THIS WEEK IN CONFEENCE USA
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3
Ryan C-USA Championship (CBSSN) 6 pm
UTSA vs. WKU
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
QUICK HITTERS
RYAN 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
UTSA (11-1, 7-1 C-USA) will host the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 3, against East Division Champion WKU (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) from the Alamodome in San Antonio. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network
and kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.
WKU at UTSA
Friday, Dec. 3 San Antonio, Texas
6 p.m. CT Alamodome
All-Time Series Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: UTSA 52, at WKU 46
(Oct. 9, 2021)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Rich Waltz (PxP), Aaron Taylor (AN), Jenny Dell (SL)
WKU (8-4, 7-1 C-USA)
Website: www.wkusports.com
Head Coach: Tyson Helton (3rd year, 3rd at WKU)
Leading Passer: Bailey Zappe (406-580, 4,968 yards, 52 TDs, 9 INTs)
Leading Rusher: Noah Whittington (90 att., 452 yards, 1 TD)
Leading Receiver: Jerreth Sterns (127 rec., 1,539 yards, 12 TDs)
Leading Tackler: Antwon Kincade (79 tackles, 43 solo) and DeAngelo Malone (79 tackles, 37 solo)
Total Offense: 525.1 ypg (1st in C-USA)
Rushing Offense: 102.3 ypg (13th in C-USA)
Passing Offense: 422.8 ypg (1st in C-USA)
Scoring Offense: 43.3 ppg (1st in C-USA)
Total Defense: 411.3 ypg (9th in C-USA)
Rushing Defense: 149.4 ypg (6th in C-USA)
Passing Defense: 261.9 ypg (11th in C-USA)
Scoring Defense: 27.0 ppg (7th in C-USA)
UTSA (11-1, 7-1 C-USA)
Website: www.goutsa.com
Head Coach: Jeff Traylor (2nd year, 2nd at UTSA)
Leading Passer: Frank Harris (222-334, 2,688 yards, 23 TDs, 5 INTs)
Leading Rusher: Sincere McCormick (262 att., 1,275 yards, 12 TDs)
Leading Receiver: Zakhari Franklin (67 rec., 87 yards, 10 TDs)
Leading Tackler: Rashad Wisdom (79 tackles, 59 solo)
Total Offense: 433.5 ypg (4th in C-USA)
Rushing Offense: 179.0 ypg (2nd in C-USA)
Passing Offense: 254.5 ypg (5th in C-USA)
Scoring Offense: 36.9 ppg (2nd in C-USA)
Total Defense: 346.8 ypg (3rd in C-USA)
Rushing Defense: 121.6 ypg (2nd in C-USA)
Passing Defense: 225.2 ypg (5th in C-USA)
Scoring Defense: 22.2 ppg (1st in C-USA)
RYAN C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
UTSA (11-1, 7-1 C-USA), which spent the past several weeks ranked inside various top 25 polls and climbed as high as No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25, clinched the right to host the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 3, when it knocked off UAB in thrilling fashion on Nov. 20 in front of 35,143 in the Alamodome. WKU (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) punched its ticket during the final week of the regular season with a 53-21 win at Marshall in a winner-take-all battle for the C-USA East Division crown. The 2021 Ryan Conference USA Champion- ship Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Net- work, beginning at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.
This marks UTSA’s first trip to the C-USA title game, while WKU makes its third appearance. WKU claimed conference championships in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016. This will be the third all-time meeting between the schools (series tied 1-1) and second meeting this season, as UTSA escaped Bowling Green with a wild, 52-46 win on Oct. 9 to remain unbeaten.
UTSA captured the West Division crown with seven straight wins to open league play. Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor is looking to lead UTSA to its first-ever Conference USA title, and UTSA will be heading to a bowl for the second time in as many sea-sons under the former Gilmer High School coaching legend. The Roadrunners are led offensively by the three-headed monster of RB Sincere McCormick, QB Frank Harris and WR Zakhari Franklin. McCormick, a preseason All-America selection, leads C-USA in rushing and ranks eighth nationally in rushing yards (1,275) and has 12 touchdowns in his 12 appearances.
