DALLAS - CFP No. 25 Liberty capped off an undefeated regular season with a comfortable 42-28 win at UTEP, while the Flames' CUSA Championship Game opponent, New Mexico State won its eighth consecutive game Saturday, beating Jax State 20-17 on a walkoff field goal. WKU improved to 7-5 with a 41-28 win at FIU, while Sam Houston closed its season winners of three of its last four, knocking off MTSU 23-20 in Huntsville.

NO. 25 LIBERTY IMPROVES TO 12-0 | Box Score
CFP No. 25 Liberty (12-0, 8-0 CUSA) recorded just the third undefeated regular season (overall record) in Conference USA history with a 42-28 win at UTEP (3-9, 2-6 CUSA) on Saturday night in El Paso. It marks the first unblemished regular season by a CUSA team since Houston did so in 2011 (Tulane had the other, in 1998). The Flames, who lead the nation in rushing, ran for 441 yards in the win, and four different players had at least 65 yards on the ground. RB Quinton Cooley carried 14 times for 65 yards and three touchdowns, while QB Kaidon Salter led the way with 12 carries for 94 yards. The Flames led 42-14 before removing their starters. Defensively, DL Jay Hardy finished with five tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Liberty now sets its sights on hosting a rematch with New Mexico State (10-3) in the 2023 CUSA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network with an undefeated season, and possible New Year’s Six spot on the line. The Flames beat the Aggies 33-17 earlier this season way back on Sept. 9, also in Lynchburg, Virginia.



NM STATE WINS EIGHTH STRAIGHT TO REACH DOUBLE DIGIT VICTORIES | Box Score
New Mexico State (10-3, 7-1 CUSA) kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired, beating Jax State (8-4, 6-2 CUSA) 20-17 in Las Cruces Saturday night. The Aggies have won eight straight, and have reached double digit victories for just the second time in program history and first since 1960 (an 11-0 season). Despite four turnovers and a late comeback attempt by the Gamecocks, the Aggies came out on top. QB Diego Pavia completed 23-24 passes for 269 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and also added a team-high 68 yards on the ground. WR Trent Hudson caught five passes for 70 yards and a score in the win. Defensively, LB Gabe Peterson recorded nine tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack in the win. The Aggies are now set to travel to Lynchburg, Virginia, next week  for the 2023 CUSA Championship Game for a rematch of the Sept. 9 battle, also in Lynchburg, which Liberty won 33-17. 



WKU KNOCKS OFF FIU, 41-28 | Box Score
WKU (7-5, 5-3 CUSA) held off FIU (4-8, 1-7 CUSA) on the road Saturday afternoon, 41-28 to conclude its regular season. The Hilltoppers raced out to a 41-14 lead before removing most of its starters, and saw QB Austin Reed put on quite the display - completing 26-35 passes for 280 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, giving him 31 passing touchdowns on the year. 12 different receivers caught passes for the Hilltoppers, who now await their bowl fate. WKU is heading to a bowl game for the 10th time in the past 12 seasons. Defensively, WKU forced three turnovers in the win, giving them 25 turnovers gained on the season.



SAM HOUSTON CLOSES SEASON WINNERS OF THREE OF FINAL FOUR | Box Score
Sam Houston (3-9, 2-6 CUSA) won its third game in the last four tries to conclude its first FBS season, knocking off MTSU (4-8, 3-5 CUSA) in the season finale for both teams. The Bearkats trailed 20-16 with 2:51 to play following what seemed to be a back-breaking 97-yard touchdown drive by the Blue Raiders, but Sam Houston marched 72 yards in 12 plays in 1:48, which was capped off by a John Gentry three-yard rushing score to take a 23-20 lead. The defense then held, and survived a missed field goal attempt as time expired to hold off the Blue Raiders. Gentry finished with 17 carries for 67 yards and that score in the win. Defensively, Sam Houston forced three turnovers, all interceptions, including a 31-yard pick-six by LB Trevor Williams, who also finished with 12 tackles and a half sack. Fellow Bearkat LB Sincere Jackson finished with a game-high 13 stops, including a half sack and a tackle for loss.