WEEK ONE C-USA FOOTBALL PREVIEW

2017_Week_One_Preview
 
FIU (0-0) at UCF (0-0)
Thursday, August 31
6:00 p.m. ET
Orlando, Florida (BrightHouse Stadium)
Television CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Sean Grandwell (PxP), Aaron Murray (AN), Tina Cervasio (SL)
All-Time Series: UCF leads 3-2
Last Meeting: UCF 53, at FIU 14 (Sept. 24, 2016)
 
FAST FACTS
**The Butch Davis era at FIU begins with a nationally-televised game three hours up the road at UCF.
**The Panthers opened the season in 2015 at UCF, defeating the Knights, 15-14, as now senior QB Alex McGough threw for 260 yards and a TD, while fellow senior RB Alex Gardner rushed for 75 yards and a score. 
**FIU returns nine starters on defense, including a pair of senior linebackers that registered more than 100 tackles last season: Treyvon Williams (109) and Anthony Wint (108).
 
MORE
FIU Football: http://www.fiusports.com/index.aspx?path=football
UCF Football: http://ucfknights.com/index.aspx?path=football
 
 
CHARLOTTE (0-0) at EASTERN MICHIGAN (0-0)
Friday, September 1
6:30 p.m. ET
Ypsilanti, Michigan (Rynearson Stadium)
Television: ESPN3
Announcers: Dan Gutowsky (PxP), Mark Hermann (AN)
All-Time Series: EMU leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Eastern Michigan 37, at Charlotte 19 (Sept. 17, 2016)
 
FAST FACTS
**Charlotte begins its fifth season of football and third at the FBS level at Eastern Michigan, a squad that returns 17 starters from its first bowl team since 1987 (a 24-20 loser to Old Dominion in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
**The 49ers defense will look to continue its opportunistic ways in 2017.  Last year, Charlotte forced a turnover in 11 of 12 games, finishing the year with a +8 turnover margin (second in C-USA) and led C-USA through the regular-season with 16 interceptions.
**Junior QB Hasaan Klugh finished his first year with the 49ers connecting on 120-of-224 passes for 1,356 yards (123.3 per game) and 10 TDs with only three interceptions, while ranking third on the team with 426 yards rushing.
 
MORE
Charlotte Football: http://www.charlotte49ers.com/index.aspx?path=football
Eastern Michigan Football: http://emueagles.com/index.aspx?tab=football&path=football
 
 
NAVY (0-0) at FLORIDA ATLANTIC (0-0)
Friday, September 1
8:00 p.m. ET
Boca Raton, Florida (FAU Stadium)
Television: ESPNU
Announcers: Dave Lamont (PxP), Kelly Stouffer (AN), Tiffany Greene (SL)
All-Time Series: Navy leads 1-0
Last Meeting: at Navy 24, Florida Atlantic 17 (Nov. 13, 2012)
 
FAST FACTS
**The Lane Kiffin era begins at FAU with a nationally-televised Friday night contest against a Navy team that spend most of last season in the national rankings, but returns just 10 of 26 starters from 2016.
** Running back Devin "Motor" Singletary was the first freshman Owl in the program's 16-year history to break the 1,000-yard plateau last season, including 257 yards against Rice and 235 at Middle Tennessee.  His 12 touchdowns during his rookie season left him just one shy of the program's all-time single-season rushing TD record.
**Junior LB Azeez Al-Shaair returns for this third season after leading the Owls the last two in total tackles.  Al-Shaair, who had 113 tackles in 2016 and 94 in 2015, leads a defensive unit that welcomes back eight starters.
 
MORE
Navy Football: http://www.navysports.com/sports/m-footbl/navy-m-footbl-body.html
Florida Atlantic Football: http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-footbl/fau-m-footbl-body.html
 
 
ALABAMA A&M (0-0) at UAB (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
2:30 p.m. CT
Birmingham, Alabama (Legion Field)
Television: Stadium
Announcers: Ron Thulin (PxP), Max Starks (AN)
All-Time Series: UAB leads 1-0
Last Meeting: at UAB 41, Alabama A&M 14 (Sept. 13, 2014)
 
FAST FACTS
**The return of UAB Football happens when the Blazers host Alabama A&M in the program’s first football game since a 45-24 victory at Southern Miss on Nov. 29, 2014.
**Head coach Bill Clark, who led the Blazers to a four-game win improvement in his first season at UAB in 2014, joins 14 players that remain a part of the program form the last Blazer football team.
**The makeup of the 2017 Blazers roster features 16 redshirt seniors, 43 redshirt juniors, 5 juniors, 19 redshirt sophomores, 29 redshirt freshmen and 10 true freshmen.
 
