College Football Preview: Conference USA

By Andrew Musur on September 4, 2015

The biggest storyline that stemmed from Conference USA this past season was the fact that Marshall started the year off 11-0, before falling in a 67-66 shootout against Western Kentucky.

Although the Thundering Herd were unable to finish off the perfect season they did end up 13-1, winning the Boca Raton Bowl game and bringing Conference USA heaps of good publicity. This year Conference USA will be wide open, so let’s take a look at the 14 teams that make up this unpredictable conference.

East Division

No. 1 Western Kentucky

2014 Record: 8-5 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 9-4 (7-1)

The Skinny: Western Kentucky pulled one of the biggest upsets towards the end of last season, and the Hilltoppers hope that momentum can carry them into the 2015 college football season. Western Kentucky’s success this season relies heavily on their offense.

6th year quarterback Brandon Doughty was unstoppable last season. Doughty put up more than 4,800 yards and 49 touchdowns. Along with the Florida native, Western Kentucky running back Leon Allen will also have to step up for the Hilltoppers. Allen darted for 1,542 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Doughty and Allen had a record breaking season last year statistically, but they may need to top that if they plan on leading Western Kentucky to 10 wins. Oh and by the way, Vanderbilt is a home underdog when Western Kentucky comes to town.

No. 2 Marshall

2014 Record: 13-1 (7-1)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (7-1)

The Skinny: Marshall snuck their way to a perfect 11-0 season, before eventually falling to East Division rival, Western Kentucky.

The Thundering Herd will have to find a replacement for quarterback Rakeem Cato. Cato was an absolute monster during his career at Marshall. The Florida native threw for more than 14,000 yards and 131 touchdowns in his four years. Losing Cato leaves a giant void to be filled, but James Madison transfer, Michael Birdsong, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Cato.

Lucky for Birdsong, Marshall returns most of their other offensive weapons. Seven hundred yard runner Devon Johnson will be back for his senior year. Johnson was essential for Marshall’s success last season as he added 17 touchdowns on the ground and also caught two passes for six points. If Johnson can take the load off of Birdsong, the Thundering Herd will be in contention for a Conference USA championship, and may even give Western Kentucky some payback along the way.

No. 3 Middle Tennessee State 

2014 Record: 6-6 (5-3)

2015 Prediction: 6-6 (5-3)

The Skinny: The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State fought their way to a six win season, but never got that all important bowl invite. This time around MTSU hopes another six win season will allow them to go bowling.

The Blue Raiders are going to have to rely on their defense to step up several times this season. Safety Kevin Byard has had a tremendous career at MTSU and as a senior will have a huge chip on his shoulder. Byard has snagged 15 interceptions in his last three years, leaving him two shy of the Blue Raider’s career record.

No. 4 Florida Atlantic 

2014 Record: 3-9 (2-6)

2015 Prediction: 5-7 (5-3)

The Skinny: Florida Atlantic lost a great deal of their offensive and defensive weapons from last season. The Owls have a big rebuilding project ahead, but second year head coach, Charlie Partridge, is just the man for the job.

FAU will be led by senior quarterback Jaquez Johnson. Johnson has been a serviceable starter for the past two seasons. The Starkville, Mississippi native threw for 2,215 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The 6-foot-1 dual threat quarterback also showed some promise with his feet. Johnson ran for positive yards in all but one game last season and added seven touchdowns. It will be a tough season for the Owls, but things will get better in a few years.

No. 5 Old Dominion 

2014 Record: 6-6 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 4-8 (2-6)

The Skinny: Old Dominion is one year removed from their inaugural season in FBS college football. Monarch fans expected last year to be rough on their football team, but it actually wasn’t that bad. Old Dominion went .500 winning six games, but like MTSU never got that invite to a bowl game.

ODU will have to replace their elite quarterback, Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke was absolutely dominate on the field last season. He threw for more than 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns. Heinicke has moved on and is chasing a contract opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings.

Unfortunately, finding a replacement for someone that put up video game numbers is never easy. Former three-star recruit, Shuler Bentley, will take over the team. Bentley was a monster in high school, but it will interesting to see if he can lead the Monarchs to another bowl eligible season.

No. 6 Florida International University

2014 Record: 4-8 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 4-8 (2-6)

The Skinny: It has been a long, long time since I last had the opportunity to talk about coach Ron Turner. Turner was the coach of my beloved Fighting Illini from 1997-2004. After a 35-57 record with two bowl games, Turner was fired. Now the California native is entering his third season as the Panthers head coach.

There is some hope surrounding this FIU team with 14 returning starters, but they will have to hope sophomore quarterback, Alex McGough, has a better grasp of the offense than he did last season. McGough struggled with accuracy as he only completed 50 percent of his passes and also tossed 10 interceptions. With a year of experience under his belt, McGough will have much higher expectations.

