Welcome to Conference USA in 2026.
In just over a month, we'll see these teams battle it out from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Springfield, Missouri, on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
But until then, we have futures and win totals to bet.
Liberty (+290) enters the season as the conference favorite once again, while Western Kentucky (+350), Jacksonville State (+500), Delaware (+600), Kennesaw State (+700) and FIU (+800) follow closely.
So, where does the value lie? Let's dive into our 2026 Conference USA preview and college football picks for the upcoming NCAAF season.
2026 Conference USA Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Liberty | +290 |
| Western Kentucky | +350 |
| Jacksonville State Gamecocks | +500 |
| Delaware | +600 |
| Kennesaw State | +700 |
| FIU | +800 |
| New Mexico State | +1800 |
| Missouri State | +2400 |
| Middle Tennessee | +5000 |
| Sam Houston | +8000 |
All odds via DraftKings as of Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Pick to Win Conference USA: Jacksonville State
My pick to win Conference USA this season is Jacksonville State.
I'm very impressed with the returning talent on the Gamecocks defense, which will help separate Jacksonville State in CUSA this season.
Caden Creel is a great system quarterback who will thrive in this offense. I expect full and appropriate usage of their two excellent wide receivers, Deondre Johnson and Ronnel Johnson, throughout the season.
There's not a game on this schedule that's unwinnable. In fact, JSU could be 5-0 before a major conference showdown at Western Kentucky on Nov. 14.
The last four opponents on Jacksonville State's schedule feature the four weakest defensive lines in the conference, so expect the ground game to be the difference in those contests once again.
Surprise Contender in Conference USA: FIU
FIU is a surprise contender in this league and one that I think has some staying power.
Head coach Willie Simmons has quickly turned around the culture, locker room cohesion and team unity during his short time in Miami. Simmons is a good football coach who recognizes what his players need from him on and off the field, and his guys played very hard down the stretch last year.
If quarterback JJ Kohl takes command of the offense and we see marginal improvement in the red zone, this offense will score some points.
The schedule will require FIU to pull a pair of upsets on the road. Plus, all four of the toughest conference games come away from home this year.
But the Panthers should go 6-0 at home this season. If this group can duplicate last year’s 3-3 road record, people will start to take notice.
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The last two regular seasons have been disappointing and downright embarrassing for the Flames, who have top-end talent and resources in this league.
This team really hasn’t been the same since the 2023 Fiesta Bowl loss to Oregon, as both of the last two seasons have been filled with apathetic play, underwhelming results and six outright losses while favored.
Head coach Jamey Chadwell must maximize his opportunity with this group in 2026, or he'll find a little more heat under his office chair.
Liberty Offense
Ethan Vasko returns at quarterback but was up-and-down in his performance while struggling with an injury last season.
Vasko completed just 56% of his passes with a 10:12 touchdown-to-interception ratio and was severely limited as a running threat.
The Flames utilized the portal to add Deshawn Purdie and Jaylen Henderson, making this a three-man competition halfway through fall camp. Henderson is the best running threat of the bunch, while Purdie operates more comfortably out of the pocket.
The running back room is loaded and should fit the system well.
Kanye Udoh comes in after a year at Arizona State, and the bruising runner will look to get back to the player he was when he took the field for Army. Udoh ran for 1,117 yards on 6.2 yards per carry in 2024, and despite not seeing the field at ASU last year, he's a dangerous weapon who will run through this league.
Peyton Jones and Kam Davis transfer in and will both tote the rock here a decent amount.
Liberty's rushing production dipped below 200 yards per game for the first time since 2022 last season, but I fully expect this offense to be more explosive and productive on the ground this year.
The receiver room welcomes Indiana transfer Makai Jackson, who should be ready to take control of the room as the clear-cut No. 1 receiver.
Rashawn Cunningham was an explosive and talented receiver at Charleston Southern and should do well operating out of the slot. Jamari Person and Darius Copeland are talented players and should provide depth.
The offensive line should play better this season — so long as it can avoid injury.
Val Erickson comes in after bouncing around the Power 4 ranks and should fit right in at left tackle. Aaron Fenimore was an all-conference center in 2024 and looks to return to form in his third year as a starter.
Both starting guards are back, and right tackle Kevin Evehe has excellent size and is slated to start after transferring from FCS.
This is going to be one of the best offensive lines in CUSA.
Liberty Defense
The defensive line struggled all season last year. Liberty couldn't stop the run, and the pass rush recorded just 13 sacks against FBS competition.
Five contributors are gone, and in comes Lorenzo Payne from West Florida to join many of last year’s second-stringers. Payne posted 7.5 sacks last year and has some quickness, so the hope is that he will help elevate the pass rush immediately.
Nathan Pirolli and Kam Cullins are undersized but have quickness on the interior, and Aaron Hester and Markus Clark help shore up the unit. Brenton Williams will play a hybrid role coming off the edge.
This front could develop into one of the top defensive lines in the conference, but it must put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The linebacker group has Derrell Farrar and Deuce Spurlock returning, with Aidan Vaughan and Ethan Crisp providing depth to the position, something Liberty has needed after battling injuries at the position.
The linebacker group will be pivotal in the scheme, as the secondary loses much of its production from last year and will be breaking in new pieces.
Ashton Whitner and Ashton McShane transfer in from the P4 level and will join Izaiah Guy, who comes in from South Florida. The unit as a whole is largely inexperienced, so I expect Liberty to give up some explosive plays in the secondary.
A new kicker and punter must be broken in, as freshman Carson Jones takes over the placekicking duties and Sam Crossan handles the punting duties. Neither has played in a college game.
Return specialists also need to emerge in camp, as the Liberty return game wasn't much of a game-changer last year. The kickoff and punt coverage units were excellent, though.
This is likely a mediocre CUSA special teams unit.
Liberty Schedule Analysis
Liberty has a high-profile G6 game right away when the Flames travel to James Madison to open the 2026 regular season.
A pair of home games against Gardner-Webb and Ball State will find Liberty favored by multiple scores, and I'm sure Chadwell needs no extra motivation for the game that follows the two-game homestand. Liberty will play at Coastal Carolina on Sept. 24.
Conference play gets started with a trip to Delaware before the Flames host Sam Houston, which will be coming in off a bye.
After Liberty’s bye week, road trips to Kennesaw State and New Mexico State sandwich a home game with FIU. I expect the Flames to take these road games seriously after how poorly this team has played on the road the last two seasons.
