Week four of the Conference USA football season features a number of unfamiliar matchups as seven of the eight games will mark either the first or second meeting in the series.
Source: Conference USA
Even LA Tech and Tulsa, who are facing off for the 10th time, have met just once in the last 19 seasons. The Bulldogs and Golden Hurricanes square off in a 6 p.m. CT window that also includes a CUSA contest between NM State and Sam Houston and a high-profile Group of Five matchup with Toledo visiting WKU. Saturday’s slate begins with a 2 p.m. kick between Southern Miss and Jax State at 2 p.m. CT.
SOUTHERN MISS (1-2) AT JAX STATE (0-3)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Jacksonville, Ala. (AmFirst Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Eli Gold (PxP), Bill Clark (Analyst)
All-Time Series: First meeting
The Gamecocks return home still seeking their first win of the season after falling short in double overtime at Eastern Michigan this past week. Quarterback Tyler Huff has continued to settle in as QB1 for Jax State, completing 67 percent (41-61) of his passes for 471 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 181 yards and another score in the past two contests. Safety Antonio Carter II is tied for seventh nationally in tackles per game (11.3) and 19th in solo tackles (5.5).
DUKE (3-0) AT MTSU (1-2, 0-1 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 3 p.m. CT
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPNU
Announcers: Matt Schumacker (PxP), Dustin Fox (Analyst)
All-Time Series: Duke leads 1-0
The Blue Raiders’ homecoming game, which will be featured on ESPNU, will feature another homecoming of sorts for Duke head coach Manny Diaz, who served as MTSU’s defensive coordinator from 2006-09. The defensive-minded coach will have his work cut out for him against quarterback Nicholas Vattiato, who ranks 17th nationally in passing (291.7) after posting an FBS-best 456 yards in week three.
UTEP (0-3, 0-1 CUSA) AT COLORADO STATE (1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Fort Collins, Colo. (Canvas Stadium)
Broadcast: truTV
Announcers: JB Long (PxP), Mike Golic Jr. (Analyst), Jared Greenberg (Sideline)
All-Time Series: Series tied 1-1
The Miners look to notch their first win as they close out non-conference play in The Centennial State. Wide receiver Kam Thomas has been a go-to option in UTEP’s offense as his 6.7 receptions per game rank 21st among FBS pass catchers. Defensively, the Miners are led by safety Kory Chapman and linebacker Dorian Hopkins, who each rank seventh nationally with 11.3 tackles per game. Chapman also ranks 19th with 5.3 solo stops per game.
MONMOUTH (1-2) AT FIU (1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Miami, Fla. (Pitbull Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Steve Goldstein (PxP), Corey Brooks (Analyst)
All-Time Series: First meeting
The Panthers welcome the Hawks to Pitbull Stadium as they look to get back to .500 before beginning CUSA play. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins is coming off an up-and-down Shula Bowl performance that saw him finish with a season-high 281 yards and three touchdowns, which matched his career high. Already with an interception and fumble recovery, linebacker Percy Courtney Jr. leads a defense that ranks fifth nationally in turnover margin (+2.5).
EAST CAROLINA (2-1) AT LIBERTY (3-0, 2-0 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Matt Warner (PxP), Joe Jauch (Analyst), Emily Austen (Sideline)
All-Time Series: First meeting
The Flames face their toughest test to date as they look to extend their regular season winning streak to 16 games in front of a sellout crowd at Williams Stadium. Liberty has capitalized in crunch time, turning the fourth quarter into the “Flames Quarter” with an average of 14 points and 154 yards of offense in the final frame. Defensive end TJ Bush has shown growth in his sophomore campaign, leading CUSA and ranking 10thnationally with 1.17 sacks per game.
TULSA (1-2) AT LA TECH (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Ruston, La. (Joe Aillet Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Lyn Rollins (PxP), Chris Mycoskie (Analyst), Madison Kaufman (Sideline)
All-Time Series: LA Tech leads 6-3
The Bulldogs host the Golden Hurricanes with aspirations of starting 2-0 at home for the third straight season. Quarterback Jack Turner returned to the field in week three and finished with 281 yards, the second-most in his LA Tech career. The Bulldog defense has surrendered just 16.5 points per game through the first two contests and ranks 35th nationally in yards allowed per game (280.5).
NM STATE (1-2, 0-1 CUSA) AT SAM HOUSTON (2-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Huntsville, Texas (Bowers Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Tom Franklin (PxP), Ken Moore (Analyst)
All-Time Series: NM State leads 1-0
A week after recording the second-highest attendance at Bowers Stadium (15,134), the Bearkats host the Aggies for their CUSA opener.
Sam Houston, who is outrushing opponents 217.5-51.5 in its wins, is coming off a commanding 31-13 win over Hawaii in which the Bearkats ran for 257 yards. The rushing onslaught included an 86-yard burst by Jay Ducker, which set up a crucial scoring drive in the third quarter. It marked the longest of Sam Houston’s 24 “big plays” (15+ yard pass, 10+ yard run) this season.
NM State’s defense, which ranks 14th nationally in third down conversion percentage (.250), features plenty of familiar faces for Sam Houston in defensive coordinator Joe Morris, linebackers coach Jared Hensley and a pair of transfers in the secondary, including 2023 First Team All-CUSA defensive back Da’Marcus Crosby.
TOLEDO (3-0) AT WKU (2-1, 1-0 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (Houchens Industries – L.T. Smith Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Jeff Hem (PxP), Terry Obee (Analyst)
All-Time Series: First meeting
The Hilltoppers look to hand the Rockets their first loss when they come to Bowling Green for a highly touted Group of Five matchup. WKU quarterback Caden Veltkamp is set to make his first career start after the CUSA Offensive Player of the Week totaled six touchdowns in a 49-21 victory over rival MTSU. Defensively, the Tops’ have allowed just one red zone touchdown on four attempts in the last two games and rank 10thnationally in red zone defense (.556) on the year.
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