DALLAS - Conference USA bowl season kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 16, with a pair of games, and continues Monday, Dec. 18, before the final game of the 2023 season kicks off on the first day of 2024 in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL
Jax State (8-4) will open CUSA’s bowl slate on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 1:45 p.m. CT in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against Louisiana (6-6) on ESPN. The Gamecocks, who were originally deemed ineligible for the postseason qualified for a bowl berth in their first season as FBS and CUSA members, thanks to there not being enough conditionally bowl eligible teams (six wins). The Gamecocks had an incredibly productive opening season, finishing in third place in CUSA, with a 6-2 league record. Head coach Rich Rodriguez’s group ranks fifth nationally in rushing offense (232.2 yards per game), and average a play every 20.6 seconds, the fastest pace in the country. Led by RB Malik Jackson (133 carries for 859 yards and seven scores), the Gamecocks boast three players with at least 440 yards on the ground, and the team totaled 32 rushing scores. On the offensive line, the Gamecocks are anchored by Second Team All-American (The Athletic and Associated Press) OL Clay Webb. Defensively, the Gamecocks have forced 25 turnovers, which ties for third in the country, including 16 interceptions (tied for fifth nationally).
Louisiana earned bowl eligibility with a home win over Louisiana-Monroe, 52-21, on the final Saturday of the regular season, and reached the postseason despite dropping three of the last four. QB Chandler Fields started each of the past three games for the Ragin’ Cajuns, and has completed nearly 71% of his passes (83-117) for 914 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, while RB Jacob Kibodi paced Louisiana on the ground, with 129 carries for 729 yards and seven scores and as a team Louisiana averaged 183.8 yards per game rushing. Defensively, the Ragin’ Cajuns forced 19 turnovers and recorded 23 sacks.
ISLETA NEW MEXICO BOWL
New Mexico State (10-4) is seeking its 11th win of the season, which would tie a program record (1960). CUSA co-Coach of the Year Jerry Kill had the Aggies in the CUSA Championship Game in their first season in the league. Kill has also taken the program to back-to-back bowl games for just the second time in program history (1959-60). The Aggies will take on Fresno State (8-4) on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 4:45 p.m. CT on ESPN. QB Diego Pavia, the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, left the title game due to injury, but barring a setback, is expected to return for the bowl game. The do-everything redshirt junior from Albuquerque, the site of the Isleta New Mexico Bowl, completed 210-341 passes for 2,915 yards with 26 touchdowns to just eight interceptions and has also carried 158 times for 853 yards and six more scores on the ground. The Albuquerque native orchestrated the nation’s 12th-best rushing attack in the country (202.7 yards per game) as the team’s leading rusher. WR Jonathan Brady has 37 catches for 613 yards and four scores, while RB Star Thomas was also a key fixture offensively for the Aggies, carrying 111 times for 643 yards and four scores. Defensively, LB Keyshaun Elliott led the Aggies with 101 total tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. DL Sterling Webb, a first team all-conference performer and major disruptor on the NM State defensive line, is tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5.
Fresno State at one time looked poised to challenge for the Group of Five’s New Year’s Six spot that ultimately went to CUSA’s Liberty, but dropped its last three games. The Bulldogs did upend a pair of Power Five teams, with wins at Purdue and a 29-0 show of dominance at Arizona State. The Bulldogs have forced 22 turnovers (16 of which are interceptions). QB Mikey Keane completed 252-383 passes for 2,596 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while RB Malik Sherrod paced the Bulldogs on the ground with 152 carries for 876 yards and nine scores. WR Erik Brooks and WR Jalen Moss have five touchdown catches apiece, and 55 and 51 catches, respectively, combining for 1,341 yards. DB Carlton Johnson leads the team in interceptions, with four, while DL Jacob Holmes leads the team in sacks, with 4.0.
FAMOUS TOASTERY BOWL
WKU (7-5) is bowling for the 10th time in the past 12 seasons, and is set to take on former league foe Old Dominion (6-6) on Monday, Dec. 18, at 1:30 p.m. CT on ESPN in the Famous Toastery Bowl. The Hilltoppers are led by QB Austin Reed, who has completed 289-470 passes for 3,340 yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while also posting four rushing touchdowns. Reed’s favorite target is first team all-conference selection WR Malachi Corley, who has 75 catches for 958 yards and a league-best 11 touchdowns. WKU is one of the least penalized teams in the country (top-15 in each of those categories), rank third in the country in sacks allowed (0.75 per game) and rank fifth nationally in red zone offense, scoring 94.3% of the time. Defensively, the Hilltoppers rank sixth in the nation in fumble recoveries (11), and are third in the country in takeaways (25). S Kendrick Simpkins has 48 total tackles, 11.0 TFL, 7.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles. DB Anthony Johnson, Jr., leads the team with three interceptions on the season as well for WKU.
The Monarchs reached bowl eligibility during the last week of the regular season in wild fashion. Old Dominion erased a 21-0 deficit at home to Georgia State, and even trailed 24-14 in the final two minutes before kicking a field goal, recording a safety and then walking it off with a three-yard touchdown run as time expired. QB Grant Wilson leads the way offensively for the Monarchs, having completed 165-290 passes for 2,026 with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Defensively it all starts with LB Jason Henderson, who finished with 170 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks. Henderson is one of three ODU defenders with over 100 tackles. Old Dominion has forced 16 turnovers on the year. The Monarch’s offensive line has also surrendered a nation-high 61 sacks.