Back-to-back home games against Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky give the Flames a chance to solidify their positioning atop the conference standings before they conclude their season at Missouri State.
Liberty will be favored in at least 10 games this season, and it should be much more consistent offensively. I expect some high-scoring affairs this season.
Spots to Play Liberty
- @ Coastal Carolina
- vs. Western Kentucky
Spots to Fade Liberty
- vs. Sam Houston
- @ Kennesaw State
Liberty Players to Watch
- RB Kanye Udoh
- RB Kam Davis
- WR Makai Jackson
- DB Izaiah Guy
- DB D-Icey Hopkins
Pick: Pass
Tyson Helton continues to win at Western Kentucky. In fact, all but one season has resulted in 8+ wins, and the Hilltoppers have become a regular at the top of the Conference USA standings.
Despite annual coordinator turnover and player departures, this group fields a tough team year in and year out. Helton is the only constant in the locker room, and this year will be no different. WKU will bring in a new offensive coordinator and a roster with 66 new players.
The schedule includes three straight road games to open the season and seven overall. Retooling an eroding defense might be the key to success in terms of determining whether or not WKU can win that elusive CUSA Championship this fall.
Western Kentucky Offense
The offense will be going through another coordinator change after Rick Bowie bailed for UTSA this offseason. In comes former Middle Tennessee offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder, who's already on his fifth OC job.
While the spread principles remain, this offense should feature more pre-snap motion and slightly less pace, as co-OC Joe Bernardi seeks to infuse more of a ground attack this season.
The quarterback battle remains unsettled as fall camp nears its end.
Rodney Tisdale Jr. and FSU transfer Brock Glenn will split reps with the first-string offense. Tisdale played well in the system last year but really needs to take a step forward if this team wants to repeat the success WKU is known for.
Ajay Allen and Kalib Hicks are the top two running backs looking to replace the production lost, as the Tops will be without their top three rushers from a season ago.
Sincere Baines was a great pickup from FCS Maine, and there are plenty of talented players in the room who can effectively run the ball. I expect better rushing numbers overall, which will help to improve the offensive ceiling.
Five of the top six pass-catchers are gone, but K.D. Hutchinson returns after snagging 66 passes for 618 yards last year. Hutchinson is a great slot receiver who could be a pressure release valve for whoever wins the QB job.
Playmakers on the outside need to emerge, though. Cameron Flowers and Nigel Johnson will likely battle for one of the primary outside receiver positions, while Zion Taylor figures to secure the other after transferring in from Georgia Tech.
Qua’Vez Humphreys comes in from Sam Houston and Jyziah Rockwell from Prairie View A&M. Both have significant big-play potential, so this could end up rounding into an elite CUSA receiver room.
The offensive line will be overhauled. Just one starter, right tackle Karsten Upchurch, returns. Nine transfers will compete to round out the two-deep in the offensive trenches.
Center Alec Johnson started at Georgia State and figures to do so here. Roq Montgomery and Tai Ray drop down from the P4 level seeking more opportunities, while Nonso Omezi comes in from Texas A&M Commerce.
Inexperienced players from South Florida, Mississippi State, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston and Eastern Kentucky round out the rest of the backups.
This unit is an unknown and will likely be learning on the fly.
Western Kentucky Defense
The defensive line has struggled to stop the run in each of the last three years. With the departure of all three starters and eight backup linemen, this figures to be the case again.
Venson Sneed gets elevated to the starting platoon at defensive end, while Kiawan Murphy and Zeiqui Lawton transfer in and will play in the interior of the line.
Nathan Gonzales, Sekou Peters and Javin Griffin could round out the second platoon nicely, but this will take time for everyone to get it right.
The linebacker group is also entirely new. No starters return, and six transfers are competing for starting time.
Garrison Madden comes in from USC, where he was predominantly a special teams contributor. Jordan Donald is a sophomore who played some last year and will be in a battle with Geajorm Akpaloo, who transfers in from Coastal Carolina.
There's not a lot of experience here, and leadership will need to be found during fall camp.
The secondary returns Jaylen Lewis and Dave Herard from last year's starting unit, and both are solid CUSA cover men. Lewis made 74 tackles while intercepting three passes last season and will be a leader in the back end.
Braxton Myers and Christian White will compete for time at cornerback and nickel, alongside Tony Newsome Jr., who comes in from the D-II level.
While the front seven isn't regarded as tough, this is perhaps the strongest and most reliable secondary in the conference heading into 2026.
The special teams unit is brand new.
WKU will break in a new kicker in Michael Buck and a new punter in Jackson Smith, neither of whom has played at the collegiate level. New return specialists also need to emerge, as the Tops didn't have effective return units last season.
Coverage units were weak compared to their peer groups. WKU will also be breaking in a new long snapper.
This bunch probably won't win Western Kentucky many games this year, but it could cost the Toppers at times.
Western Kentucky Schedule Analysis
Three road games in a row at Nevada, Georgia and Indiana will likely result in an 0-3 start.
Western Kentucky should be played against the spread when it hosts Mercyhurst before another road trip to New Mexico State on a short week.
Missouri State comes in off a bye after that before the Tops head back on the road to Sam Houston. In the first seven weeks, WKU will have five road games before the bye week.
Delaware comes in after the bye week before the Hilltoppers play a deeply spirited rivalry game against Middle Tennessee on the road.
The final three games come against the other top contenders in the conference, with home games against Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State sandwiching a road trip to Liberty.
WKU is used to high levels of roster and coordinator turnover, and the Toppers have found ways to pluck up-and-coming offensive coordinators who generally bring shining-star quarterbacks with them to Bowling Green.
That's not happening this year.
With seven road games, a tough open and close to the schedule, and a depleted defensive front seven, I played under 7.5 regular-season wins for Western Kentucky this year.
I think the Tops take a minor step back, but they'll continue a great postseason run that has seen them make eight bowl games over the last 10 years.
Spots to Play Western Kentucky
- vs. Mercyhurst
- vs. Kennesaw State
Spots to Fade Western Kentucky
- At Nevada
- @ New Mexico State
- @ Middle Tennessee
- @ Liberty
Western Kentucky Players to Watch
- QB Battle
- RB Ajay Allen
- WR K.D. Hutchinson
- DE Venson Sneed
- LB Garrison Madden
- DB Dave Herard
- DT Kiawan Murphy
Pick: Western Kentucky Under 7.5 Wins (-160 · DraftKings)
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The job Charles Kelly did with Jacksonville State last season was remarkable. The roster was gutted in the transfer portal and expectations were low in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
All the Gamecocks did was rip through the conference yet again on their way to the Conference USA Championship, which they had a chance to win.