Harris has taken a major leap in 2021, having thrown for 2,688 yards with 23 touchdowns to just five interceptions, and adds a dangerous dynamic with his legs, having rushed for 484 yards and five more scores. Franklin is the leader of a talented receiving corps, having hauled in a team-high 67 catches for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Roadrunner defense leads the league in points allowed (22.2) and boasts a star in the secondary in Rashad Wisdom (team-high 79 tackles) and in the linebacking corps in Clarence Hicks (31 tackles, 14.0 TFL and 8.0 sacks). UTSA is also rock solid in the kicking game, as K Hunter Duplessis (third in the FBS in scoring at 10.2 ppg) and P Lucas Dean (45.6 yards per punt) have been difference-makers for Traylor’s squad. WKU makes its first trip to the championship game in five seasons, and did so by rattling off seven consecutive wins after opening the season with a difficult schedule and 1-4 start. Tyson Helton’s Hilltoppers stayed the course and are one of the hottest teams in the country, thanks largely in part to its highflying aerial attack, and its defensive turnaround.
WKU bounced back from a frustrating 2020 season that saw the Hilltoppers finish 5-7. So much of that is due to Helton’s bold strategy to transplant the offense of Houston Baptist. Helton hired offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, and landed HBU transfers QB Bailey Zappe and WRs Jerreth Sterns, Josh Sterns and Ben Ratzlaff. The WKU offense has thrived, and Zappe (406-580 for and FBS-leading 4,968 yards and C-USA single-season record 52 passing touch- downs) as well as Jerreth Sterns (a program-record 127 receptions for 1,539 yards and 12 scores) are keys to that success. WR Mitchell Tinsley (not of HBU ori- gins) has been a revelation as well, as the junior has 71 catches for 1,126 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, it all starts with DE DeAngelo Malone, who is the team’s co-leader in tackles (79), but also paces the Toppers with 12.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. WKU has forced 27 turnovers, which ranks third in all of the FBS, which has been a big component of the team’s success and march to the title game. UTSA isn’t the only team with a kicker who is a difference-maker – WKU’s Brayden Narveson ranks fifth in the FBS in points per game (10.1 ppg) and is 15th in the FBS in field goal percentage (87.0).
CHAMPIONSHIP TRENDS
* WKU (43.3 ppg) and UTSA (36.9 ppg) rank first and second in scoring offense in Conference USA, and rank second and 14th, respectively in the FBS. These high-octane offenses were certainly on display back on Oct. 9 in Bowling Green, when the Roadrunners came out on top 52-46 in a shootout, which ultimately determined the site of Friday’s 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game.
* UTSA leads Conference USA in scoring defense, which pits the top-scoring offense in the league against the top defense in terms of points allowed.
* Since C-USA began holding a conference championship in 2005, the host school is 11-5 all-time. This is the first time in the past eight seasons that the game will be hosted by the West Division champion.
* UTSA becomes the 11th different host in the league’s 17 championship games.
C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Here are the results and MVP’s of the first 16 C-USA
Football Championship Games:
2020 UAB 22, at Marshall 13
MVP: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
2019 at Florida Atlantic 41, UAB 6
MVP: Chris Robison, QB, Florida Atlantic
2018 UAB 27, at Middle Tennessee 25
MVP: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
2017 at Florida Atlantic 41, North Texas 17
MVP: Kalib Woods, WR, Florida Atlantic
2016 at WKU 58, Louisiana Tech 44
MVP: Anthony Wales, RB, WKU
2015 at WKU 45, Southern Miss 28
MVP: Brandon Doughty, QB, WKU
2014 at Marshall 26, Louisiana Tech 23
MVP: Justin Haig, K, Marshall
2013 at Rice 41, Marshall 24
MVP: Luke Turner, RB, Rice
2012 at Tulsa 33, UCF 27 (OT)
MVP: Trey Watts, RB, Tulsa
2011 Southern Miss 49, at Houston 28
MVP: Tracy Lampley, RB, Southern Miss
2010 at UCF 17, SMU 7
MVP: Latavius Murray, RB, UCF
2009 at East Carolina 38, Houston 32
MVP: Dwayne Harris, WR, East Carolina
2008 East Carolina 27, at Tulsa 24
MVP: Travis Simmons, DB, East Carolina
2007 at UCF 44, Tulsa 25
MVP: Kevin Smith, RB, UCF
2006 at Houston 34, Southern Miss 20
MVP: Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
2005 Tulsa 44, at UCF 27
MVP: Garrett Mills, TE, Tulsa
POSTSEASON AWARDS TIMELINE
Here is a look at the schedule for announcement of the league’s 2021 postseason awards. Awards are voted on by the league’s head football coaches.
