The final week of the regular season is upon us and there is much to be decided in Conference USA. Four teams enter the final weekend with a path to play in the 2020 Ryan C-USA Championship Game on December 18. Marshall and Florida Atlantic remain in contention to win the East Division title, while UAB and UTSA are alive to take the West Division crown. Marshall and UAB each control their destiny and earn spots in the title game with victories.
The games begin on Thursday night with Florida Atlantic (5-2, 4-1 in C-USA) seeking its fifth straight C-USA victory when it visits Southern Miss (2-7, 1-4 in C-USA) in a matchup that was postponed back in October (5:30 pm CT on CBSSN). The Owls defense ranks third in the FBS, allowing 12.4 points per game and just eight touchdowns in seven games. The Southern Miss D has been stingy lately, allowing an average of 15.3 points over the last three weeks.
For the first time in league history, a conference game has been moved to the campus of the originally scheduled visiting team. On Friday, North Texas (3-5, 2-4 in C-USA) will play UTEP (3-4, 0-3) in Denton instead of El Paso (5 pm CT on ESPN3). Mean Green senior Jaelon Darden (66 catches, 1,017 yards and FBS-leading 15 receiving touchdowns) is one of the nation’s most productive receivers, but the Miners have a strong pair of pass catchers in sophomore Jacob Cowing and senior Justin Garrett, who each average 5.1 catches per game have combined for 1,071 yards in seven outings.
Also on Friday night, Charlotte (2-4, 2-2 in C-USA) will visit No. 15 Marshall (7-1, 4-1 in C-USA) in a key East Division matchup that was added back to the schedule last Saturday (5:30 pm CT on CBS Sports Network). The Thundering Herd can clinch the East Division and the right to host the C-USA Championship Game with a victory.
UAB (4-3, 2-1 in C-USA) hasn’t played since Halloween due to a bye and four straight COVID-19-related postponements, but will look to get back into action Saturday (12 pm CT on ESPN3) with a huge game at Rice (2-2, 2-2 in C-USA). A Blazers victory will put them in the C-USA Championship Game for the third consecutive season. The Owls are coming off a 20-0 shutout win at No. 15 Marshall, the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since 1982 and the first shutout of a ranked opponent on the road since 1960.
Louisiana Tech (5-3, 4-2 in C-USA) will close out its regular season with a non-conference game at TCU (5-4, 5-4 in Big 12) that was added on Dec. 2 (6 pm CT on FS1). The Bulldogs have really enjoyed playing in the Lone Star state in recent years. Last week’s win at North Texas raised Louisiana Tech’s record to 15-3 when playing in the state of Texas since 2014.
WEEK FIFTEEN C-USA FOOTBALL PREVIEW
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (5-2, 4-1 in C-USA) at SOUTHERN MISS (2-7, 1-4 in C-USA)
Thursday, December 10
5:30 p.m. CT
Hattiesburg, Mississippi (M.M. Roberts Stadium)
Television: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Jason Knapp (PxP), Corey Chavous (AN)
All-Time Series: Florida Atlantic leads 2-0
Last Meeting: at Florida Atlantic 34, Southern Miss 17 (Nov. 30, 2019)
NORTH TEXAS (3-5, 2-4 in C-USA) vs. UTEP (3-4, 0-3 in C-USA)
Friday, December 11
5 p.m. CT
Denton, Texas (Apogee Stadium)
Television: ESPN3
Announcers: Kyle Youmans (PxP), Hek’ma Harrison (AN)
All-Time Series: North Texas leads 17-7-3
Last Meeting: at North Texas 52, UTEP 26 (Nov. 2, 2019)
CHARLOTTE (2-4, 2-2 in C-USA) at MARSHALL (7-1, 4-1 in C-USA)
Friday, December 11
6:30 p.m. ET
Huntington, West Virginia (Joan C. Edwards Stadium)
Television: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Chris Hassel (PxP), Danny Kanell (AN)
All-Time Series: Marshall leads 3-2
Last Meeting: at Charlotte 24, Marshall 13 (Nov. 23, 2019)
UAB (4-3, 2-1 in C-USA) at RICE (2-2, 2-2 in C-USA)
Saturday, December 12
12 p.m. CT
Houston, Texas (Rice Stadium)
Television: ESPN3
Announcers: Matt Pedersen (PxP), Taylor McHargue (AN)
All-Time Series: UAB leads 5-3
Last Meeting: at UAB 35, Rice 20 (Oct. 5, 2019)
LOUISIANA TECH (5-3, 4-2 in C-USA) at TCU (5-4, 5-4 in Big 12)
Saturday, December 12
6 p.m. CT
Fort Worth, Texas (Amon G. Carter Stadium)
Television: FS1
Announcers: Cory Provus (PxP), Robert Smith (AN)
All-Time Series: TCU leads 1-0
Last Meeting: TCU 31, Louisiana Tech 24 (Poinsettia Bowl – Dec. 21, 2011)