A bowl victory capped off another nine-win season, the benchmark at JSU since moving up to the FBS level in 2023. This year, nine starters come back as Jacksonville State seeks to return to the CUSA title game for a third year in a row.
Jacksonville State Offense
Caden Creel was such a bright spot after taking over the quarterback job early last season. His skill set fits the offensive scheme, and he was a weapon running and throwing the ball.
His 1,205 rushing yards before sacks ranked second on the team. While the passing numbers were modest, the team identified and started appropriately using some of their key wide receivers late in the season.
Creel should be very comfortable in the offense again this season, and I look for him to take that next step as a passer.
The running back room suffered a blow when Cam Cook transferred out, but this unit is in decent shape with the remaining holdovers from last year.
Justus Savage, Jalen Likely and Khristian Lando will likely operate out of a running-back-by-committee scenario until a leader emerges, but all three are capable.
Deondre Johnson could emerge as one of the best receivers in the conference ater coming on late last season. At 6-foot-8, he's a legitimate deep-ball and red-zone threat.
Yet, he caught only four passes through the first six games and wasn’t involved with many personnel groupings. Once his usage rate increased, he had four 100-yard games down the stretch. He'll be a serious problem for cornerbacks in this league.
Ronnel Johnson transfers in from Missouri State and Franklin Baret Jr., Gabe Glover and Jamill Williams round out the key contributors in the room.
Developing the tight end room will also be critical. If a weapon emerges there, this will turn into a dangerous passing attack.
The offensive line will look different with four starters departing, along with long-time offensive line coach Rick Trickett.
Lucas Mrachkovskiy returns and will start at center, while Jeremiah Orr returns from injury after starting a pair of games before missing the rest of the year.
Amarii Atchison and Ryan Walker transfer in from the FCS level, where they were both starters at their previous schools. Lance Johnson started five games last year as a true freshman and will likely round out the starting platoon.
New offensive coordinator Taylor Housewright comes from the Montana State coaching tree and will develop toughness and physicality in this bunch before the start of the regular season.
Jacksonville State Defense
The defensive line improved in 2025 and could improve again with a deep rotation of players the Gamecocks feel comfortable with.
Jawaun Campbell is the lone starter returning, while Khurtiss Perry and Tae Floyd are elevated after running with the twos last year.
Christopher Johnson, Marquis Hood and Angel Toombs should contend for time in the two-deep, making this a strong CUSA defensive trench.
The linebackers will be led by Mac Sanders and Walker O’Steen, while Tristan Lyles will contribute here and off edge. Morven Joseph comes back from injury but is very talented, while Ian Mitchell and Myles Butler figure to be integral depth pieces.
This is a strong bunch that should create problems for opposing offenses.
The secondary returns a pair of starters, headlined by Caleb Nix, who will start at safety. Nix garnered all-conference honors last season and could be the best safety in this league.
Tre’Quon Fegans is a reliable lockdown cornerback, and Jonavan Carr will contribute out of the nickel spot.
Jaheim Jenkins, Javan Allison and Rob Billings IV will all contend for time in the two-deep. This group will flourish in Year 2 of the system under defensive coordinator Brian Williams.
Garrison Rippa returns after nailing 21-of-28 field goals with a long of 52 yards while earning first-team all-CUSA honors. Conor Donaghy is back to handle the punting duties and needs to add five yards to his net average.
JSU's return units were weak last season, and seeing a weapon emerge would really aid in the overall sentiment of an improved special teams unit.
Jacksonville State Schedule Analysis
The nonconference schedule opens with a national TV spot at the Fargodome in North Dakota State's first-ever game as an FBS program. This is a game I think Jacksonville State can win.
Home games against Eastern Kentucky and Georgia Southern sandwich a road trip to Ohio. An opening record of 3-1 or 4-0 is well within reach here.
Conference play starts with the Gamecocks hosting Middle Tennessee, where they'll be favored by double digits. After the bye week, a road test at Kennesaw State awaits before a home bout with FIU in a battle between two teams that could meet in the conference title game.
The road trip to New Mexico State is always a weird travel spot for every CUSA team, but JSU does have an extra day of rest and prep.
The last two home games come against Sam Houston and Missouri State. Jax State will be favored by multiple scores in both contests.
Road trips to Western Kentucky and Delaware are where the conference race will be decided. Wins for Jacksonville State would almost certainly equate to an appearance in the conference championship.
I like this team, and I think it'll continue to overperform. I bet Jacksonville State to win the conference at +525 at Caesars.
Spots to Play Jacksonville State
- @ North Dakota State
- vs. Georgia Southern
- vs. Sam Houston
- vs. Missouri State
Spots to Fade Jacksonville State
- vs. Missouri State
- vs. FIU
Jacksonville State Players to Watch
- QB Caden Creel
- RB Justus Savage
- WR Deondre Johnson
- WR Ronnel Johnson
- LB Walker O'Steen
- LB Mac Sanders
Pick: Jacksonville State to Win Conference USA (+525)
The transition year for Delaware went about as well as the Hens could have asked for. Their 6-6 regular-season record unlocked bowl eligibility and surpassed the preseason expectation of 4.5 wins.
Head coach Ryan Carty withstood yet another quarterback injury, which ended up igniting the offense after Nick Minicucci was inserted into the lineup.
A thin defense faded down the stretch, so Delaware found itself in high-scoring affairs.
Defensive coordinator Manny Rojas returns a decent amount of last year’s stop unit, and improvement could spark a Delaware surge up the CUSA standings.
The bones are there for the Hens to maintain program success, but that might quite literally look like another 6-6 regular season.
Delaware Offense
Minicucci is an electrifying player who competes very hard. He threw for 3,683 yards with 23 touchdowns last season while adding an above-average running element to the position.
Braden Streeter and Riley Trujillo are the backups. With a program that has dealt with QB injuries each of the last five years, avoiding it this season will be paramount to Delaware winning.
Jo Silver and Viron Ellison Jr. are back to anchor a deep running back room, and both are big-play threats any time they touch the ball.
Delaware boasts a pass-first offense, but the ground game was effectively used to keep defenses honest. While the ground game won't be considered potent, it will be effective.