MORE
Alabama A&M Football: http://aamusports.com/index.aspx?path=football
UAB Football: http://uabsports.com/index.aspx?path=football
 
 
UTEP (0-0) at OKLAHOMA (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
2:30 p.m. CT
Norman, Oklahoma (Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium)
Television: FOX
Announcers: Joe Davis (PxP), Brady Quinn (AN), Bruce Feldman (SL)
All-Time Series: Oklahoma leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Oklahoma 24, at UTEP 7 (Sept. 1, 2012)
 
FAST FACTS
**Senior OG Will Hernandez became the first Miner offensive lineman to earn All-American honors last season.  He has started every game in his UTEP career and was also named Pro Football Focus Protector of the Year among all FBS linemen. Hernandez is an AP preseason All-American selection this year.
**Senior LB Alvin Jones returns to lead the Miners defense.  Despite missing two games due to injury last season, he earned All-Conference USA second team honors after leading team in tackles 93 (44 solo).  Jones ranked fourth in C-USA in tackles per game (9.3), while adding 6.0 tackles for loss (28 yards), 2.5 sacks (22 yards) and a pass breakup.
**The last meeting between the schools came in the 2012 season opener for both schools, when No. 4 Oklahoma became the highest-ranked opponent to ever play UTEP at the Sun Bowl.
 
MORE
UTEP Football: http://www.utepathletics.com/index.aspx?path=football
Oklahoma Football: http://www.soonersports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&SPID=127245&SPSID=750323&DB_OEM_ID=31000
 
 
KENTUCKY (0-0) at SOUTHERN MISS (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
3 p.m. CT
Hattiesburg, Mississippi (M.M. Roberts Stadium)
Television: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Dave Ryan (PxP), Corey Chavous (AN), Melanie Collins (SL)
All-Time Series: Kentucky leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Southern Miss 44, at Kentucky 35 (Sept. 3, 2016)
 
FAST FACTS
**Southern Miss will open the season against Kentucky for the second straight season.  In Lexington last season, the Golden Eagles scored 34 unanswered points to win at Kentucky, 44-35. Southern Miss held a 295-56 yardage advantage in the second half, while outscoring UK, 27-0.  It was just the third time in school history that the Golden Eagles had won after trailing by 21 points.
**Senior RB Ito Smith went over the 100-yard mark a league-high eight times last season (16 in his career) and finished ranked fourth in the conference averaging 112.2 yards per game.  He scored 19 touchdowns (17 rushing) on the season and is just the fourth Golden Eagle to rush for more than 1,000 yards in multiple seasons.
**Senior WR Allenzae Staggers topped the team with 63 catches, 1,165 yards, 18.5 yards per catch and seven touchdowns in 2016.  He owns two of the five all-time 200-yard receiving games in Southern Miss history, including a performance vs. Rice where he caught six passes for a program-record 292 yards and three TDs.
 
MORE
Kentucky Football: http://www.ukathletics.com/sport/m-footbl
Southern Miss Football: http://www.southernmiss.com/sports/m-footbl/smis-m-footbl-body.html
 
 
ALBANY (0-0) at OLD DOMINION (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
6 p.m. ET
Norfolk, Virginia (Foreman Field)
Television: ESPN3
Announcers: Ted Alexander (PxP), Andy Mashaw (AN), Doug Ripley (SL)
All-Time Series: Old Dominion leads 1-0
Last Meeting: at Old Dominion 66, Albany 10 (Sept. 28, 2013)
 
FAST FACTS
**Old Dominion begins its ninth football season owning a 6-2 record in season openers.
**The Monarchs have won 10 straight games against FCS opponents, dating back to their final game at that level, a 49-35 loss to Georgia Southern in the second round of the 2012 FCS playoffs.
**Senior RB Ray Lawry posted seven 100-yard games last season and broke his own school record with 1,255 rushing yards.  He ran for 11 touchdowns and became the school’s all-time TD leader with 40.  
 
MORE
Albany Football: http://www.ualbanysports.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=8009
Old Dominion Football: http://www.odusports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31100&SPID=127313&SPSID=750425&DB_OEM_ID=31100
 
 
MIAMI (OHIO) (0-0) at MARSHALL (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
6:30 p.m. ET
Huntington, West Virginia (Joan C. Edwards Stadium)
Television: Stadium on Facebook
Announcers: Chris Hassel (PxP), TBA (AN), Shae Peppler (SL)
All-Time Series: Miami leads 30-12-1
Last Meeting: Marshall 42, at Miami (Ohio) 27 (Aug. 30, 2014)
 
FAST FACTS
**Marshall renews one of its most-played rivalries, as the Thundering Herd welcome former Mid-American Conference rival Miami (Ohio) to town for the 44th meeting between the schools. 
**The RedHawks are the first of eight opponents that played in a bowl game last season that are on Marshall’s 2017 schedule.
**Senior TE Ryan Yurachek enters the 2017 season with a streak of 29 consecutive games with at least one reception.  He had 28 catches for 298 yards and five touchdowns last year and has 15 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
**After just 21 games in a Marshall uniform, junior QB Chase Litton is No. 10 on the MU’s all-time list for completions (461), No. 7 in passing touchdowns (47) and No. 6 in completion percentage (61.1).
 
