DALLAS – A pair of pivotal matchups in the Conference USA Championship Game race highlights a six-game slate in week 13. The action begins with Sam Houston at Jax State at 11 a.m. CT on CBS Sports Network, followed by WKU at Liberty at Noon CT on ESPN+. The Gamecocks can clinch a spot in the title game with a win, and the Hilltoppers can clinch a spot in the title game with a win and a Jax State win. Additionally, Jax State can secure the right to host the championship game with a win and a WKU loss.
SAM HOUSTON (8-2, 5-1 CUSA) AT JAX STATE (7-3, 6-0 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 11 a.m. CT
Location: Jacksonville, Ala. (AmFirst Stadium)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Jordan Kent (PxP), Logan Ryan (Analyst)
All-Time Series: Series tied 6-6
Saturday’s headliner pits the league’s two longest winning streaks as the Bearkats have won three straight and the Gamecocks have rattled off seven consecutive victories. Sam Houston has leaned on its stout defense, which has allowed just nine points per game in that span, while Jax State has averaged 44.6 points per game during its hot streak. The flip side also presents an intriguing matchup as the Bearkats’ offense has mustered just 14 points per game in the past four games, and the Gamecocks’ defense has struggled to get stops in their previous two wins.
WKU (7-3, 5-1 CUSA) AT LIBERTY (7-2, 4-2 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: Noon CT
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Matt Warner (PxP), Joe Jauch (Analyst), Emily Austen (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Liberty leads 4-0
The Hilltoppers are looking to bounce back from their first loss in league play after falling to LA Tech, 12-7, while the Flames have won two straight to clinch bowl eligibility and keep their CUSA Championship Game hopes alive. The matchup features the conference’s best and worst teams in terms of penalties as WKU leads CUSA and ranks in the top 10 nationally in fewest penalties and penalty yards per game, while Liberty ranks in the bottom 10 in FBS in both categories. The Tops have allowed 270 yards per game on the ground in the last two weeks, which could spell danger against Liberty’s top-five rushing offense (249.8).
UTEP (2-8, 2-5 CUSA) AT NO. 11 TENNESSEE (8-2, 5-2 TENNESSEE)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: Noon CT
Location: Knoxville, Tenn. (Neyland Stadium)
Broadcast: SEC Network+
Announcers: Lowell Galindo (PxP), Fozzy Whittaker (Analyst), Marilyn Payne (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Tennessee leads 1-0
The Miners make their first trip to Neyland Stadium since 2018 on the heels of a thrilling, 43-35 double-overtime victory over Kennesaw State. In his first game back since leaving the LA Tech game early, UTEP quarterback
Skyler Locklear posted career bests in touchdowns (four), yards (327) and completions (28) on his way to CUSA Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Miners are led by a defensive front that leads CUSA and ranks in the top 35 nationally in sacks (2.50) and tackles for loss (7.1).
NM STATE (2-8, 1-5 CUSA) AT MTSU (3-7, 2-4 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 1:30 p.m. CT
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Nolan Alexander (PxP), Barclay Miller (Analyst)
All-Time Series: NM State leads 3-2
The Aggies return to conference play after wrapping up their non-conference slate against Texas A&M last weekend, and the Blue Raiders prepare to celebrate Senior Day in their final home tilt of the season. MTSU enters with the second-best passing offense in the league (260.0) and matches up with a NM State squad that has allowed the most passing yards per game (256.5) this year. In their last two conference games, the Aggies have averaged 273.5 yards per game on the ground with four rushing scores, while the Blue Raiders have allowed the most yards on the ground in the league (207.5) on the year.
FIU (3-7, 2-4 CUSA) AT KENNESAW STATE (1-9, 1-5 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Fifth Third Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Nolan Alexander (PxP), Barclay Miller (Analyst), Maria Martin (Reporter)
All-Time Series: First meeting
Saturday marks the first meeting between the Panthers and the Owls, the first-year members of CUSA. Both teams are especially starved for a victory as Kennesaw State is coming off back-to-back overtime losses, while FIU has come up short in its last three road CUSA contests by an average of just 6.3 points. Both teams come in with improved offenses in recent weeks as the Panthers have topped 30 points and 400 yards of total offense in the last two games, and the Owls have averaged nearly 285 yards of total offense and 23.25 points in the last four games, compared to 228 yards and 13 points per game in the first six games.
LA TECH (4-6, 3-4 CUSA) AT ARKANSAS (5-5, 3-4 SEC)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 3 p.m. CT
Location: Fayetteville, Ark. (Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium)
Broadcast: SEC Network+
Announcers: Matt Schumacker (PxP), Dustin Fox (Analyst)
All-Time Series: Arkansas leads 3-0
For the first time since 2016 and just the third time in the last 28 years, the Bulldogs head to Fayetteville with an upset on the mind after their previous two trips resulted in losses by just five total points. LA Tech kept its bowl game hopes alive with an upset of WKU and will need to come up with another one against the Razorbacks. The Bulldogs’ last two road contests have seen them surrender just eight points per game, shutting down some of the league’s most potent offenses in Sam Houston and WKU.