The receiver room sees leading receiver Sean Wilson return after a 68-catch, 877-yard season in 2025. Da’Wain Lofton and Bryson Graves transfer in, giving Delaware plenty of weapons to throw the ball to.
The offensive line has to replace a pair of all-conference selections from last season, but three starters return in Steven Demboski, Noah Rosahac and Anthony Caccese.
The interior guards need to be developed, as Caccese had been shuffled around before ultimately landing at the left tackle spot.
This line was not outstanding last year and allowed its fair share of Havoc, but the conference schedule is loaded with opponents who have forgiving defensive fronts.
Delaware Defense
Delaware struggled defensively last season and looked overmatched against stronger competition.
The Hens needed to address the size of their defensive line with four contributors departing from last year’s unit. James Steel, Sam Siafa and Dylan Mann transfer in but are likely to compete for backup roles behind Noah Matthews, Dominick Brogna and Trace Scott.
The unit has a bit more depth and could have a bigger impact in 2026.
The linebacker room will rely on Blake Matthews, Colin Gallagher and Gavin Moul in the second level.
Moul led the team in tackles last season, but a decent majority of the sack production is gone, so this group is going to have to find Havoc producers in addition to run stoppers. Depth is a concern at linebacker.
The secondary returns three starters and a pair of backups from last year’s team and should be stronger against the pass in 2026.
Kshawn Cox, KT Seay and Jamarion Kolagbodi are back and have the potential to elevate the play of the entire back end of the defense. Seay was an all-conference performer last year, and Kolagbodi made the all-freshman team in CUSA.
Delaware will be breaking in a new kicker this season, and a pair of newcomers are battling it out in fall camp. Punter Josh Cupitt returns but is coming off an injury that caused him to miss the 2025 season.
Return specialists also need to emerge, or this will be nothing more than a below-average CUSA special teams unit once again.
Delaware Schedule Analysis
The nonconference portion of the schedule starts with FCS Merrimack and a home date with Coastal Carolina in addition to a pair of P4 road trips at Vanderbilt and Virginia.
Conference play starts with a bang, as Delaware hosts conference co-favorite Liberty on the first Friday of October.
After the bye week, a road trip to Middle Tennessee kicks off Delaware’s weekday CUSA slate, as the Hens will play on three consecutive Tuesdays.
A home game against Missouri State and a trip to Western Kentucky mark the next two games.
Delaware will have 10 days before its next road trip at Kennesaw State. The close of the schedule is tougher with home bouts against FIU and Jacksonville State sandwiching a long road trip to New Mexico State.
Delaware was awful on the road down the stretch last season with embarrassing losses at Liberty, Sam Houston and Wake Forest in the last five weeks.
If this bunch wants to be taken seriously in league play this year, it has to play decent football on the road. If not, bowl eligibility will be in question.
Spots to Play Delaware
- vs. Liberty
- vs. Missouri State
Spots to Fade Delaware
- @ Western Kentucky
- @ New Mexico State
- vs. Jacksonville State
Delaware Players to Watch
- QB Nick Minicucci
- RB Jo Silver
- WR Sean Wilson
- DE Noah Matthews
- LB Blake Matthews
- RB Viron Ellison Jr.
Pick: Pass
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Kennesaw State was the turnaround story in college football last season, as an inaugural 2-10 campaign at the FBS level sparked a coaching change with many unanswered questions.
The Owls had planned for the move up but were largely noncompetitive in 2024. Jerry Mack came in as just the second head coach in the 12-year history of the program, working with a roster of 62 new players.
The world took notice after a 10-9 loss at Wake Forest. Following a blowout loss to eventual national champion Indiana, the Owls would lose just once again during the regular season while capturing the CUSA title in just their second season.
Mack will look to reload after another massive roster overhaul. He's out to prove that the Owls have staying power in Conference USA.
Kennesaw State Offense
Rickie Collins transferred in at quarterback and will look to rebound from a rough season last year at Syracuse.
Quarterback productivity was key to offensive success last year, as both Amari Odom and Dexter Williams contributed by throwing and running the ball.
Landon Varnes will seek to push Collins for the starting job after tearing it up at the JUCO level last year.
The offense maintained a balanced approach and even leaned run-heavy despite the ground game not being exceedingly explosive. Kennesaw State ranked bottom-five in all of FBS last season with just two rushing attempts of 30-plus yards and one that eclipsed 40 yards.
A trio of non-D1 players portalled in looking to change that. Latrelle Murrell and Triston Morgan found success at the D-II level, while Boogie Woods comes in via the JUCO route.
It's too early to tell if the explosiveness will increase, but the talent is comparable to last season.
The receiver room is where these guys made hay last season.
The downfield explosiveness was not only stunning, but directly correlated to the Owls winning games. Kennesaw State finished inside the top 25 nationally in explosive plays registered, and it almost exclusively came through the air.
That's a problem now, though, as the top four receivers are all gone. While Zion Booker was a nice pickup from Tulsa, I don’t know if Kennesaw State did enough to address the departing productivity.
Three FCS transfers and a JUCO tight end round out the starting platoon, so I'll be baffled if they keep picking up those deep shots that aided Kennesaw State so frequently last season.
The offensive line is another area where the Owls are retooling. Three all-conference starters are out, and three FCS starters are in.
Mateo Guevara comes over at center from Middle Tennessee, and JaDarious Lee and Nikola Milovac return along the starting offensive trench, but this unit appears to be counting on lower-level productivity in order to achieve last season’s results.
I would peg these guys top-five in the conference with a chance to become a solid unit.
Kennesaw State Defense
The defensive line was the catalyst for what KSU did last season. The Owls registered 31 sacks and 90 tackles for loss, both significant increases over the previous year.
The Havoc came through when they needed it, too, as many sacks or negative plays stopped drives and thwarted scoring opportunities.
Three starters depart, along with all-conference youngster Elijah Hill. The rebuild will be an indicator as to whether this front seven will be stout or Swiss cheese.
Marcus Patterson returns alongside Jaiden Grimes and Jackson Cooper, who'll be elevated from the second platoon. Kai Russell comes over from the D-II ranks at EDGE, looking to create similar levels of Havoc.
I don’t think the Owls will be as tough, and I project the Havoc numbers and rush defense to be worse.
The linebacker group is very strong with Tywon Christopher, Baron Hopson and nickel Kody Jones all back. This bunch recorded 240 combined tackles and 8.5 sacks last season and will round into potentially the best linebacker group in the conference.