Thu., Dec. 2 All-Academic Team Announced
Tues., Dec. 7 All-Conference, All-Freshman Teams Announced
Wed., Dec. 8 Individual Awards Announced
ZAPPE, TOPS’ DEFENSE LEADS WKU
TO C-USA EAST TITLE, CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME
WKU QB Bailey Zappe, was excellent again on Saturday in WKU’s 53-21 win at Marshall, which clinched the C-USA East Division title and a spot in the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game in San Antonio on Friday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. CT. Zappe completed 25-48 passes for 328 yards and four touch- downs with no interceptions in the victory, WKU’s seventh straight. Zappe is now the record-holder in C-USA (and WKU) history for single-season passing touchdowns, with 52 (in 12 games). He also moved into sixth in C-USA history in single-season passing yardage, with 4,968 thus far. Zappe is now tied for fourth in FBS history, just eight touchdown passes shy of Joe Burrow’s record, set in 2019, with two games to go (championship game and bowl game).
1. Joe Burrow, LSU, 2019 60
2. Colt Brennan, Hawai’i, 2006 58
3. David Klingler, Houston, 1990 54
4. Bailey Zappe, WKU, 2021 52
B.J. Symons, Texas Tech, 2003 52
5. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State, 2018 50
Derek Carr, Fresno State, 2013 50
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, 2006 50
WKU’s defense clamped down in the second half, allowing just seven points after surrendering 14 in the first half. The defense also scored via a pick six, and the Hilltoppers forced a pair of turnovers in the win.
UNT UPSETS UTSA, IS BOWL ELIGIBLE
North Texas picked up its fifth consecutive win to become bowl eligible at 6-6, rebounding from a 1-6 start. The Mean Green did so by knocking off previously unbeaten and CFP No. 22 UTSA 45-23 on Saturday in Denton. UNT capitalized on three Road- runner turnovers, which the Mean Green turned into 21 points. The nation’s fifth-ranked rushing attack entering play this week rolled up 340 yards on the ground on the normally stingy UTSA defense, high- lighted by a pair of 100-yard rushers in DeAndre Torrey (23 carries for 108 yards and three scores) and Ikaika Ragsdale (19 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns).
ODU SURGES TO BOWL ELIGIBLITY
Old Dominion won its fifth consecutive game, defeating Charlotte 56-34 at home on Saturday, clinching bowl eligibility. RB Blake Watson finished with 18 carries for 115 yards and two scores, while WR Ali Jennings had the fifth-most receiving yards in a single game in Conference USA history, hauling in nine catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The Monarchs, like North Texas, started the season 1-6, and each are now bowl eligibility. ODU did not play in 2020, and in 2019, went 1-11, illustrating the impressive job done by head coach Ricky Rahne.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE IS BOWL ELIGIBLE
Middle Tennessee knocked off Florida Atlantic 27- 17 in Boca Raton to become bowl eligible. The Blue Raiders used a 17-point fourth quarter to come back to beat the Owls Saturday night. Middle also nabbed its sixth defensive touchdown of the season, when DE Jordan Ferguson returned a fumble (forced by LB DQ Thomas) 71 yards for a touchdown to push the Blue Raiders’ lead to 27-17 in the final two minutes of the game. Thomas finished with 10 tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the win. DL Zaylin Wood blocked a kick, recorded a half sack and made a highlight-reel touchdown grab in the win.
