C-USA SENDING EIGHT TEAMS TO BOWLS
C-USA will be sending eight schools to play in bowl games this holiday season. C-USA Champion Florida Atlantic leads the group of eight teams, joined in the postseason by West Champion UAB, Charlotte, FIU, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Southern Miss and WKU.
2019 C-USA Bowl Release.(pdf)
C-USA Football Stats.(pdf)
C-USA Bowl Central
BOWL CAPSULES
MAKERS WANTED BAHAMAS BOWL
CHARLOTTE vs. BUFFALO
Friday, Dec. 20 Nassau, Bahamas
2 p.m. (EST) Thomas C. Robinson Stadium (15,000)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Steve Levy (PxP), Greg McElroy (AN),
Dianna Russini (SL)
CHARLOTTE (7-5, 5-3 in C-USA)
Website: www.Charlotte49ers.com
Head Coach: Will Healy (1st year, 4th at FIU)
Leading Passer: Chris Reynolds (166-of-267, 2,366 yds., 21 TD)
Leading Rusher: Benny LeMay (180 att., 1,037 yds., 9 TD)
Leading Receiver: Victor Tucker (49 rec., 848 yds., 6 TD)
Leading Tackler: Marquavis Gibbs (94 tackles, 48 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 425.8
Defensive Yards PG: 389.2
Last Bowl Appearance: First Appearance
All-Time Bowl Record: 0-0
Buffalo (7-5, 5-3 in MAC)
Website: www.ubbulls.com
Head Coach: Lance Leipold (13th year, 5th at Buffalo)
Leading Passer: Kyle Vantrease (93-of-155, 1,116 yds. 7 TD)
Leading Rusher: Jaret Patterson (280 att., 1,626 yds., 17 TD)
Leading Receiver: Antonio Nunn (44 rec., 634 yds., 5 TD)
Leading Tackler: Joey Banks (76 tackles, 52 solo)
Offense Yards PG: 397.4
Defensive Yards PG: 293.1
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Dollar General (Troy 42, Buffalo 32)
All-Time Bowl Record: 0-3
CHERIBUNDI BOCA RATON BOWL
FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. SMU
Saturday, Dec. 21 Boca Raton, Florida
3:30 p.m. (EST) FAU Stadium (29,500)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Tom Hart (PxP), Joey Galloway (AN)
Pat McAfee (SL)
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (10-3, 7-1 in C-USA)
Website: www.fausports.com
Interim Head Coach: Glenn Spencer (1st game at FAU)
Leading Passer: Chris Robison (264-of-434, 3,396 yds. 26 TD)
Leading Rusher: Malcolm Davidson (102 att., 711 yds., 9 TD)
Leading Receiver: Harrison Bryant (65 rec., 1,004 yds., 7 TD)
Leading Tackler: Akileis Leroy (101 tackles, 55 solo)
Offense Yards PG: 443.0
Defensive Yards PG: 370.3
Last Bowl Appearance: 2017 Boca Raton (Florida Atlantic 50, Akron 3)
All-Time Bowl Record: 3-0
SMU (10-2, 6-2 Mid-American)
Website: www.smumustangs.com
Head Coach: Sonny Dykes (9th year, 2nd at SMU)
Leading Passer: Shane Buechele (280-of-433, 3,626 yds., 33 TD)
Leading Rusher: Xavier Jones (232 att., 1,249 yds., 21 TD)
Leading Receiver: James Proche (102 rec., 1,139 yds., 14 TD)
Leading Tackler: Richard McBryde (87 tackles, 64 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 495.3
Defensive Yards PG: 438.7
Last Bowl Appearance: 2017 DXL Frisco (Louisiana Tech 51, SMU 10)
All-Time Bowl Record: 7-8-1
CAMELLIA BOWL
FIU vs. ARKANSAS STATE
Saturday, Dec. 21 Montgomery, Alabama
4:30 p.m. (CST) Cramton Bowl (25,000)
All-Time Series: Arkansas State leads 4-2
Last Meeting: Arkansas State 34, at FIU 20 (Oct. 13, 2012)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Taylor Zarzour (PxP), Matt Stinchcomb (AN), Alyssa Long (SL)
FIU (6-6, 3-5 in C-USA)