Depth pieces came in from the FCS, but Kennesaw State wants the "Big 3" on the field.
The secondary returns Isaac Paul and Tyler Hallum, who's trying to get back to form after missing last year with an injury.
A pair of young cornerbacks are competing for the other spot, while Alexander Ford should start opposite Paul at safety. There are holes to fill here.
Daniel Kinney nailed 6-of-7 field-goal attempts last season, but the rest of the special teams unit is brand new.
KSU will be breaking in a new punter and will need return specialists to emerge to account for lost production. The coverage units were strong last season and should remain reliable.
Kennesaw State Schedule Analysis
I think the nonconference schedule is tough. After a home opener against West Georgia, the Owls host Georgia State before hitting the road for back-to-back games against Tennessee and Arkansas State.
Following a bye, Jacksonville State comes in to open CUSA play. Road trips to Missouri State and Middle Tennessee sandwich a home bout with Liberty, which KSU has defeated two years in a row.
The Owls will host Delaware and FIU in the last month of the season while traveling to Sam Houston and Western Kentucky.
Most of the winnable games come on the road in league play, as KSU could be a 'dog in all four conference home games.
The Owls might enter the season as the defending conference champions, but there was a significant amount of talent lost. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kennesaw State come back down to the rest of the mid-tier teams in this league.
I expect a bowl game out of the Owls but nothing better than 6-6.
Spots to Play Kennesaw State
- vs. Liberty
Spots to Fade Kennesaw State
- @ Tennessee
- @ Arkansas State
- vs. FIU
Kennesaw State Players to Watch
- QB Rickie Collins
- WR Davis Bryson
- LB Tywon Christopher
- LB Baron Hopson
- NB Kody Jones
- DB Isaac Paul
- WR Zion Booker
Pick: Kennesaw State Under 6.5 Wins (Lean · -130)
The increase in FIU's program energy, locker room culture and team cohesiveness was evident the minute the Panthers took the field for their first game in 2025.
Head coach Willie Simmons won his team over, and they got hot down the stretch with four consecutive wins. It played its best football against the tougher teams in the conference.
Replacing key losses on the offensive side and a big defensive talent churn will determine whether or not the Panthers are serious contenders in Conference USA.
FIU Offense
The quarterback battle is an interesting one to watch in camp, but I figure JJ Kohl will get the nod over Zach Marker. Kohl stands at 6-foot-7 and will provide a prototypical pocket-passing game.
More consistency from the position on third down and in the red zone would allow this offense to take a big step forward this season.
Running back Anthony Carrie returns after finishing second on the team in rushing yards a season ago. Devonte Lyons and Sterling Joseph give the room depth, so the running back position is a definite strength of this offense.
The receiver room loses some key pieces but does return Kyle McNeal and gets a boost from Greg Gaines III transferring in from Rhode Island. Jojo Stone will also see his role elevated as this receiver room looks to produce more explosiveness.
Finding a replacement for Dallas Payne at tight end will be a top priority in fall camp, but James Resar looks ready.
The offensive line has work to do with four starters needing to be replaced.
Daveion Harley transfers in looking to solidify a starting spot alongside Zaire Flournoy, Manasseh Ripert and Jeremy Smith, who will all be elevated from last year’s second platoon.
The offensive line has decent size and made great strides in run blocking last year. This unit should put up better Havoc allowed numbers in 2026.
FIU Defense
The defense has key contributors to replace at all three levels, but Simmons and defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt did a great job in the portal. If there's a drop-off at all, it won't be as drastic as many would expect.
Each position group has strengths, and this could round into a top CUSA defense if the transfers hit in the secondary.
Kenton Simmons returns on the defensive line after obtaining second-team all-conference honors last season. Dante Anderson and RJ Moss Jr. should plug holes on the interior, and Jamorie Flagg, Nathan Jennings and Elijah Simmons will all be in the mix to log snaps.
This figures to be a strong CUSA defensive line this season — if not the best in the conference.
The linebacker room returns Josiah Taylor and Percy Courtney Jr., their two leaders, and should be strong once again. Brayshawn Littlejohn and Cam Davis should have an impact as well, so there's a fair amount of depth at the position.
The secondary has a chance to be highly variable due to the losses of star power from last season.
But the safety play should still be consistently high. Wesley Miller and Shamir Sterlin are strong, experienced players who should fare well in pass coverage.
Da’Vontae Floyd and Lawrence Johnson are slotted to get the nod anchoring the corner backpositions after transferring in during the spring portal window.
The unit isn't overly deep, but the starters are experienced. If they gel together early, FIU should have an excellent pass defense.
Noah Sidan and Robert Czeremcha are battling for the kicking duties, and FIU will also be breaking in a new punter in Stone Springman. FIU has a moderately explosive return game, but the coverage units gave up some explosiveness last year.
Special teams aren't a strength at FIU, so the Panthers replaced their special teams coach this offseason in hopes of provoking growth in this phase of the game.
FIU Schedule Analysis
The home schedule is a dream scenario, and FIU has a real chance to go undefeated at Pitbull Stadium this year.
Nonconference home games against Buffalo and Long Island should be wins. Road trips to USF and FAU will give FIU a chance to make some real noise at the G6 level.
Conference play gives this group a favorable draw with home games against New Mexico State, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State and Sam Houston, the four worst teams in the conference.
The Panthers will be touchdown favorites in each one of those contests.
The road slate is tougher with trips to Jacksonville State on a short week, Liberty and a back-to-back at Delaware and Kennesaw State.
FIU has gone just 7-17 straight up on the road over the last four seasons and could be a lined underdog in all six road games this year.
Pulling a road upset in conference play will likely ensure bowl eligibility. Pulling two of them would put this team in contention for a conference championship.
I love the direction this program is trending in with Simmons' program rebuild. This is a dark-horse conference contender.
Spots to Play FIU
- vs. Buffalo
- vs. Long Island
- vs. Sam Houston
Spots to Fade FIU
- @ Florida Atlantic
FIU Players to Watch
- QB JJ Kohl
- DB DeAndre Boykins
- DB Wesley Miller
- RB Anthony Carrie
- WR Greg Gaines III
- LB Josiah Taylor
- DE Kenton Simmons
Pick: Pass
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Tony Sanchez has a largely thankless job following the work of Doug Martin and Jerry Kill.
Martin led New Mexico State team to its first bowl game in 57 years back in 2017, and Kill had back-to-back bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023 with the help of quarterback Diego Pavia.
