty receiving corps with 16 catches for 357 yards and a touchdown. Directing the Flames’ offense is quarterback Kaiden Salter, who is in his second full season under center. He has completed 66-of-103 pass attempts for 949 yards and seven TDs over four games. He has only tossed one interception. Last season he passed for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns. Defensively, the Flames are allowing 20.5 points per game in 2024. They have surrendered an average of 112.8 yards on the ground and 200 through the air. They posted nine sacks in the first four games and forced six turnovers. The Bulldogs are minus eight (-8) in the turnover battle so far this season. La Tech has tossed five interceptions and lost five fumbles over the opening three games and has only managed two takeaways defensively.
Liberty Notes
LIBERTY STORYLINES
• Liberty (4-0, 2-0 CUSA) will play host to FIU (2-3, 1-0 CUSA) for a Tuesday evening clash between two teams which remain unbeaten during the early stages of CUSA play. • The Flames are 2-0 all-time against FIU, including a 38-6 victory in Miami last season. • Liberty owns the nation’s longest active regular-season winning streak (16 games). The Flames have also won 11 straight home games and 19 consecutive matchups with CUSA foes (at time of meeting). • The Flames are in action for the first time in 2.5 weeks following a cancellation of their Sept. 28 contest at Appalachian State due to Hurricane Helene. • In its last outing (Sept. 21), Liberty overcame a 17-0 deficit and a 4:37 weather delay to defeat East Carolina 35-24 in a game which ended at 2 a.m. • Jamey Chadwell is in his second year at Liberty. He is 17-1 with the Flames and owns a 48-7 coaching record dating back to the start of 2020. • RB Quinton Cooley rushed 19 times for 105 yards and a game-sealing 21-yard TD with 2:00 left in the win over ECU. He has posted three 100-yard games this year and is CUSA’s leading rusher (371 yards). Cooley went for 102 yards on 12 carries at FIU last season. • WR Reese Smith enjoyed a breakout game vs. ECU, tying the Liberty single-game record of three receiving TDs and posting a team-high 80 receiving yards. • CB Dexter Ricks, Jr. notched an INT for the second straight game, one of two turnovers forced by the Flames in the fourth quarter against East Carolina.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD…
• Extend the Flames’ program-record regular-season winning streak to 17, the longest active streak in FBS football. • Give the Flames their second-longest home winning streak (12 games) in program history, trailing only the 15-game streak which spanned Sept. 14, 2019-Oct. 30, 2021. • Enable the Flames to start 5-0 for the second year in a row and the third time in the last five seasons. • Keep the Flames undefeated against FIU all-time at 3-0. • Push the Flames’ all-time record in CUSA games to 11-0. • Enable the Flames to join Southern Miss (1996-97) as the only CUSA newcomers to start each of their first two conference seasons at 3-0. • Improve the Flames’ record to 21-1 all-time when facing CUSA opponents (at time of meeting) with their 20th consecutive win in such contests. • Represent the Flames’ 11th straight victory in October and their 17th triumph in the last 18 October tilts, dating back to 2020.
“4 DOWNS” WITH FIU
1-Tuesday’s matchup with FIU is the Flames’ only scheduled game within a month spanning Sept. 22-Oct. 22. The Flames-Panthers clash is the only CUSA matchup in week 7 featuring two unbeaten teams in conference play. Liberty is attempting to join Southern Miss (1996-97) as the only CUSA newcomers to start each of their first two conference seasons at 3-0.
2-Liberty’s last two outings have resulted in home victories. The Flames will attempt to complete a 3-0 homestand, something Liberty accomplished each of the last four times it played three consecutive games at home within a single season (2013, 2019, 2020 and 2023). The Flames have rallied from deficits of 14 points or more to win twice this season (at New Mexico State, vs. East Carolina). FIU is seeking its first 2-0 CUSA start since 2018.
3-Reese Smith tied the program record with three receiving TDs against East Carolina in the Flames’ last outing on Sept. 21, surpassing his career total of two entering the contest. His efforts helped fuel a comeback from a 17-0 deficit in a game which was delayed 4:37 due to weather. All 35 of the Flames’ points against the Pirates were scored after midnight.
4-Liberty has boasted a 100-yard rusher in all four games to begin 2024. Quinton Cooley reached 100 vs. Campbell, New Mexico State and East Carolina, while Billy Lucas did so vs. UTEP. This is the first time since 2008 Liberty has had a 100-yard rusher in each of a season’s first four contests.