RICE WRAPS ’21 WITH COMEBACK WIN
Rice won its fourth game of the season when the Owls knocked off Louisiana Tech 35-31 on Senior Day. Rice trailed 31-21 with under five minutes to go, utilizing a late punt return to help set up the go-ahead score. QB TJ McMahon connected with WR Cedric Patterson III on a three-yard scoring strike in the final minute to complete the comeback. Pat-erson finished with five grabs for 93 yards and two
scores, and RB Cameron Montgomery carried 10 times for 95 yards and the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career in the win.
BLAZERS BOUNCE BACK, FINISH 8-4
UAB bounced back from a heartbreaking loss a week ago in San Antonio to close out their regular season at 8-4, winning on Senior Day, 42-25 over UTEP at Protective Stadium on Friday. The Blazers outscored the Miners 28-8 in the second half to race to victory, largely thanks to an effective day on the ground. UAB rushed for 220 yards, despite losing starting RB DeWayne McBride to injury in the first half (seven carries for 99 yards and a score).
USM WINS SECOND STRAIGHT
Will Hall’s Southern Miss Golden Eagles finished their season on a high note, winning their last two games, including Saturday’s 37-17 win on Senior Day over FIU. The Super Back system was effective again, as Frank Gore, Jr. and Antavious Willis combined to go 8-9 for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while Southern Miss also ran for 322 yards in the win. Gore totaled four touchdowns on the day (two passing, two rushing), and RB Dajon Richard carried 16 times for 107 yards and a score.
ZAPPE CONTINUES TO CHUCK IT
WKU QB Bailey Zappe, who leads the nation in passing yards per game (414.0), was fantastic again last week for the HIlltoppers as they picked up their seventh straight win, knocking off rival Marshall 53- 21 to claim the C-USA East Division and a spot in the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game. Zappe completed 25-48 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Zappe has completed 70.0% of his passes (406-580), which is seventh nationally, for 4,968 yards with 52 touchdowns (leads the FBS) and just nine interceptions. He also has three rushing touchdowns on the season. Zappe has surpassed the 365-yard passing mark in 10 of 12 games this year for WKU. Zappe’s 55 touchdowns responsible for are 11 more than the next-closest player – Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman.
Opponent Passing Yds PassingTDs
9/2 vs. UT-Martin 424 (28-35) 7
9/11 at Army 435 (28-40) 3
9/25 vs. Indiana 365 (31-44) 3
10/2 at Michigan State 488 (46-64) 3
10/9 vs. UTSA 523 (38-60) 5
10/16 at Old Dominion 397 (36-54) 5
10/23 at FIU 382 (39-49) 3
10/30 vs. Charlotte 393 (33-45) 4
11/6 vs. Middle Tennessee 281 (29-50) 4
11/13 at Rice 482 (34-42) 5
11/20 vs. Florida Atlantic 470 (39-40) 6
11/27 at Marshall 328 (25-48) 4
STERNS’ SEASON FOR THE AGES
WKU WR Jerreth Sterns is among the FBS leaders in several categories entering Championship Weekend. The former Houston Baptist wideout is second nationally in receiving yards per game (128.3) and leads the FBS in receptions per game (10.6). Sterns has a program-record 127 receptions (leads the FBS) for 1,539 yards (second in the FBS) and 12 touchdowns (fifth in the FBS) in 12 games in 2021. Sterns has seven games in 2021 with 10 or more catches, and eight games with at least 100 yards receiving. Sterns is second in C-USA history for receptions in a single season, and fifth in single-season receiving yards, through 12 appearances.