Sanchez has a pair of losing seasons to his name, although the Aggies were much more competitive last season with four one-possession losses.
A big talent churn once again requires home runs to be hit via the transfer portal with another JUCO talent infusion.
The schedule is tough, but Sanchez has some defensive talent back and should continue putting the Aggies in close, competitive games in CUSA play.
New Mexico State Offense
The offense returns quarterback Adam Damante, who played occasionally last season, and brought in Trey Hedden from FCS Furman.
Hedden struggles with mobility but did throw for 4,734 yards over two seasons with the Paladins. He figures to get the call for the season opener. Overall, there's not a lot of talent here.
James Jones (Delaware State) and Terrell Washington Jr. (Iowa) transfer in at running back, hoping to add some zest to the worst rushing attack in FBS. The Aggies must improve upon the 77 yards per game and 2.6 yards per attempt posted last year.
The ground attack was also void of explosiveness. NMSU recorded just nine rushing plays that went for 20-plus yards, with just two of those plays going for 30 yards or longer.
No reliable running option emerged, and the offense experienced terrible red-zone production as a result.
The receiver group actually has a decent bunch returning, headlined by TJ Pride and TK King. These two provide speed and quickness and should call for a huge portion of the target share in this offense.
Myles Libman transfers in from Stanford and Lyndon Ravare from Kennesaw State, giving the Aggies four legitimate options.
The offensive line wasn't good last season. In addition to the poor rushing numbers, the unit gave up 34 sacks last season. Four starters depart, and if the unit can stay healthy, it could actually be better.
Ma’Kyi Lee comes back after getting injured in the opener last year. He has excellent size at the left tackle position. Mateo Rodriguez started here last year, and James Williams comes over as a proven starter at UTEP.
Mark Chapman played three years in the Ivy League and will start at center, while Tyler Keinath and Caleb Pyfrom battle it out for the right guard spot. This group has size, and Sanchez has said this is the best offensive line he has ever had here.
New Mexico State Defense
Defense helped this Aggies team be more competitive last season. Improvement came both in the run defense and pass coverage.
If the defensive line can provide some more Havoc, the performance of the entire unit can elevate into the top third of this conference.
Bradley Vislisel and Henry Davis III are back from last year’s second-team line, while Kaian Roberts-Day comes in from UTSA to provide stability in the defensive trench. The headline name is preseason all-conference member Gabe Peterson.
The linebacker room is really shored up well with Sone Aupiu and Tory Gethers returning. These two were in on a combined 154 tackles last season, and Peterson can also drop back into coverage and play off the line, further strengthening the second level of this defense.
Zaiden Davis and Drake Williams provide valuable depth, and there's some real talent here, comparatively speaking.
The secondary returns Josiah Charles, Bernock Iya and Nick Session back to the starting platoon, while Lorenzo Smith will be elevated to a starting role from last year’s two-deep.
Tayden Barnes was here and left for a year to Cincinnati. He has since returned and should log time at the nickel position alongside Jakobe Campbell.
This team doesn't have tremendous size, but it flies to the football and has good ball skills.
New Mexico State Schedule Analysis
While I wouldn’t be stunned to see NMSU improve its win total purely due to the talent and experience upgrades, this schedule is horrific.
Road games at Florida State and Hawaii in the first three weeks sandwich a home bout with Mercyhurst. After one of two bye weeks, rival New Mexico comes to town in a game that will likely see New Mexico State lined as a double-digit underdog.
Most of the winnable conference games come on the road, making it tough to expect NMSU to ascend out of the lower-tier grouping in CUSA.
The Aggies have gone 2-10 on the road over the last two seasons, and their first road trip in conference play will be a long one, going to FIU on a short week after hosting Western Kentucky.
After another bye week, a road trip to Sam Houston awaits. Back-to-back home games against Jacksonville State and Liberty give NMSU a chance to play against the elite competition CUSA has to offer.
The final three games are winnable with road trips to Missouri State and Middle Tennessee, plus a home game against Delaware in between.
Drawing the top four teams in CUSA at home gives this team chances to be competitive, but the winnable games come on the road. The nonconference portion of the schedule will also find NMSU favored just once.
If New Mexico State can run the ball, it can win three or four conference games. If it can't, 3-9 and a coaching vacancy lurks.
Spots to Play New Mexico State
- vs. Western Kentucky
- vs. Delaware
- vs. Mercyhurst (and the under)
Spots to Fade New Mexico State
- @ Florida State
- @ Hawaii
- @ FIU
New Mexico State Players to Watch
- QB Trey Hedden
- WR TK King
- WR TJ Pride
- DE Gabe Peterson
- LB Sone Aupiu
- LB Tory Gethers
- S Bernock Iya
Pick: Pass
Missouri State overperformed expectations drastically in its inaugural season at the FBS level.
The defense was the surprise story of the season. Despite a step up in competition, the Bears posted three-year bests in points allowed per game, yards allowed per game and rushing defense.
Fueled by that defense, Missouri State won seven of its nine games in the middle of the season.
But the performances in its six losses were bad. The Bears gave up 500 yards and 42.2 points per game in their five losses and now have to completely revamp that side of the ball.
Missouri State is also experiencing a coaching change. Former head coach Ryan Beard left for Coastal Carolina, opening the door for Casey Woods, who has no prior head-coaching experience.
Consistency at the quarterback position will be tested this year with the departure of second-all-time leading passer Jacob Clark, along with major losses at running back, receiver and all five starters on the offensive line.
This is going to be a tough year for Missouri State unless the Bears continue to overperform far beyond their talent level.
Missouri State Offense
Henry Belin IV was a career backup at Duke and finds himself locked into a fall camp quarterback battle with UTEP transfer Skyler Locklear.
Neither option gives the confidence needed to believe the Bears will consistently score points. I could see both players being used early in the season until a leader emerges, if one does.
The running back room adds Breezy Dubar from Boise State, and he has some talent and pop to bring to the position. Dubar never saw the field in Boise, but he should be featured with Ramone Green Jr., who ran for 278 yards last season.
King Davis is a young back who could see some spot time in the backfield as well.
The receiver room was gutted with much of last year's production vacating, but Jmariyae Robinson and Makai Cope are back. Both were productive at times last year.
Isaiah Myers transfers in from WKU and Mekhi Miller from Tulsa, so there are weapons here. Despite that, passing production is likely to dip.