Website: www.FIUAthletics.com
Head Coach: Butch Davis (10th year, 3rd at FIU)
Leading Passer: James Morgan (185-of-319, 2,273 yds. 13 TD)
Leading Rusher: Anthony Jones (166 att., 802 yds., 9 TD)
Leading Receiver: Tony Gaiter IV (49 rec., 632 yds., 4 TD)
Leading Tackler: Jamal Gates (83 tackles, 35 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 373.6
Defensive Yards PG: 380.7
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Bahamas (FIU 34, Toledo 32)
All-Time Bowl Record: 2-2
Arkansas State (7-5, 5-3 in Sun Belt)
Website: www.astateredwolves.com
Head Coach: Blake Anderson (6th year, all at ASU)
Leading Passer: Layne Hatcher (177-of-259, 2,553 yds., 23 TD)
Leading Rusher: Marcel Murray (153 att., 782 yds., 6 TD)
Leading Receiver: Omar Bayless (84 rec., 1,473 yds., 16 TD)
Leading Tackler: Darreon Jackson (107 tackles, 64 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 432.2
Defensive Yards PG: 480.6
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Arizona (Nevada 16, Ark. St. 13 -ot)
All-Time Bowl Record: 3-6
R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL
UAB vs. (21) APPALACHIAN STATE
Saturday, Dec. 21 New Orleans, Louisiana
8 p.m. (CST) Mercedes-Benz Superdome (73,208)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Beth Mowins (PxP), Anthony Becht (AN), Rocky Boiman (SL)
UAB (9-4, 6-2 in C-USA)
Website: www.uabsports.com
Head Coach: Bill Clark (5th year, 4th at UAB)
Leading Passer: Tyler Johnston (125-of-215, 1,952 yds. 15 TD)
Leading Rusher: Spencer Brown (136 att., 527 yds., 5 TD)
Leading Receiver: Austin Watkins, Jr. (47 rec., 933 yds., 5 TD)
Leading Tackler: Kristopher Moll (96 tackles, 62 solo)
Offense Yards PG: 352.9
Defensive Yards PG: 294.1
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Boca Raton (UAB 37, Northern Illinois 13)
All-Time Bowl Record: 1-2
Appalachian State (12-1, 7-1 in Sun Belt)
Website: www.appstatesports.com
Interim Head Coach: Shawn Clark (1st game/4-year App St. Asst.)
Leading Passer: Zac Thomas (212-of-335, 2,576 yds. 26 TD)
Leading Rusher: Darrynton Evans (236 att., 1,323 yds., 17 TD)
Leading Receiver: Thomas Hennigan (58 rec., 723 yds., 4 TD)
Leading Tackler: Jordan Fehr (98 tackles, 43 solo)
Offense Yards Per Game: 435.5
Defensive Yards Per Game: 335.9
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 New Orleans (App St. 45, Middle Tenn. 13)
All-Time Bowl Record: 4-0
BAD BOY MOWERS GASPARILLA BOWL
MARSHALL vs. UCF
Monday, Dec. 23 Tampa, Florida
2:30 p.m. (EST) Raymond James Stadium (65,890)
All-Time Series: UCF leads 8-3
Last Meeting: UCF 54, at Marshall 17 (Oct. 27, 2012)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Roy Philpott (PxP), Kelly Stouffer (AN), Lauren Sisler (SL)
Marshall (8-4, 6-2 in C-USA)
Website: www.herdzone.com
Head Coach: Doc Holliday (10th year, all at MU)
Leading Passer: Isaiah Green (180-of-313, 2,265 yds., 14 TD)
Leading Rusher: Brenden Knox (244 att., 1,284 yds., 11 TD)
Leading Receiver: Armani Levias (43 rec., 486 yds., 3 TD)
Leading Tackler: Tavante Beckett (114 tackles, 44 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 396.5
Defensive Yards PG: 362.1
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Gasparilla (Marshall 38, South Florida 21)
All-Time Bowl Record: 12-2
UCF (9-3, 6-2 in American)
Website: www.ucfathletics.com