SINGLE-SEASON RECEPTIONS
136 Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech, 2016 (1,803 yards)
127 Jerreth Sterns, WKU, 2021 (1,539 yards)
114 Justin Hardy, East Carolina, 2013 (1,284 yards)
111 James Casey, Rice, 2008 (1,329 yards)
110 Tommy Shuler, Marshall, 2012 (1,138 yards)
108 Richie James, Middle Tennessee, 2015 (1,346 yards)
106 Tommy Shuler, Marshall, 2013 (1,165 yards)
105 Richie James, Middle Tennessee, 2016 (1,625 yards)
104 James Cleveland, Houston, 2009 (1,214 yards)
101 Dwayne Harris, East Carolina, 2010 (1,123 yards)
101 Arnold Jackson, Louisville, 1999 (1,209 yards)
SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
1,803 Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech, 2016 (136 catches)
1,752 Patrick Edwards, Houston, 2011 (89 catches)
1,730 Taywan Taylor, WKU, 2016 (98 catches)
1,625 Richie James, Middle Tennessee, 2016 (105 catches)
1,539 Jerreth Sterns, WKU, 2021 (127 catches)
1,535 Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech, 2016 (82 catches)
1,467 Taywan Taylor, WKU, 2015 (86 catches)
1,456 Donnie Avery, Houston, 2007 (91 catches)
1,452 Roddy White, UAB, 2004 (71 catches)
1,391 Michael Thomas, Southern Miss, 2015 (71 catches)
Sterns’ 127 receptions rank 16th in FBS history, and with two games remaining for the excellent slot receiver, he will likely continue to climb that list.
1. Zay Jones, East Carolina, 2016 158
2. Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green, 2009 155
3. Manny Hazard, Houston, 1989 142
4. Jordan White, Western Michigan, 2011 140
Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech, 1998 140
6. Nate Burleson, Nevada, 2002 138
7. Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech, 2016 136
8. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, 2007 134
Trevor Insley, Nevada, 1999 134
Howard Twilley, Tulsa, 1965 134
11. Davante Adams, Fresno State, 2013 131
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma, 2010 131
13. Alex Van Dyke, Nevada, 1995 129
14. Brandin Cooks, Oregon State, 2013 128
J.R. Tolver, San Diego State, 2002 128
16. Jerreth Sterns, WKU, 2021 127
AERIAL ASSAULT IN C-USA
Conference USA has been the home of some of the most prolific passing attacks in the FBS throughout the 2021 season. Two C-USA quarterbacks rank in the top-15 nationally in passing yardage per game – WKU’s Bailey Zappe leads the FBS (414.0) and Marshall’s Grant Wells is 15th (286.1). Additionally, three C-USA signal-callers rank inside the top-20 nationally in passing touchdowns – Zappe leads the FBS (52), Charlotte’s Chris Reynolds 15th (26) and UTSA’s Frank Harris is 25th (23). C-USA quarterbacks also rank 3-4-6 nationally in yards per completion – FIU’s Max Bortenschlager (16.49), UTEP’s Gavin Hardison (15.94), and UAB’s Dylan Hopkins (15.33).
C-USA RECEIVERS LIGHTING IT UP
With all the success of the quarterbacks in C-USA, someone has to catch those passes, and in turn, CUSA receivers are all over the national leaderboards. In terms of receiving yards per game, three of the top-25 spots belong to receivers who hail from CUSA programs – WKU’s Jerreth Sterns leads the way in second (128.3), followed by UTEP’s Jacob Cowing, who is seventh (110.8), WKU’s Mitchell Tinsley (93.8) is 19th and FIU’s Tyrese Chambers (89.5) is 24th. Sterns (12), UTSA WR Zakhari Franklin and Tinsley (10), are also inside the top-10 in receiving touchdowns, ranking fifth and 15th respectively, while Chambers ranks 24th (9). Big plays are seen all over the field across C-USA, as four pass-catchers rank inside the national top-12 in terms of yards per reception, while a total of seven are inside the top-25 – UAB WR Trea Shropshire leads the nation (27.28) while Chambers is second (23.87), UAB TE Gerrit Prince is eighth (20.50), Cowing is 12th (19.85), Louisiana Tech WR Bub Means is 14th (19.55), Marshall WR Willie Johnson is 15th (19.53) and FIU WR Bryce Singleton is 22nd (18.38).