LAST MEETING WITH FIU
SEPT. 23, 2023
LIBERTY 38, FIU 6 MIAMI, FLA. (FIU STADIUM)
• In its first-ever visit to FIU, Liberty ran for 364 yards on 44 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per rushing attempt. • The Flames dominated nearly every part of the final stat sheet and more than doubled up the Panthers in total offensive yards (520 to 211). • Liberty QB Kaidon Salter completed 11-of-21 passing attempts for 156 yards with two touchdowns while rushing nine times for 77 yards and two more scores. • Quinton Cooley carried the ball 12 times for 102 yards, while Billy Lucas rushed 11 times for the same 102 yards.
HOME SWEET HOME
Liberty is 11-0 at Williams Stadium under second-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, outscoring opponents 426-250 at home during his tenure. Liberty’s 11-game home winning streak is tied with Texas for the fourth-longest active FBS home winning streak. Only Georgia (26), Washington (17) and LSU (13) have longer active home winning streaks than Liberty.
REGULAR SEASON ROLL
Liberty carries a program-record 16-game regular-season winning streak into Tuesday’s matchup. After Georgia’s loss at Alabama on Sept. 28, the Flames hold the longest active regular-season winning streak among FBS schools.
CUSA SUCCESS
Liberty went 8-0 last year in conference play last year, its first season in Conference USA. The Flames are the first CUSA team to win their first 10 regular-season Conference USA games as conference members. Overall, Liberty is 20-1 all-time against teams who were members of CUSA at time of meeting. Liberty’s only loss to a CUSA team was a 47-7 setback to North Texas, Sept. 22, 2018 in Lynchburg.
SUNSHINE STATE SCUFFLE
Liberty is 6-12 all-time against teams from Florida, including 4-3 in home games. The Flames have won each of their last three meetings vs. Florida teams, starting with a win over Jacksonville on Sept. 10, 2016 in Williams Stadium. Liberty downed FIU at home in 2020 before winning at FIU last year.
BACK FOR MORE
Three current Flames (Jerome Jolly, Jr., Quinton Reese, Treon Sibley) will be playing against FIU for the third time, as all three played as true freshmen against the Panthers on Sept. 26, 2020. Reese and Jolly, Jr., both had one tackle against FIU in 2020, with Jolly’s being his first career stop. Sibley made his first career appearance in the 2020 FIU game.
FLAMES QUARTER
The Flames are outscoring opponents 56-14 in the fourth quarter so far this season. That +42 scoring margin is Liberty’s largest of any quarter this year. That includes a 21-point fourth-quarter surge to come back for a 30-24 win at New Mexico State, Sept. 7. The Flames outscored ECU 14-0 on Sept. 21 in the fourth. Liberty is 13-0 when leading after three quarters last under Jamey Chadwell, continuing a trend of Chadwell-coached teams. Chadwell’s team has closed out the game with a win each of the last 42 times it took a lead into the fourth quarter, since giving up a 31-25 advantage in a 39-38 Coastal Carolina loss at Arkansas, Nov. 4, 2017.
PERFECT 10
Liberty is 10-0 in its last 10 October contests, going undefeated in the 10th month the last two seasons. Beginning in the 2020 season, Liberty has gone 16-1 in its last 17 October games.
TUESDAYS
Liberty is 3-0 all-time on Tuesday, defeating Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky on three straight Tuesday nights last year.
Trends/Streaks
• Liberty has won eight or more games each of its last five seasons and 15 times total in program history (2019: 8-5; 2020: 10-1; 2021: 8-5; 2022: 8-5; 2023: 13-1). • Since its first season of bowl eligibility in 2019, Liberty has posted a combined 75.0 winning percentage (51-17 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 35-6 record at home since making the move to the FBS level (2018). • LU’s current 11-game home win streak is currently tied for No. 4 nationally behind Georgia (26 games), Washington (17 games) and LSU (13 games). The Flames are tied with Texas. • LU has posted three-straight top-10 ranked Williams Stadium attendance figures – Campbell game (No. 9 – 21,573), UTEP game (No. 5 – 21,805) and East Carolina (No. 1 – 24,076).