Head Coach: Josh Heupel (2nd year, all at UCF)
Leading Passer: Dillon Gabriel (222-of-374, 3,393 yds., 27 TD)
Leading Rusher: Otis Anderson (104 att., 665 yds., 5 TD)
Leading Receiver: Gabriel Davis (72 rec., 1,241 yds., 12 TD)
Leading Tackler: Nate Evans (100 tackles, 61 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 536.6
Defensive Yards PG: 344.8
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Fiesta (LSU 40, UCF 32)
All-Time Bowl Record: 4-6
WALK-ON’S INDEPENDENCE BOWL
LOUISIANA TECH vs. MIAMI
Thursday, Dec. 26 Shreveport, Louisiana
3 p.m. (CST) Independence Stadium (49,565)
All-Time Series: Miami leads 4-0
Last Meeting: Miami 48, Louisiana Tech 0 (Sept. 18, 2004)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Wes Durham (PxP), Roddy Jones (AN), Eric Wood (SL)
Louisiana Tech (9-3, 6-2 in C-USA)
Website: www.latechsports.com
Head Coach: Skip Holtz (20th year, 7th at LA Tech)
Leading Passer: J’Mar Smith (223-of-339, 2,814 yds., 17 TD)
Leading Rusher: Justin Henderson (166 att., 967 yds., 15 TD)
Leading Receiver: Adrian Hardy (41 rec., 525 yds., 1 TD)
Leading Tackler: L’Jarius Sneed (72 tackles, 42 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 445.2
Defensive Yards PG: 390.2
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 SoFi Hawai’i (LA Tech 31, Hawai’i 14)
All-Time Bowl Record: 7-3-1
Miami (6-6, 4-4 in ACC)
Website: www.hurricanesports.com
Head Coach: Manny Diaz (1st year, all at Miami)
Leading Passer: Jarren Williams (160-of-256, 2,093 yds., 19 TD)
Leading Rusher: Deejay Dallas (115 att., 693 yds., 8 TD)
Leading Receiver: Brevin Jordan (35 rec., 495 yds., 2 TD)
Leading Tackler: Shaquille Quarterman (96 tackles, 47 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 378.9
Defensive Yards PG: 307.6
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Pinstripe (Wisconsin 35, Miami 3)
All-Time Bowl Record: 20-22
SERVPRO FIRST RESPONDER BOWL
WKU vs. WESTERN MICHIGAN
Monday, Dec. 30 Dallas, Texas
11:30 a.m. (CST) Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000)
All-Time Series: Western Michigan leads 11-3-1
Last Meeting: Western Michigan 39, WKU 0 (Nov. 1, 1947)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Dave Neal (PxP), DJ Shockley (AN), Dawn Davenport (SL)
WKU (8-4, 6-2 in C-USA)
Website: www.wkusports.com
Head Coach: Tyson Helton (1st year, all at WKU)
Leading Passer: Ty Storey (206-of-294, 2,209 yds., 12 TD)
Leading Rusher: Gaej Walker (226 att., 1,115 yds., 8 TD)
Leading Receiver: Lucky Jackson (77 rec., 985 yds., 3 TD)
Leading Tackler: Kyle Bailey (98 tackles, 47 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 380.0
Defensive Yards PG: 337.8
Last Bowl Appearance: 2017 Cure (Georgia State 27, WKU 17)
All-Time Bowl Record: 3-2
Western Michigan (7-5, 5-3 in MAC)
Website: www.wmubroncos.com
Head Coach: Tim Lester (3rd year, all at WMU)
Leading Passer: Jon Wassink (222-of-371, 2,904 yds., 19 TD)
Leading Rusher: LeVante Bellamy (248 att., 1,412 yds., 23 TD)
Leading Receiver: Skyy Moore (47 rec., 734 yds., 3 TD)
Leading Tackler: Treshaun Heyward (132 tackles, 69 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 457.3
Defensive Yards PG: 414.6
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Idaho Potato (BYU 49, WMU 18)
All-Time Bowl Record: 1-8
LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL
SOUTHERN MISS vs. TULANE
