Conference USA like all the Group of Five conferences never had any chance of figuring in the College Football playoffs, however with the Lane Kiffin led Florida Atlantic (FAU) coming off of an 11-3 2017 season, and a resurgent UAB – who cancelled their Football programme in 2014 but went to a Bowl in their first season back last year, hopes were high. So with 8 games gone are these aspirations panning out?
Well sort of, UAB is already bowl-eligible at 6-1. They will be hoping for a better result than last seasons 41-6 thrashing by Ohio in the Bahamas Bowl though. However Florida Atlantic may have gotten a bit ambitious in scheduling Oklahoma in their opener and also adding currently unbeaten UCF to their non-conference schedule. Two thrashings in these games seem to have dented their confidence and at 3-5, they will have an uphill struggle to get back into contention in the East.
Still, there are reasons to be cheerful and the conference is on schedule to fill their allocated Bowl places.
C- USA EAST
Currently, Florida International (FIU) leads the way with a 5-2 record. Both defeats were in non-conference games against Power Five opponents, and neither was embarrassing, going down 33-28 against Indiana and 31-17 to Miami (then ranked 21). They have a couple of tough divisional games left against FAU and Marshall but a 9-3 record and a place in the conference final look likely.
Marshall is still in the running and at 5-2 should become bowl eligible in the next couple of weeks. Their final divisional game against FIU should be pivotal. Mid-Tennessee is the only other team with a chance at the division. However, they have lost to FIU so would need to pretty much win out and hope for other results to go their way.
C-USA WEST
This is a two-team race between the aforementioned UAB and Lousiana Tech, who are on the fringes of the top 25 thanks to their plucky performance against playoff contenders LSU. Their only other loss was against UAB so right now they would need help. They also have another interconference game against Mississippi State coming up on the 3rd of November. A win in this one would undoubtedly put them in the top 25 rankings and possibly give them a shot at a New Years Bowl place. Mississippi State is not having a vintage season but they are still an SEC team.
North Texas has already got to 6 wins but their losses have been to UAB & Louisiana Tech so it’s hard to see a scenario in which they finish top.
Bear a thought for UTEP who share the dubious distinction of being one of only two teams without a win so far this season. Their ambition for this year will be not collecting the wooden spoon; however, although they face UAB this weekend things do get easier thereafter and they should avoid a winless season.
The Conference has 6 guaranteed Bowl places and an optional 7th depending on results, including the Servpro First Responder Bowl against a Big-10 opponent on 26th December, which is quite prestigious. Plus of course the possibility of getting the at-large place in one of the New Year Six Bowls. Right now we expect they will fill the 7 places but have no chance of an at-large bid.