Offense
• Liberty has surpassed the 400-yard mark in all four games in 2024, but its offensive numbers have lowered each game (Campbell – 533 yards; New Mexico State – 473 yards; UTEP – 415 yards; East Carolina – 414 yards). • The Flames currently lead Conference USA and rank No. 31 in the country in total offense (456.8 yards per game). • Liberty has struggled to get its offense going early in the game in 2024, averaging just 75.5 yards of total offense during the first quarter (58 total plays | 302 total yards). • Conversely, the Flames have flourished during the fourth quarter in 2024, averaging 152.3 yards of total offense during the fourth quarter (81 total plays | 609 total yards). • After leading the country in rushing offense in 2023 (293.3 yards per game), the Flames have a more balanced offensive attack in 2024 – 866 rushing yards and 961 passing yards. • LU has scored 40 or more points in nearly half of its games under head coach Jamey Chadwell (8-of-18), but has accomplished the feat just once in 2024 (41-24 win over Campbell). • LU scored on its opening drive in 12 out of 14 games in 2023. Conversely, Liberty has only scored on its opening drive one time in 2024 (vs. Campbell in the season opener). • Liberty scored in three of the four quarters against East Carolina and has scored in 61-of-72 quarters in 18 games under head coach Jamey Chadwell (84.7 percent). • The Flames combined scoring in the first three quarters of the game this year is 78 points (1st quarter – 17 points; 2nd quarter – 30 points; 3rd quarter – 31 points). • Liberty is currently outscoring its opponents 56-14 in the fourth quarter. • Liberty trailed East Carolina 17-0 midway through the second quarter, but outscored the Pirates, 35-7, during the remainder of the game. • The 17-0 deficit was the largest the Flames have experienced under head coach Jamey Chadwell during a regular season game and was Liberty’s largest deficit overcome since 2017. • East Carolina came into Liberty’s last game ranked No. 17 in the country in rushing defense, holding opponents to 73.0 rushing yards per game. • Liberty continued its stout rushing attack and rushed the ball 45 times for 191 yards and had its fourth-straight game with a 100-yard rusher. • Liberty currently leads Conference USA and ranks No. 18 in the country in rushing offense (216.5 yards per game). • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams are 33-0 when rushing for 300 or more yards. • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams have rushed for 200 or more yards 97 times in 174 games (55.7 percent) during his head coaching career. • Liberty finished the 2023 season ranked No. 13 nationally in fewest passes intercepted (6). • LU had its first pass intercepted in 2024 when QB Kaidon Salter threw a pick in the second quarter against ECU. • After failing to convert on its first three third-down plays against East Carolina, Liberty proceeded to successfully convert on 13-straight third-down plays and finished the night 13- of-17 on third-down conversion attempts. • After going 1-of-11 on third-down plays against New Mexico State in its second game of the season, Liberty now ranks No. 12 in the country in third-down conversion percentage (51.9 percent/28-of-54). • The Flames continue to struggle with penalties in 2024, finishing the East Carolina game with nine penalties for 91 yards. • Liberty currently ranks No. 113 in penalties per game (8.25) and No. 130 in penalties yards per game (90.0). • After having five pass plays of 20 or more yards against UTEP to five different receivers, Liberty enters the FIU game ranked No. 21 nationally in passing yards per completion (14.13). • Liberty finished the East Carolina game with a +13:26 time of possession advantage (36:43 to 23:17) and currently ranks No. 15 in the country in average time of possession (33:07).
Defense
• Liberty has allowed exactly 24 points in three out of four games in 2024 and currently ranks No. 1 in Conference USA in scoring defense (20.5 points allowed per game). • Liberty allowed East Carolina to rack up 331 total offensive yards, including 134 yards during the first quarter. • Entering the FIU game, Liberty currently ranks No. 2 in Conference USA in total defense, allowing 312.8 yards per contest. • Despite East Carolina converting on 7-of-15 third-down plays, the Flames continue to be tough on third downs in 2024 and currently rank No. 28 in the country in third-down conversion defense (30.9 percent/17-of-55). • Liberty picked up its third fumble recovery of the year against East Carolina and currently ranks No. 28 in the country in fumbles recovered. • The strength of the Flames’ defense in 2023 was in the team’s ability to take the ball away, as Liberty ranked No. 1 in the country in total interceptions (21) and No. 9 in turnovers gained (25). • The Flames have limited opponents to 115.3 rushing yards per game and six total rushing touchdowns in 2024. • Liberty finished the 2023 season ranked No. 24 in the country in rushing defense, allowing just 116.7 yards per game on the ground.