Saturday, Jan. 4 Fort Worth, Texas
10:30 a.m. (CST) Amon G. Carter Stadium (46,000)
All-Time Series: Southern Miss leads 23-7
Last Meeting: Southern Miss 46, at Tulane 30 (Nov. 6, 2010)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Chris Cotter (PxP), Mark Herlzich (AN),
Kelsey Riggs (SL)
SOUTHERN MISS (7-5, 5-3 in C-USA)
Website: www.southernmiss.com
Head Coach: Jay Hopson (8th year, 4th at USM)
Leading Passer: Jack Abraham (258-of-382, 3,329 yds., 18 TD)
Leading Rusher: De’Michael Harris (113 att., 541 yds., 5 TD)
Leading Receiver: Quez Watkins (55 rec., 1,024 yds., 5 TD)
Leading Tackler: Ky’el Hamby (87 tackles, 56 solo)
Offensive Yards PG: 411.0
Defensive Yards PG: 350.3
Last Bowl Appearance: 2017 Independence (Florida St., USM 13)
All-Time Bowl Record: 11-14
Tulane (6-6, 3-5 in American)
Website: www.tulanegreenwave.com
Head Coach: Willie Fritz (23rd year, 4th at Tulane)
Leading Passer: Justin McMillan (170-of-296, 2,229 yds. 14 TD)
Leading Rusher: Justin McMillan (152 att., 704 yds., 12 TD)
Leading Receiver: Darnell Mooney (45 rec., 670 yds., 5 TD)
Leading Tackler: Chase Kuerschen (69 tackles, 53 solo)
Offense Yards PG: 445.2
Defensive Yards PG: 378.1
Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 Cure (Tulane 41, UL-Lafayette 24)
All-Time Bowl Record: 5-7
C-USA BOWL OPPONENT NOTES
NOTES ON C-USA BOWL OPPONENTS
*C-USA will face three of the top 10 FBS teams in scoring offense in bowl games: No. 6 SMU (43.0), No. 6 UCF (43.0) and No. 9 Appalachian State (39.4).
*C-USA will face three former members this bowl season: SMU, Tulane and UCF.
*C-USA will play bowl games against members of the ACC (1), American (3), MAC (2) and Sun Belt (2) Conferences.
BUFFALO
*Buffalo is making consecutive bowl appearances for the first time.
*Sophomore RB Jaret Patterson set single-season team records for rushing yards (1,626) and rushing TD’s (17), including a MAC-record six scores in the regular-season finale vs. Bowling Green. After earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2018, Patterson eclipsed 140 rush yards in each of his final five 2019 games.
*The Bulls are balanced, leading the MAC in both average yards rushing (254.2) and average total yards allowed (293.1).
SMU
*At 10-2 SMU has already posted its highest win total since 1984. Only twice in their history have the Mustangs won more than 10 games in a season: 1982 and 1935. A win here would make it a third time.
*Head coach Sonny Dykes is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson and George Munger National Coach of Year awards after posting 10 wins in his second season at SMU.
*WR Receiver James Proche led the American in receptions (102), touchdown receptions (14) and was second in receiving yards (1,139).
*RB Xavier Jones is tied for second in the FBS with 21 rushing touchdowns.
*The Mustangs are sixth nationally in scoring offense (43.0, currently a school record), ninth in total offense (495.3, school record) and 12th in passing offense (309.3, second all-time at the school).
*The SMU defense set school records with 50 sacks (2nd NCAA) and 105 tackles for loss (4th NCAA).
ARKANSAS STATE
*Arkansas State is playing in a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season.
*Middle Tennessee defeated Arkansas State in the 2017 Camellia Bowl, 35-30.