MORE
Miami Football: http://www.miamiredhawks.com/sports/m-footbl/mioh-m-footbl-body.html
Marshall Football: http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/mars-m-footbl-body.html
 
 
EASTERN KENTUCKY (0-0) at WKU (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
6 p.m. CT
Bowling Green, Kentucky (Houchens Stadium)
Television: FloSports
Announcers: Joe Brunk (PxP), Billy Rutledge (AN)
All-Time Series: WKU leads 47-35-3
Last Meeting: WKU 37, at Eastern Kentucky 13 (Sept. 6, 2008)
 
FAST FACTS
**This marks the debut of the Mike Sanford era at WKU.  He spent the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame.  Sanford also spent the 2010 season at WKU on Willie Taggart’s first coaching staff as the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
**Although this is the first meeting between the schools since 2008, WKU has played Eastern Kentucky more than any other opponent, as this will be the 86th matchup between the schools. 
**WKU has won its last five season openers
**Senior QB Mike White returns for his second season at WKU after being named the C-USA Newcomer of the Year in 2016 and the C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in July.  He completed 67 percent of his passes (280-of-416) for 4,383 yards and 37 touchdowns with just seven interceptions last season.  White registered eight 300+-yard passing performances, including seven of the last nine. 
 
MORE
Eastern Kentucky Football: http://www.ekusports.com/index.aspx?path=football
WKU Football: http://www.wkusports.com/index.aspx?path=football
 
 
LAMAR (0-0) at NORTH TEXAS (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
6 p.m. CT
Denton, Texas (Apogee Stadium)
Television: ESPN3
Announcers: Doug Anderson (PxP), LaDarrin McLane (AN)
All-Time Series: North Texas leads 4-2
Last Meeting: North Texas 33, at Lamar 13 (Oct. 25, 1986)
 
FAST FACTS
**Despite missing two full games and parts of two others with an injury, senior RB Jeffery Wilson led the Mean Green with 936 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last year.  His 14 rushing touchdowns in 2016 ranked fourth in single-season school history.
**Sophomore QB Mason Fine appeared in 10 games, nine of which were starts, completing 155-of-261 passes for 1,572 yards and six touchdowns.  He also added 118 yards on the ground to go along with two more touchdowns on his way to All-Freshman recognition from Conference USA.
**Senior K Trevor Moore enters the 2017 season having made 99 consecutive extra points, extending his own school record.
 
MORE
Lamar Football: http://www.lamarcardinals.com/index.aspx?path=football
North Texas Football: http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-footbl/ntex-m-footbl-body.html



NORTHWESTERN STATE (0-0) at LOUISIANA TECH (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
6 p.m. CT
Ruston, Louisiana (Joe Aillet Stadium)
Television: ESPN3
Announcers: Lyn Rollins (PxP), Stan Humphries (AN), Tatum Everett (SL)
All-Time Series: Louisiana Tech leads 53-20-5
Last Meeting: Northwestern State 30, at Louisiana Tech 27 (Sept. 20, 2014)
 
FAST FACTS
**This will be 79th meeting between the schools, making it the second-most played matchup in Louisiana Tech history (trailing only Louisiana-Lafayette).
**Sophomore J’Mar Smith takes over as LA Tech’s starting quarterback.  He saw action in seven games, making one start.  He was 19-for-31 for 212 passing yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception in a close 21-20 loss to Arkansas in his first career start to open the 2016 season.
**Junior DE Jaylon Ferguson ended the 2016 campaign ranked sixth in the nation and led Conference USA in sacks with 14.5 for a loss of 89 yards.  The 14.5 sacks are the fourth-highest single-season total in league history.  Ferguson also registered 49 total tackles, including 16 tackles for loss.
 
MORE
Northwestern State Football: http://www.nsudemons.com/index.aspx?path=football
Louisiana Tech Football: http://www.latechsports.com/sports/m-footbl/latc-m-footbl-body.html
 
 
VANDERBILT (0-0) at MIDDLE TENNESSEE (0-0)
Saturday, September 2
7 p.m. CT
Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Floyd Stadium)
Television: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (PxP), Aaron Taylor (AN), Jenny Dell (SL)
All-Time Series: Vanderbilt leads 14-3
Last Meeting: at Vanderbilt 47, Middle Tennessee 24 (Sept. 10, 2016)
 
FAST FACTS
**This will be just the third time that the schools separated by 25 miles have met in Murfreesboro.
**Junior QB Brent Stockstill threw for an MT sophomore record 3,233 yards and 31 touchdowns last season, despite missing the final three games of the regular season with a broken collar bone.  He put together six games with 300 or more yards (three with 400+) and had four or more touchdown passes four times.  After just 23 games played, Stockstill already owns MT career records in touchdown passes (61), 300-yard passing games (14), 400-yard passing games (six) and passing yards per game (303.3)
**Junior WR Richie James ranks first among active players nationally in receptions per game and receiving yards per game.  He has caught passes for 100 or more yards in 14 of his first 26 games at Middle Tennessee, reeling in at least catch in each game of his career.  Last season, James had 105 receptions for a school record 1,625 yards and 12 TDs while rushing for a career-best 339 yards. 
 
MORE
Vanderbilt Football: http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-footbl/vand-m-footbl-body.html
Middle Tennessee Football: http://www.goblueraiders.com/index.aspx?path=football