Special Teams
• The Flames finished the 2023 season ranked No. 7 nationally in kickoff return defense (allowing 15.24 yards per return). • Through four games in 2024, Liberty ranks No. 49 in the country in the same statistically category (18.00 yards per game).
Wednesday October 9, 2024
New Mexico State Aggies vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks
New Mexico State Notes
SIMILAR SPOT
The Aggies carry a 1-4 record into the meeting with the Gamecocks. Despite recording two of the most successful seasons in program history during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, the Aggies are familiar with slow starts. During a 2022 season which was capped off by a win in the Quick Lane bowl to finalize their record at 7-6, the Aggies entered the week seven with a 1-5 record. A 21-9 Aggie victory over New Mexico ended a streak of three consecutive losses to the Lobos and ignited a back half of the season in which the Aggies finished 6-1 to earn the program’s first bowl bid since the 2017 campaign. One year later, the Aggies would travel to Albuquerque with a 1-2 record in hand. NM State would then improve to 2-2 with a 27-17 win at University Stadium. After dropping the following game on the road at Hawaii, the Aggies would fall to 2-3 prior to kicking things in gear to finish the regular season with a 10-3 record. While Tony Sanchez and staff would not opt to be in a position with one win through five games, it is a space that the Aggies have proven they can bounce back from. In fact, in six of the Aggies’ last seven seasons that resulted in plus-.500 winning percentage, NM State held a losing record through at least five games.
Jacksonville State 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. • Jax State posted a 6-2 record last season in Conference USA play which was their first season as members of the league. • In 2023, the Gamecocks posted a 4-1 record during “Weekday CUSA.” • The Gamecocks improved to 3-0 in their conference opener under Rich Rodriguez with a 63-24 win at Kennesaw State on Friday. • In the win at KSU, the Gamecocks recorded eight rushing touchdowns, which is third most in a game in Conference USA history. • The Gamecocks are coming off a 9-4 record in 2023, their first year in FBS. They became the first team to qualify for and win a Bowl Game in their first-year eligible to do so. • Jax State head coach Rich Rodriguez is in seventh place among active FBS head coaches in career wins. In his 27th season as a head coach, Rodriguez has a 183-128-2 career record. • The Gamecocks had an average attendance of 20,033 in 2023, the highest mark of any school in Conference USA and the second highest average attendance in school history behind 20,598 in 2015.
Thursday October 10, 2024
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
SERIES HISTORY
The Blue Raiders and the Bulldogs will be meeting for the ninth time in history. Louisiana Tech leads the overall series, 5-3, but MTSU has won three of the last five. The Bulldogs won the first three meetings in the series in 1984, 1996 and 1999 before the Blue Raiders got in the win column in 2000. The two teams have met four times as CUSA foes and the series is tied at 2-2.
Middle Tennessee Notes
QUICK HITTERS
• MTSU has 20 explosive plays (20 or more yards) on the season and seven have been passes from Nicholas Vattiato to Omari Kelly. • Nicholas Vattiato is 12th in the Group of 5 with 257.0 passing yards per game and Omari Kelly is T10th in receiving yards (471). • MTSU has played three home games in 2024 and two have had lightning delays. The delays have totaled four hours and 22 minutes or basically another complete game. • QB Nicholas Vattiato ranks 31st nationally in passing yards/game and 28th in completions/game. • The Blue Raiders have played nine true freshmen this season (Amarrien Bailey, Jordan Beasley, Aidan Butts, Grant Chadwick, Zach Clayton, Austin Clemons, Roman Gagliano, Evan Poticher and Korey Smith). • WR Holden Willis has at least one catch in 14 straight games to own the longest streak on the team • 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). • The Blue Raiders have two seven-year players on their roster in Brendon Harris and Alex Williams. • Consecutive Start Leaders: Nick Vattiato: 17 • 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). • 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. SERIES HISTORY The Blue Raiders and the Bulldogs will be meeting for the ninth time in history. Louisiana Tech leads the overall series, 5-3, but MTSU has won three of the last five. The Bulldogs won the first three meetings in the series in 1984, 1996 and 1999 before the Blue Raiders got in the win column in 2000. The two teams have met four times as CUSA foes and the series is tied at 2-2.
CUSA ROAD OPENERS
MTSU steps back into conference play and hopes to turn their road fortunes around when they take on LA Tech. The Blue Raiders are 3-8 in CUSA road openers and have lost five straight. The last road CUSA opener MTSU won was in 2018 at Marshall, 34-24. Overall on the road against CUSA competition the Blue Raiders own a mark of 17-25 since joining the league in 2013.
