UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES CT)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
UTEP at Jax State (CBSSN) 4:30 p.m.
UMass at New Mexico State (ESPN) 6 p.m.
FIU at LA Tech (CBSSN) 8 p.m.
QUICK HITTERS
CUSA ADDS FOUR NEW MEMBERS
Conference USA enters 2023 with a new composition, having added four new members – Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State and Sam Houston. The quartet brings the 2023 membership to nine teams, joining FIU, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and WKU. Kennesaw State will join CUSA on July 1, 2024.
2023 SEASON OPENERS
Conference USA will be a focal point of Week 0, as five of its nine teams will be in action on Saturday, Aug. 26, highlighted by a pair of league contests. Of the games (7) in Week 0, 42.8% involve CUSA teams. UTEP at Jax State (CBSSN) 4:30 p.m. UMass at New Mexico State (ESPN) 6 p.m. FIU at LA Tech (CBSSN) 8 p.m.
Following an exciting 2022 campaign, the new-look Conference USA begins its 28th football season on Saturday morning, opening the 2023 campaign.
UTEP (5-7, 3-5 CUSA in 2022) travels to Jacksonville, Alabama, to take on new league member Jax State (9-2 in FCS in 2022) for the first of three games involving CUSA schools on Saturday, Aug. 26, when they kick off at 4:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. The Miners return a trio of key offensive stalwarts in QB Gavin Hardison (2,044 passing yards, 11 TDs and eight INTs), WR Tyrin Smith (71 catches, 1,039 yards and seven TDs) and RB Deion Hankins (701 yards rushing, 5.0 yards per carry) and three TDs), as well as four members of its offensive line. Defensively, UTEP sees key fixtures LB Tyrice Knight (95.0 total tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) and DE Praise Amaewhule (24.0 total tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, eight QBH) return as well. For Jax State, head coach Rich Rodriguez’s group makes its FBS debut and will be paced offensively by RB Anwar Lewis (818 yards rushing, 7.1 yards per carry and eight touchdowns) and WR Sterling Galban (28 catches for 433 yards and three
scores). Though Rodriguez has not yet named his starter at quarterback (as of 8/21), the Gamecocks do return seventh-year QB Zion Webb (threw for 1,737 yards and 10 TDs, with 13 more scores on the ground and 647 yards on the ground at a 5.6 yards per carry clip). Defensively, Jax State is led by a pair f safeties, Jeremiah Harris (68.0 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, three PBUs and a fumble recovery) and Kolbi Fuqua (55.0 total stops, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles), as well as DL Chris Hardie (40.0 total tackles, 15.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks and four QBH).
New Mexico State (7-6 in 2022), another newcomer to the league, opens its non-conference schedule by hosting UMass (1-11) at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. Jerry Kill’s offensive group returns QB Diego Pavia (1,450 passing yards, 14 TDs to six interceptions, as well as 508 rushing yards and six more scores on the ground),
RB Star Thomas (520 rushing yards and five scores) and WR Kordell David (24 catches for 343 yards and a team-best four TDs). Defensively, DB Andre Seldon returns for the Aggies (44.0 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, one interception and four PBUs). NM State closed the 2022 campaign, Kill’s first at the helm, with six wins in its final seven games to build towards 2023.
Louisiana Tech (3-9, 2-6 CUSA in 2022) and FIU (4- 8, 2-6 CUSA in 2022) cap the evening with a league contest in Ruston at 8 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. Both teams enter year two under their respective head coaches – Sonny Cumbie at LA Tech and Mike MacIntyre at FIU. The Bulldogs bring in Boise State transfer QB Hank Bachmeier (6,605 career passing yards as a Bronco with 41 TDs to 19 INTs from 2019-22). The Bulldogs also return RB Marquis Crosby (918 rushing yards as a freshman with nine TDs and a 5.0 yards per carry average) and WR/RET Smoke Harris (66 catches for 640 yards and five TDs). Defensively, LA Tech returns defensive backs Cecil Singleton, Jr. (56.0 total tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, one INT and five PBUs) and Willie Roberts (29.0 total stops, four INTs and seven PBUs). For FIU, the Panthers return QB Grayson James (1,962 passing yards with 11 TDs and 11 INTs to go along with 223 yards rushing and three more scores) and WR Kris Mitchell (23 catches for 348 yards and four TDs). Defensively the Panthers are led by LB Donovan Manuel (97.0 total tackles, 8.5 TFL, one sack and a fumble recovery) and DL Jeramy Passmore (43.0 total tackles, 2.0 TFL, one sack and a blocked kick).
2023 ROUND ROBIN SCHEDULE
Conference USA’s nine-team configuration in 2023 allows for a true round robin schedule format to decide the participants of the CUSA Championship game on Friday, Dec. 1.
CUSA COACHING DEBUTS
With four new teams set to debut in Conference USA in 2023, that means the league has four new head coaches: Rich Rodriguez enters year two at Jacksonville State, Jamey Chadwell begins his tenure at Liberty, Jerry Kill is in his second year at New Mexico State and K.C. Keeler is set to begin his 10th season at Sam Houston
2023 MIDWEEK SCHEDULE
Conference USA’s new television deal with partners CBS Sports Network and ESPN, features a new midweek scheduling model for beginning this fall. 19 CUSA games will take place on weeknights throughout the month of October, enhancing linear exposure for the league and its programs.
REED ALL ABOUT IT!
WKU QB Austin Reed returns for the 2023 season as the nation’s leading returning passer. He led the country in 2022 in passing yardage (4,746) and finished his first season in Bowling Green by completing 389-of-603 for 4,746 yards with 40 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions. He also chipped in on the ground, carrying 91 times for 224 yards and eight more touchdowns.
YAC KING
WKU WR Malachi Corley returns for the Hilltoppers and is the nation’s returning leading receiver. He hauled in 101 passes last season for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022. The combination of Corley and QB Austin Reed has the HIlltoppers poised for another explosive offensive season in Bowling Green.