No. 7 Charlotte 

2014 Record: 5-6 (FCS team last season)

2015 Prediction: 1-11 (0-8)

The Skinny: The Charlotte 49ers are entering their first season as a FBS team. The 49ers have loads of work to do if they hope to compete for a Conference USA championship any time soon. Charlotte’s offense will be the most important part of the 49ers team next season.

Junior running back Kalif Phillips is a quick and shifty back that can provide an enormous amount on the ground. Phillips will be a huge asset in the 49ers offensive arsenal. Along with Phillips Charlotte also has stud wideout, Austin Duke. Duke is a junior that stands at 5-foot-10.

Though the North Carolina receiver is shorter than average, his speed makes up what his height lacks. I’m excited to see where this 49ers team is in a couple of years.

West Divison

No. 1 Louisiana Tech

2014 Record: 10-4 (7-1)

2015 Prediction:  8-5 (6-2)

The Skinny: Louisiana Tech is looking for fifth year Florida transfer, Jeff Driskel, to step in and take over the Bulldog offense. Driskel was a little disappointing during his time at Florida racking up 3,411 yards, 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. The Florida native has a huge opportunity with Louisiana Tech.

The Bulldogs have an absolutely stacked offense. Running back Kenneth Dixon is back for his senior season. Dixon was impressive during his first three years at Louisiana Tech running for 3,410 yards and scoring 53 touchdowns. Tagging along with Dixon is wideout Trent Taylor. Taylor will be a junior this season and he will be trying to top his 834 yards and nine touchdown season from a year ago.

Combine Driskel with two speedsters in Dixon and Taylor and watch this Bulldog team win Conference USA.

No. 2 Rice

2014 Record: 8-5 (5-3)

2015 Prediction: 8-5 (6-2)

The Skinny: Rice will depend heavily on senior quarterback Driphus Jackson. Jackson was mediocre last season throwing for 2,800 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Texas native threw for a touchdown in all but one game last season and only had one multi-interception game.

The Owls are talented on offense this year. Along with Jackson, Rice has two stud running backs, first, junior Darik Dillard. Dillard carried the pigskin for 652 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10 halfback also snagged 17 receptions for a buck sixty three and one touchdown.

Dillard is partners in crime with other running back Jowan Davis. Davis is a junior as well and ran for 956 yards and six touchdowns last season. The combo of Dillard and Davis is lethal and I think it will give Rice enough firepower to compete in the west division.

No. 3 UTEP

2014 Record: 7-6 (5-3)

2015 Prediction: 6-6 (4-4)

The Skinny: The Miners impressed many as they strung together seven wins, enough to slot them in the New Mexico Bowl. Unfortunately for Miner fans, UTEP didn’t fare too well in their bowl game as they got crushed 21-6 by Utah State.

With momentum from last season pushing UTEP into this year, there are still a lot of things that must be fixed if the Miners hope to return to a bowl game. The big bright spot on this UTEP team is Aaron Jones. The junior running back notched 811 yards on the ground as a freshman and 1,321 yards a season ago.

Jones was also a huge asset as a receiver last season. The 5-foot-10 halfback snagged 30 receptions for 30 touchdowns and 293 yards. It’ll be interesting to see if Jones can push his UTEP team to another six win season.

No. 4 Southern Mississippi

2014 Record: 3-9 (1-7)

2015 Prediction: 4-8 (3-5)

The Skinny: Southern Mississippi is a team that has really struggled over the past couple of seasons. The Golden Eagles have won a total of four games in the last three years. It is never fun to watch a team struggle, but this year already feels like it will be another tough one for Southern Miss.

The biggest offseason position competition for the Golden Eagles was at the quarterback position. Southern Miss. have two viable options at quarterback with returning starter, Nick Mullens, and TCU transfer Tyler Matthews. Mullens threw for over 2,400 yards and added 12 touchdowns.

Matthews on the other hand sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, and will have an opportunity to step up this season. Matthews was a former 4 star recruit and elite 11 quarterback and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

The potential is there for Matthews, but he still has a lot to prove to be named the starting quarterback.

No. 5 North Texas 

2014 Record: 4-8 (2-6)

2015 Prediction: 3-9 (2-6)

The Skinny: North Texas will focus on their offense this season. The Mean Green will rely heavily on tight-end David Morgan II. Morgan is a big guy standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 260 pounds. The Texas native is entering his senior season, but will have to remain healthy if he wants to have any impact on North Texas’ season.

In seven games last season, Morgan caught 20 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown. I don’t have big expectations for North Texas, but a good season from Morgan wouldn’t hurt.

No. 6 UTSA

2014 Record: 4-8 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 2-10 (2-6)

The Skinny: The Blake Bogenschutz ERA is almost underway for UTSA. The Roadrunners’ new 6-foot quarterback is expected to do big things for UTSA over the next couple of years. Bogenshutz played in three games last season throwing for 282 yards. It will be up to the Carthage, Texas native to get things rolling for the Roadrunners.

——

Conference Championship: Western Kentucky Vs. Louisiana Tech

Conference Champion: Western Kentucky

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