MID-WEEK STRETCH BEGINS
The month of October means the Blue Raiders will begin mid-week conference play for the second straight year. MTSU will play three straight mid-week games in a 14- day span with two on the road (LA Tech, Jax State) and one at home (Kennesaw State). The Blue Raiders played four mid-week games last year and went 1-3. The CUSA mid-week television contract is for five years.
LOOKING FOR 100
uring its history, Middle Tennessee owns an impressive 178-59-1 (.750) record when a back gains 100 or more yards rushing in a single game. Since joining the FBS ranks in 1999, a Blue Raider has reached the 100-yard mark 100 times and the team has a 76-24 (.760) mark in those games.
30 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
Since joining the FBS ranks in 1999, the Blue Raiders are 111-23 (.828) when scoring 30 or more points. Over the last 104 games when scoring 30 points, MTSU is 87-14. As a head coach, Derek Mason owns a mark of 19-5 when scoring 30 or more points in a game.
GIANT KILLERS
Since 1999, the Blue Raiders have had a knack of knocking off Power 4 opponents. With the win at Miami in 2022, MTSU now has nine wins over Power 4 foes in the FBS era. MTSU owns wins over Vanderbilt (2001, 2002, 2005), Maryland (2008, 2009), Georgia Tech (2012), Missouri (2016), Syracuse (2017) and Miami (2022) with seven others being decided by a TD or less.
Louisiana Tech Notes
BULLDOGSTORYLINES AND 2024 LEADERS
• Louisiana Tech will host the 1-4 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Thursday at 7 p.m. Both teams come into the Weekday CUSA matchup not only looking for their first conference win but also their first FBS victory of the season. LA Tech enters the game with a 1-3 record after a one-score loss to FIU on the road in its CUSA opener.
• LA Tech is coming off back-to-back one-score losses after falling 17-10 to FIU last time out, and 23-20 to Tulsa on Sept. 21. The Bulldogs are averaging 18.8 points per outing while giving up 21.8.
• Tech’s offense will look to get on track as it faces an MTSU squad that is allowing 39.0 points and 476.0 yards per game. LA Tech is averaging 320.3 yards per game while the defense has proved to be one of the tops in the nation, allowing just 299.5 yards per contest.
• Thursday’s matchup against Middle Tennessee will mark the first of four-weekday games for LA Tech throughout October. Following MTSU, the Bulldogs will have three straight Tuesday night games starting with New Mexico State on Sept. 15, UTEP on Oct. 22, and Sam Houston on Oct. 29.
• LA Tech has never lost to MTSU at home, posting a 4-0 record in Ruston. The Bulldogs will look to pick up their sixth win in the series, as they hold a 5-3 lead over the Blue Raiders. Thursday’s matchup will mark the 7th FBS meeting between the two schools, and the 5th CUSA matchup.
• LA Tech will look to win its sixth-straight CUSA home opener with a win over MTSU. The Bulldogs have not dropped a CUSA home opener since the 2018 season when UAB walked away with a 28-7 win in Ruston.
A LA TECH WIN…
• Would give head coach Sonny Cumbie his 10th career win. • Would give LA Tech its sixth-straight CUSA home opening win. • Would give the Bulldogs their first weeknight win since Sept. 29, 2023. • Would make LA Tech 5-0 at home against MTSU. • Would make Tech 1-0 in the month of October. • Would be Tech’s first Thursday night win since Dec. 3, 2020
Texas-El Paso Miners vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
SERIES INFORMATION
Overall: WKU leads 4-0 in El Paso: WKU leads 2-0 in Bowling Green: WKU leads 2-0 Neutral: – Postseason: – Most UTEP Points: 27 (WKU, 35-27, 2014) Most WKU Points: 40 (WKU, 40-16, 2018) Most Combined PTS: 62 (WKU, 35-27, 2014) Biggest UTEP Win: – Biggest WKU Win: 24 (WKU, 40-16, 2018) First Meeting: WKU won 35-27 in Bowling Green (11.18.14) Last Meeting: WKU won 21-13 in El Paso (11.4.23) Streak: WKU, W4
WKU leads the series 4-0, including a 2-0 mark in Bowling Green. The Miners and Hilltoppers last met on Nov. 4, 2023, in Sun Bowl Stadium. UTEP’s defense shut out WKU in the first half to take a 3-0 lead into the locker room. K Buzz Flabiano made a 22-yard field in the second quarter. WKU scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to make the score 14-3, but a QB Cade McConnell 62-yard touchdown pass to WR Kelly Akharaiyi early in the fourth got the Miners within four points (14-10). WKU took a 21-10 lead on a rushing touchdown at the 9:34 mark. Flabiano connected on a 31-yard field goal to get within eight points with 57 seconds remaining, but the ensuing onside kick failed. UTEP last played at WKU in 2018 with the Hilltoppers coming out on top 40-16.