*Arkansas State WR Omar Bayless, who led the country in receiving through the regular season at 1,473 yards to go with his school-record 16 touchdown catches, was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.
*Quarterback Layne Hatcher was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. He threw for at least 300 yards in five of his eight starts and completed multiple touchdown passes in each of those games. He ended the regular season by completing 177-of-259 passes for a 68.3 percentage that ranks as the second highest in school history.
APPALACHIAN STATE
*Appalachian State is the only program with a bowl win in each of its first four eligible seasons after the complete transition to the FBS level.
*For the second straight season, the Mountaineers lost their head coach following the Sun Belt Championship Game. Elijah Drinkwitz was named head coach at Missouri on Dec. 9. Offensive line coach Shawn Clark will serve as the interim coach for the bowl game.
*Junior QB Zac Thomas compiled just shy of 3,000 yards of offense to go with 33 touchdowns (26 passing, 7 rushing).
*Junior RB Darrynton Evans averaged better than 5.6 yards per carry en route to 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.
•After winning their fourth straight Sun Belt Championship, Appalachian State became the first team in league history to win 12 games in a season.
*The Mountaineers are the only Group of Five team with two Power Five road wins this year (North Carolina and South Carolina).
UCF
*This marks a program-record fourth consecutive postseason bowl appearance for the Knights, the seventh in eight seasons and the 11th in 15 years.
*This will be UCF’s fourth appearance in the Tampa Bay area bowl since 2009.
*The Knights (9-3) will be attempting to post double-digit wins for the third straight year. UCF’s three losses came by a combined total of seven points.
*The Knights rank fourth in the FBS in total offense, averaging 526.6 yards per game and topping the 600-yard mark in four games.
*Junior WR Gabriel Davis set the school single-season receiving record with 1,241 yards and had 12 touchdown catches.
*Senior S Richie Grant is a back-to-back first-team All-Conference honoree who totaled 68 tackles, 4.0 TFL’s and eight pass break-ups, while helping the Knights hold opponents to 28% on third-down conversions, which ranks sixth in the nation.
MIAMI
*Miami will be playing in its second Independence Bowl (2014) and at Independence Stadium for third time (defeated LA Tech in the 2003 season opener).
*First-year Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz served as LA Tech’s Defensive Coordinator in 2014, as the Bulldogs led the nation in forced turnovers (42), won the C-USA West Division title and defeated Illinois in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
*Freshman DE Gregory Rousseau was recognized as the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. He finished with an ACC-leading 14 sacks – a total tied for second-most in the nation – and was tied for 10th in the country with 18 tackles for loss. Rousseau had at least one sack in eight games and had five games with multiple TFL’s.
*C-USA already has one win vs. Miami in 2019: FIU defeated them, 30-24 on Nov. 23.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
*WMU is making its 10th bowl appearance, but are just 1-8 all-time in bowls.
*Senior RB LeVante Bellamy won the Verne Smith Leadership award, which is given to the best player in the MAC. Bellamy has run for 1,412 yards and an FBS-leading 23 touchdowns this season. He has at least one TD in 11 of 12 games.
*Senior QB Jon Wassink won the Wuerffel Trophy, college football’s premier award for community service, athletic and academic achievement. Wassink has completed 222-of-371 passes for 2,904 yards and 19 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
TULANE
*Tulane is making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1979-80.
*Tulane will take on Southern Miss for the 31st time in program history. The last meeting was on Nov. 6, 2010 when both schools were members of Conference USA.
*After a 5-1 start, the Green Wave dropped five of their last six games, all to bowl-bound teams.
*Tulane scored at least 38 points in all six of its victories.
*Tulane enters the game featuring one of the nation’s top rushing attacks, averaging 249.8 yards per game – a figure that ranks 13th in the nation. Southern Miss has the second-best run defense in C-USA, allowing 111.3 yards per game.
*Junior DE Patrick Johnson was named All-AAC Second Team for the second straight year after leading the team in sacks for the second consecutive year. He also finished second on the team in tackles for loss, while starting in all 12 games.