DALLAS - Ten C-USA teams are in action yet again this week, all of which are key conference fixtures. A five-game slate on Saturday kicks off at 11 a.m. CT in Boca Raton between Florida Atlantic and WKU, a 1 p.m. CT matchup that sees North Texas host Rice, a 2:30 p.m. kickoff in San Antonio between regular season champion UTSA and the UTEP, another 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff in Ruston between UAB and Louisiana Tech, and a 5 p.m. CT kickoff in Miami as FIU hosts Middle Tennessee.

Though North Texas (5-2 C-USA) is in the driver’s seat for the 2022 Ryan C-USA Championship Game, WKU (5-2 C-USA) is still very much alive for the final spot and an opportunity for a rematch with regular season champion UTSA. Though Florida Atlantic could also potentially finish in a three-way tie with North Texas and WKU at 5-3, they would not win that by virtue of the combined record tiebreaker between those three teams (see below for further explanation).

North Texas can clinch a spot in the title game with a win over Rice in the final week of the season, OR if they were to lose to Rice AND FAU beats WKU, it would be a three-way tie at 5-3 with FAU and WKU (North Texas would win the three-way tiebreaker by virtue of holding a 2-0 record against FAU and WKU, while FAU would be 1-1 and WKU would be 0-2 in this scenario).

WKU can clinch a spot in the title game with a win in the final week of the regular season at FAU coupled with a North Texas loss to Rice.

A lot is at stake when WKU (7-5, 5-2 C-USA) travels to Boca Raton to take on Florida Atlantic (5-6, 4-3 C-USA) on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. WKU has an opportunity to potentially clinch a return trip to San Antonio for the 2022 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game with a win (and a North Texas loss to Rice), while Florida Atlantic is seeking its sixth win and bowl eligibility. WKU fell 41-17 at Auburn last week in a non-conference tilt, while FAU was beaten 49-21 at Middle Tennessee last week.

WKU (7-5, 5-2 C-USA) at FLORIDA ATLANTIC (5-6, 4-3 C-USA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Time: 11 a.m. CT
Location: Boca Raton, Florida (FAU Stadium)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Chris Hassel (PxP), Robert Turbin (AN)
All-Time Series: Florida Atlantic leads 9-4

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WKU Football: https://wkusports.com/sports/football
Florida Atlantic Football: https://fausports.com/sports/football

North Texas (6-5, 5-2 C-USA) has its second chance to clinch a berth in the 2022 Ryan C-USA Championship Game and can do so with a win, when it hosts Rice (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) at 1 p.m. CT in Denton on ESPN+. North Texas was off last week, but fell 41-21 at UAB on Nov. 12, while Rice was beaten 41-7 at home last week. The Owls can earn bowl eligibility with a win and reach the postseason for the first time since 2014.

RICE (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) at NORTH TEXAS (6-5, 5-2 C-USA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Denton, Texas (Apogee Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Kyle Youmans (PxP), Hek'ma Harrison (AN)
All-Time Series: North Texas leads 7-5
 
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Rice Football: https://riceowls.com/sports/football
North Texas Football: https://meangreensports.com/sports/football

USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll No. 25 UTSA (9-2, 7-0 C-USA) hosts UTEP (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT on Stadium. UTSA has already sewn up hosting duties for the 2022 Ryan C-USA Championship Game, but is looking to finish a perfect 8-0 in conference play, something that eluded them in the final week of the regular season in 2021. UTEP on the other hand, is seeking a sixth win and bowl eligibility in a second straight season under head coach Dana Dimel. UTSA was dominant last week in a 41-7 win at Rice, while UTEP won comfortably, 40-6, at home over FIU.

UTEP (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) at No. 25 UTSA (9-2, 7-0 C-USA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: San Antoino, Texas (Alamodome)
Broadcast: Stadium
Announcers: Ari Wolfe (PxP), Bob Davie (AN)
All-Time Series: UTSA leads 7-2
 
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UTEP Football: https://utepminers.com/sports/football
UTSA Football: https://goutsa.com/sports/football

UAB (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) travels to Ruston to take on Louisiana Tech (3-8, 2-5 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT, on CBS Sports Network. UAB is looking to win its sixth game of the season and earn bowl eligibility, while LA Tech is in search of a positive punctuation on the 2022 season, the first under new head coach Sonny Cumbie. UAB fell at No. 6 LSU last week 41-10, while the Bulldogs dropped a 26-21 decision at Charlotte.

UAB (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) at LOUISIANA TECH (3-8, 2-5 C-USA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Ruston, Louisiana (Joe Aillet Stadium)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (PxP), Tom Herman (AN)
All-Time Series: Louisiana Tech leads 6-4
 
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UAB Football: https://uabsports.com/sports/football
Louisiana Tech Football: https://latechsports.com/sports/football

The final game of the day sees Middle Tennessee (6-5, 3-4 C-USA) travels to Miami to take on FIU (4-7, 2-5 C-USA) at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN3. Middle Tennessee handled its business last week, 49-21 on senior day against Florida Atlantic, while FIU fell 40-6 on the road at UTEP. Middle Tennessee is in search of a perfect 3-0 record against teams from the Sunshine State after already having dispatched of then-No. 25 Miami and Florida Atlantic.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE (6-5, 3-4 C-USA) at FIU (4-7, 2-5 C-USA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Miami, Florida (FIU Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: AJ Ricketts (PxP), Corey Brooks (AN)
All-Time Series: Middle Tennessee leads 12-5
 
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Middle Tennessee Football: https://goblueraiders.com/sports/football
FIU Football: https://fiusports.com/sports/football