Texas-El Paso Notes
MINERS AT A GLANCE
MIDWEEK MADNESS CONTINUES AS UTEP PLAYS AT WKU THURSDAY NIGHT ON ESPNU
UTEP will make its first return to WKU in six seasons when the Miners and Hilltoppers face each other on Thursday night in Bowling Green. The midweek madness matchup is set to kick off at 6 p.m. MDT/7 CT in Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. UTEP and WKU will be nationally televised on ESPNU and can be heard on “The Home of UTEP Football 600 AM ESPN”.
CATCH 22
RB Ezell Jolly ran for a career-best 76 yards on 17 carries (4.5 avg.) and scored his first career TD against Sam Houston.
CUSA LEADER
MB Kam Thomas leads CUSA in receptions (31), all-purpose yards (519) and all-purpose yards per game (103.8).
KENNY KILLING IT
WR Kenny Odom leads UTEP and ranks third in CUSA with 359 yards receiving; ranks t-3rd with 3 TD receptions.
LONG TD BY A TE
TE Marcus Vinson ran for a career-long 52-yard touchdown against Sam Houston; longest TD by a UTEP TE since 2021.
FIRST TD AT UTEP
Spur Kory Chapman scored his first career touchdown at UTEP on a fumble recovery against SHSU.
FIRST DEFENSIVE TD IN THE SUN BOWL SINCE 2019
Cory Chapman’s touchdown was the first score by a UTEP defensive player in the Sun Bowl since the 2019 season.
D-HOP SWARMING
LB Dorian Hopkins leads UTEP, ranks second in CUSA in total tackles (52) and tackles per game (10.4).
LANTZ IMPRESSES IN FIRST START
S Lantz Russell recorded a career-high 12 tackles against Sam Houston in his first career start
ABOUT WKU
The Hilltoppers are coming off a 21-20 loss at Boston College on Sept. 28. Following a pair of K Lucas Carneiro field goals (22 yards, 35 yards), WKU took a 20-7 lead at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter. However, BC scored two touchdowns in the fourth, with the game-winner coming with 3:33 left. The Hilltoppers opened the season with a 63-0 loss at no. 5 Alabama, but rebounded with victories over EKU, 31-0 (Sept. 7), CUSA foe Middle Tennessee, 49-21 (Sept. 14), and Toledo, 26-21 (Sept. 21). WKU ranks fifth in CUSA in scoring offense (25.2) and fourth in scoring defense (25.2). The Hilltoppers offense ranks fourth in total offense (381.0) and fifth in total defense (396.8). Veltkamp ranks third in passing yards per game (220.8) and second in touchdown passes (eight).
Western Kentucky Notes
LAST TIME OUT
WKU lost 21-20 in a close contest against Boston College at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Hilltoppers led the Eagles for much of the game, before falling to the power conference team on the road.
CUSA STANDINGS
The Hilltoppers will start Weekday CUSA action behind only Liberty and Sam Houston in the league standings. The Flames and Bearkats both own a 2-0 record against conference opponents so far this season. Liberty is 4-0 overall and Sam Houston is 5-1. WKU, FIU and Jax State are all 1-0 in CUSA play, while the Hilltoppers are the only one of the three with a winning record overall – the other two are 2-3. Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Kennesaw State and UTEP are all searching for their first win in CUSA play.
DEFENSE STEPPING UP
WKU’s defense has played a major role in the team’s success since the loss in the season opener at Alabama. Over the last four games, WKU has allowed only 15.8 points per game with eight turnovers gained. WKU’s opponents have only scored 54% of the time they’ve reached the end zone during that stretch. For the season, WKU’s red zone defense ranks first in CUSA and fifth nationally.
