Football

FB: Regular Season Wraps Up with Six Game Slate in Week 14

DALLAS – The Conference USA football regular season winds down with six games in Week 14, including a pair of contests that will determine the participants and host of the 2025 Air National Guard CUSA Championship Game. The winner between the Western Kentucky-Jacksonville State contest at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+ will host the game, while Kennesaw’s result against Liberty at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network could seal their fate in the game.
 
UTEP (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) AT DELAWARE (5-6, 3-4 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: Noon CT
Location: Newark, Del. (Delaware Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Scott Klatzkin (PxP), Pat Devlin (Analyst)
All-Time Series: First meeting
 
The first meeting between the Miners and Fightin’ Blue Hens pits the league’s top passing offense (Delaware, 301.36) against the No. 2 passing defense (UTEP, 213.73). However, in their last two losses to Missouri State and New Mexico State – two of the better passing offenses in CUSA – the Miners allowed the opposing quarterbacks to throw for a combined 606 yards and seven touchdowns. UTEP, which owns the fifth-best third-down defense in FBS (.294), was uncharacteristically lenient on leverage downs in those losses as well (.467).
 
FIU (6-5, 4-3 CUSA) AT SAM HOUSTON (2-9, 1-6 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: Noon CT
Location: Houston, Texas (Shell Energy Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Matt Pedersen (PxP), Jorge Vargas (Analyst), Brooke Kirchhofer (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Series tied 1-1
 
The teams’ two meetings have been decided by an average of 4.5 points, including a 33-27 double-overtime win by the Panthers in 2023 in Huntsville. FIU has won three straight and clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019 behind the performances of backup quarterback Joe Pesansky (751 total offense yards, 10 total touchdowns) and running back Kejon Owens (287 yds, 4 touchdowns) during that span. Both defenses can force mistakes as each rank 35th nationally with 17 turnovers gained and eight each in the last four games.
 
WKU (8-3, 6-1 CUSA) AT JAX STATE (7-4, 6-1 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Jacksonville, Ala. (AmFirst Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Eli Gold (PxP), Mickey Shadrix (Analyst), Taylor Korn (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Jax State leads 2-1
 
The undisputed “Game of the Week” holds all the marbles for hosting duties for the 2025 Air National Guard CUSA Championship Game. In a rematch of last year’s title game, the Hilltoppers return to AmFirst Stadium after a 52-12 loss last December.
 
WKU enters with the No. 19 passing offense (281.00) behind the recent success of Rodney Tisdale Jr., who is 3-0 in his last three starts against CUSA foes. The Gamecocks have surrendered 340 YPG to some of the league’s top passing offenses but are 3-0 in those games.
 
Jax State counters with the nation’s No. 4 rushing offense (259.18), thanks to FBS rushing leader Cam Cook (131.91). In the Hilltoppers’ lone league loss to FIU, they allowed 249 rushing yards to the Panthers.
 
LOUISIANA TECH (6-5, 4-3 CUSA) AT MISSOURI STATE (7-4, 5-2 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Springfield, Mo. (Robert W. Plaster Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Don West (PxP), Tom Mast (Analyst), Cierra Clark (Reporter)
All-Time Series: First meeting
 
The first meeting of the Bulldogs and Bears pits LA Tech’s tenacious secondary against one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Jacob Clark, who is 4-1 and averaging 281.2 YPG with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions in five games since returning from a brief injury. LA Tech ranks ninth in FBS in opponent QB rating (67.0), 11th in turnovers gained (21) and 31st in scoring defense (20.55). However, against four of the league’s top passing offenses, the Bulldogs are 1-3 and have allowed 275.5 YPG with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
 
MTSU (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) AT NEW MEXICO STATE (4-7, 2-5 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Las Cruces, N.M. (Aggie Memorial Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Adam Young (PxP), Danny Knee (Analyst), Kelly Horyczun (Reporter)
All-Time Series: NM State leads 2-0
 
Both without the services of their starting quarterbacks, the Blue Raiders and Aggies pulled off comeback victories in Week 13. MTSU’s Roman Gagliano has impressed in his first two collegiate starts, completing 60% (46-76) of his passes with 806 total yards, five total touchdowns and no turnovers. NM State will have something to say about the lack of turnovers as the Aggies have forced multiple turnovers in eight of their 11 games this season.  
 
KENNESAW STATE (8-3, 6-1 CUSA) AT LIBERTY (4-7, 3-4 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: John Sadak (PxP), Patrick Peterson (Analyst)
All-Time Series: Series tied 2-2
 
The Owls control their own destiny for title game scenarios with a win securing a visit to either Bowling Green or Jacksonville. One of the bigger matchups in this contest will occur in the trenches as Kennesaw State ranks 26th in FBS in tackles for loss (6.55), while Liberty allows just 4.82 tackles for loss per game – good for 40th in FBS. However, the Flames gave up a season-high eight TFL in a week 13 loss to LA Tech. Additionally, the Liberty defense ranks 32nd in passing yards allowed and has allowed just one 300-yard passer in its last 23 games.