The offensive line will be filled with new faces this year, and much of the unit is largely inexperienced.
King Large comes in from SMU, and Brayden Thompson was elevated to the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman. Both have good size but little experience.
Center Isaiah Villanueva comes in from Jackson State, and both guards, Matthew Greene and Makhete Gueye, have been elevated from last year's backup unit to starting roles.
This offensive line was one of the worst in the country last year, surrendering 52 sacks and 112 tackles for loss. Expecting much more than incremental improvement on those numbers is a tall order.
Missouri State Defense
The defensive line will undergo a full overhaul, as eight contributors from last year have departed. This unit was tougher than I expected last season, but this could be the D-line that we thought we were getting last year.
Tim Brantley Jr. returns from last year, and Gilles Tchio is coming back from injury on the interior. Kellen Lindstrom transfers in from Tennessee and Jalile Elliott from Barton College to play end.
There's not a lot of size on the interior, and many of the players in the two-deep are unproven. I don’t think we see improved play and would expect a drop-off from last year.
The linebacker group will experience a rebuild as well.
Jared Lloyd returns, and the room will be banking on Dylan Brooks to stay healthy after two injury-shortened seasons at Kansas.
Stratton Shufelt and Jashawn Cooper should log snaps, and Dylan Dixson will factor in as a run stopper and cover guy out of the nickel position.
Christian Ford returns at safety, and J.J. O’Neal will be looking to get back to form after suffering injuries last season. A pair of transfers from Duquesne and Kent State are scheduled to run with the top group at cornerback.
Depth is a question on the back end. CUSA is full of pass-happy teams, so this group will have its work cut out for itself.
Missouri State Schedule Analysis
This schedule is almost unfair.
It's unbelievably brutal, with two Power 4 road trips to Texas A&M and SMU, along with a G6 home game against Marshall, which will be coming in with revenge after completely blowing a game that ended up costing the Herd bowl eligibility last year.
I'd be stunned by any result other than 1-3 in the nonconference slate.
Conference play features a 19-day stretch with four games after the bye week. This level of compression could cause a team with evident depth questions to run out of gas.
Road trips to Western Kentucky and Delaware, plus home games against Kennesaw State and Sam Houston, make up that stretch of games.
The final four games provide a tough close with a home game against New Mexico State sandwiched by road trips at FIU and Jacksonville State. The season concludes with a home game against conference co-favorite Liberty.
The Bears will be heavy underdogs in every road game this season, and I have them favored just three times this season. I played under the win total of 4.5 early in the summer and would continue to lean that way.
Spots to Play Missouri State
- vs. Liberty
Spots to Fade Missouri State
- vs. Marshall
- @ SMU
- @ FIU
- @ Jacksonville State
Missouri State Players to Watch
- QB Battle
- WR Isaiah Myers
- RB Breezy Dubar
- WR Makai Cope
- OL King Large
- DE Dylan Brooks
- DE Kellen Lindstrom
Pick: Missouri State Under 4.5 Wins (-170)
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The clock is ticking for head coach Derek Mason, and it's almost midnight in Murfreesboro. Three straight losing seasons have these fans yearning for the level of success from the Rick Stockstill days.
While this team has had some talent over the years, Middle Tennessee hasn't been able to capitalize, headlined by a 3-9 home record over the last two seasons.
Mason has flubbed in-game situational coaching, with the jerky offense putting together poor execution both on third down and in the red zone.
If Mason wants to stick around another year with the Blue Raiders, there needs to be significant improvement on both sides of the ball.
Middle Tennessee Offense
The offense receives a boost from several areas, including a likely improvement at offensive coordinator with Anthony Scelfo coming over after five years at Southeastern Louisiana.
This will be a more balanced attack, but the quarterback will have opportunities to make plays. If Roman Gagliano plays like he did during his three-game window last season, MTSU will score more points.
Gagliano threw for 1,007 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He showed poise in the pocket and an ability to evade pressure. With better coaching, he should take a big step forward this year.
There will also be a running-back-by-committee approach with Terrance Brown, DJ Taylor and Antonio Martin all sharing duties. There's some explosiveness in the room, and I fully expect the running game to finally improve here.
Keeping Cam'ron Lacy was an incredible win for this offense, as he will be featured heavily at receiver. Lacy is joined by Hogan Wasson, who was an explosive player at the D-II level, with AJ Jones, Markus Allen and Landon Collins all seeking to break into the starting lineup.
We're going to see some deep shots this year, and if Middle Tennessee can connect on them, the offense will score more points.
The offensive line hasn't been good here, as the ground attack averaged just 106 yards per game in 2025, which was a 15% increase over the previous year.
Sacks and Havoc allowed have also been consistent issues. With a fresh overhaul and new players comes the expectation of new results.
Reese Tripp comes over from Minnesota, where he played in just two games last year. Chris Moreno will start at center after playing an interior guard position at Monmouth.
Trevaris Edwards had back-to-back successful seasons at the D-II 2 level, while Alex Gale and Otto Janse Van Rensburg are back after spot-starting here last year.
This group must come together quickly if MTSU wants a chance to sniff a bowl game.
Middle Tennessee Defense
The defensive line was tougher last season, as the rush defense improved and the Havoc numbers increased.
Three starters depart, while Kaven Call transfers in after a productive season at ETSU. Reggie Johnson and Zeion Simpson-Smith return and get elevated to the starting platoon alongside Felix Hixon. Justin Bodford transfers in from Missouri and should factor into the rotation.
With the scheme requiring multiple fronts and unique personnel packages, we could see 6-8 linemen log snaps along the defensive trench.
The linebacker and secondary rooms appear to be some of the weakest units in CUSA this season.
Ashton Taylor transfers in from Jackson State, where he put together two productive seasons, while Dyson McCutcheon comes in from Washington looking to crack the starting lineup after battling injury.
Korey Smith also returns at the middle linebacker position.
The secondary welcomes back Kalen Woods, who will be surrounded by transfers from Sac State, Lehigh and Grand Valley State.
The unit has good size and speed and would benefit tremendously from a more Havoc-minded front. If that's not realized, it could be another bottom-20 pass defense for MTSU.
Middle Tennessee Schedule Analysis
After hosting Murray State in the opener, a road trip to Marshall will give the Blue Raiders a chance to make a little noise in the G6 ranks, although they'll have to do it as multi-score underdogs.