PUNTING POWER
Punter Cole Maynard has been a big player on special teams this fall. He ranks first in CUSA and fifth nationally in average yards per punt with 47.5 per attempt on 18 attempts. He’s had eight punts travel 50-plus yards, with a long of 60 yards, and has landed three inside the 20-yard line. He was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 23. WKU’s single-season record for average yards per punt is 45.9 yards, held by John Haggerty in the 2019 season.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player of the Week – Tyler Huff, Jax State
Huff rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ (2-3, 1-0 CUSA) 63-24 win at Kennesaw State, marking the fifth-most rushing yards by a quarterback in Conference USA history. He fueled a 21-point third quarter, carrying the ball five times for 88 yards and a pair of scores in the frame. As a team, Jax State posted a school-record eight rushing touchdowns in the contest and racked up 384 yards rushing. The veteran signal caller was also 16-25 passing for 193 yards. He is currently the league’s leader in rushing yards at 445 and yards per carry at 7.1.
Defensive Player of the Week – Zechariah Poyser, Jax State
Poyser picked off a pair of passes in a 63-24 win at Kennesaw State on Friday night to run his season total up to three and to move into the conference lead in interceptions. He also added a tackle for loss among his four total stops in the winning effort. His first interception came at midfield in the second quarter and set up the first of Huff’s three touchdown runs. The second pick stopped the Owls at the Jax State 35-yard line and led to a Tre Stewart touchdown run to push the lead to 35-17.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Jadon Cardell, SHSU
Cardell had a great game for the Kats (5-1, 2-0 CUSA) in a 41-21 win at UTEP, helping the Bearkats win the field position battle in the first half before the offense finally took flight in the second half to break the game open. The redshirt junior averaged 40.0 yards on six punts and pinned the Miners within the 10-yard line on three punts in the first half, giving UTEP a long field to work with each time. He also set a new season long when he boomed a 53-yard punt. Cardell ranks third in CUSA with eight punts downed inside the 20-yard line this season.
QUICK HITTERS
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
In its last two wins, Jax State has forced 10 turnovers with seven interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The sudden swing in the turnover battle vaulted them into a tie for seventh nationally in turnovers gained (12), eighth in interceptions (8) and 11th in turnover margin (1.20). The Gamecocks have cashed in on the miscues with 21 points off turnovers in each of their last two wins.
BALL, BALL, BALL
Kennesaw State has been among the best in the league at dislodging the ball from its opponents’ hands. They are tied for the CUSA lead in both forced fumbles (seven) and fumble recoveries (five). Redshirt freshman defensive back JeRico Washington Jr. leads the team with two forced fumbles and is one of five different players with a fumble recovery.
BULLDOG MENTALITY ON D
LA Tech’s defense has been a strength in the early going as the Bulldogs rank in the top 25 nationally in first downs allowed (7th, 68), tackles for loss (11th, 7.8), red zone defense (22nd, .727), rushing defense (23rd, 101.3) and total defense (24th, 299.5). They also lead CUSA in sacks (2.5) and rank second in the league in passing yards allowed (198.3).
FLAMES QUARTER
Liberty has turned the fourth quarter into the “Flames Quarter,” using the final frame to pull away in each of its four victories to begin the year. The Flames are averaging 14 points, while their opponents are averaging just 3.5 points. Liberty is outgaining its opponents by an average margin of 152-56. Quarterback Kaidon Salter is 21-27 for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and has led the offense to a 78.6 percent (11-14) conversion rate on third downs. Additionally, the Flames have punted just once.
AGGIES STAY PERFECT IN RZ
After converting all four red zone opportunities against New Mexico, NM State maintained its flawless mark within the opponent’s 20-yard line. The Aggies are 12-12 on the year on red zone scoring chances with eight touchdowns and four field goals. They are one of just eight teams with a perfect conversion rate. Running backs Seth McGowan and Mike Washington accounted for five of the eight red zone scores.
LET THE KAT OUT THE BACKFIELD
Sam Houston owns the top rushing offense in the conference and the 11th-best in the nation (228.8). After rushing for 293 yards against UTEP, the Bearkats became the first CUSA team to eclipse 250 yards in four-straight games since Florida Atlantic in 2018. Sam Houston’s three-headed monster in the backfield includes three players averaging between 58 and 62 yards per game. They are led by quarterback Hunter Watson, whose 61.7 yards per game ranks 11th among FBS quarterbacks. He is joined in the backfield by running backs Jay Ducker and DJ McKinney, who each average 58 yards per game.