Nevada comes in, followed by a conference road opener at Jacksonville State. Then, Middle Tennessee steps back out of conference for a road trip to Kansas. MTSU will be a lined underdog in all of those games.
Unless the Blue Raiders pull an upset, they're likely headed for a 1-4 start.
After the bye week, MTSU will host Delaware, which also comes in off a bye. The following week calls for a road trip to FIU.
Back-to-back home games against Kennesaw State and Western Kentucky will validate whether or not MTSU has improved relative to its peer group. After the rivalry game against WKU, back-to-back road games at Liberty and at Sam Houston await.
The Raiders will conclude their season at home against New Mexico State.
There aren't a lot of projected wins on this schedule, as I have MTSU as an underdog in 10 games while being a 'dog of a touchdown or more in seven contests.
A bowl game appears a year away, and that could end up writing the final chapter for Mason at Middle Tennessee.
Spots to Play Middle Tennessee
- vs. Western Kentucky
- vs. North Dakota State
- vs. Delaware
Spots to Fade Middle Tennessee
- @ Marshall
- @ Kansas
- @ Liberty
Middle Tennessee Players to Watch
- QB Roman Gagliano
- S Dyson McCutcheon
- WR Markus Allen
- WR Cam’ron Lacy
- LB Reggie Johnson
- LB Korey Smith
Pick: Pass
Last season was a full-on disaster for Sam Houston, which has a proud and storied history of FCS success, plus a 10-win FBS season in 2024.
Head coach Phil Longo took over for K.C. Keeler while bringing an uptempo Air Raid-style offense with him from Wisconsin.
However, the change in scheme was drastic compared to what the Bearkats ran previously, and the personnel to run it effectively just wasn't there.
Sam Houston's third-down efficiency was the worst in the country, and it scored just 13 red-zone touchdowns all season. The defense also proved to be the nation's worst in preventing explosive plays.
It all added up to a frustrating 2-10 season with all but one loss coming in blowout fashion.
A massive portal haul could provide answers, but this is a group that needs improvement everywhere. A quick fix is unlikely.
Sam Houston Offense
Landyn Locke will get the call at quarterback as a prototypical fit for the offensive system. Locke has good size and knows the system, but there's hope for better QB play.
Alton McCaskill comes in as a reliable running back who shined at Houston and could flash here if the offensive line holds up. Coco Brown led the Bearkats in rushing last year and will split carries, with Jerrian Parker Jr. providing depth.
The top four receivers all return, headlined by Chris Reed, who posted 460 receiving yards and five touchdowns last year. Grady O’Neill also comes back and should see a decent amount of the target share in the offense.
Tim Burns Jr., Christian Zachary and Kyan Berry-Johnson will battle it out to secure the fourth receiver option. The offense operates out of 10 personnel but will feature a tight end in goal-line and short-yardage situations.
The offensive line will have to improve. The rushing offense wasn't consistent enough to sustain drives, and the unit also allowed 36 sacks.
All five starters depart this year, but all-conference center Josiah Chenault transferred in from Kennesaw State, anchoring this unit.
Elijah Collins transferred in after starting at Western Carolina, Brock Stukes started at North Carolina A&T and Denell Nix Jr. played eight games here last year.
There's not a ton of experience at the FBS level outside of Chenault, but the line has good size and could be improved.
Sam Houston Defense
The defensive line wasn't strong last season, but there was an attempt to beef up this unit via the portal.
Chauncey Chidi and Dylan Frazier are experienced players back from last season, and Joshua Alexander-Felton, Zion Taylor and Jarra Anderson transfer in from the Power 4 ranks.
Jayden Fry played in one game last year at BC and should compete for time off the edge with Elijah Groves, who comes over from NC State.
There are plenty of rotational questions that need to get sorted out, but if the transfers can play, this group could improve.
Linebackers Dean Ford and Tokyo Gordon played a decent amount for Sam Houston last year, and Brian Bates Jr. and Stacy Bey transfer in to compete.
The depth of this unit is better overall, but the top-end talent is about the same.
Sam Houston also enters the season with a below-average linebacker room that will need to vastly exceed expectations if the defense wants to improve its numbers.
The secondary is headlined by Elon transfer Ishmel Atkins, who was all over the field for the Phoenix last season.
Tyler Bailey, Dravon Wilson and Jalyn Stanford will seek to log snaps at the other safety position, while a pair of transfer cornerbacks from Akron and Northwestern State look to shore up the outside.
This is not a strong secondary, so the Kats will give it up through the air once again. Getting out of the basement in CUSA pass defense metrics would be a win for this bunch.
Sam Houston will be breaking in a new kicker this year, as Sam Carpenter takes over after serving as a backup at Pitt last year. Punter Cal Joseph transfers in from Wake Forest.
A pair of return specialists could provide some pop in the return game, making this an above-average special teams unit.
Sam Houston Schedule Analysis
Expecting this team to win more than two or three games isn't something I can get on board with.
The Bearkats lucked their way into two wins last season.
For reasons I will never understand, they found a way to defeat Oregon State after falling behind, 17-0, and getting outgained by 317 yards. The very next week, the Kats benefited from several Delaware turnovers to win by three points.
It might take unique circumstances like this for Sam Houston to win more games this season.
Trips to Troy and Texas Tech in the nonconference portion of the schedule will make SHSU a multi-score underdog, as will a home bout with emerging Tulsa.
Hosting Nicholls in Week 3 will be this group’s best chance to notch a win this season. That game marks the only time all year I have the Bearkats comfortably favored.
After a bye, SHSU will be just one of two teams in CUSA to experience weekday CUSA scheduling compression, with four games in 19 days from Oct. 8 through Oct. 27.
A road trip to Liberty kicks that off, followed by a home date against Western Kentucky on short rest. New Mexico State comes in off a bye the following Wednesday, and another short week calls for the Bearkats to travel to Missouri State.
Extended time to prep for Jacksonville State on the road could allow this team to compete before back-to-back home games against Kennesaw State and Middle Tennessee.
The season concludes at FIU in a spot where Sam Houston could get blasted.
Spots to Play Sam Houston
- vs. Kennesaw State
Spots to Fade Sam Houston
- vs. Tulsa
- vs. New Mexico State
- @ Jacksonville State
Sam Houston Players to Watch
- RB Alton McCaskill
- WR Chris Reed
- QB Landyn Locke
- LB Dean Ford
- DE Chauncey Chidi
- CB Ishmel Atkins
Pick: Pass
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