DALLAS – Week three of the Conference USA football schedule brings the 23^rd meeting of the Shula Bowl between FIU and Florida Atlantic, as well as crucial road games for MTSU (at Nevada), Liberty (at Bowling Green), Jax State (at Georgia Southern) and 2-0 New Mexico State (at LA Tech). The weekend slate also includes big-time home games for the league’s newest members as Delaware hosts UConn and Missouri State welcomes ACC foe SMU.
 
UCONN (1-1) AT DELAWARE (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Newark, Del. (Delaware Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Scott Klatzkin (PxP), Fritz Stueber (Analyst)
All-Time Series: Delaware leads 20-7
 
Delaware’s arrival at the FBS level rekindles the series between the two schools, who last met in 1998. The Fightin’ Blue Hens have largely dominated the rivalry with wins in 16 of the last 20 meetings, including each of the last five, and a 12-2 mark in Newark. Quarterback Nick Minicucci is coming off a career-high 312 passing yards in a loss at Colorado and looks to feast on a Huskies defense that has allowed 272.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 117^th in FBS.
 
SMU (1-1) AT MISSOURI STATE (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Springfield, Mo. (Robert W. Plaster Stadium)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (PxP), Taylor McHargue (Analyst), Brandon Marcello (Reporter)
All-Time Series: First meeting
 
Perhaps the best storyline about the first meeting of the Mustangs and the Bears comes in the press box, where 45-year radio voice of Missouri State, Art Hains, will call his final game for the Bears against his alma mater. Quarterback Jacob Clark is fresh off a 359-yard, three-touchdown performance in a comeback victory over Marshall and will look to capitalize on an SMU defense that ranks toward the bottom of FBS in passing and scoring defense.
 
UTEP (1-1) AT NO. 7 TEXAS (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 3:15 p.m. CT
Location: Austin, Texas (DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium)
Broadcast: SEC Network
Announcers: Dave Neal (PxP), Fozzy Whittaker (Analyst), Morgan Uber (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Texas leads 6-0
 
The matchup pits two of the top five quarterbacks of the Class of 2023 as No. 5 recruit Malachi Nelson leads the Miners against No. 1 recruit Arch Manning and the Longhorns. Nelson has settled in at UTEP, averaging 228 yards per game with five touchdowns to just one interception in two games. The Miners’ “Wefense” will look to create havoc on Manning, coming into the game as the nation’s leader in tackles for loss (11.5) and the runner-up in sacks (5.00).
 
LIBERTY (1-1) AT BOWLING GREEN (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio (Doyt L. Perry Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Michael Reghi (PxP), Marcus Ray (Analyst)
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1
 
Liberty looks to improve on its 5-2 record against MAC opponents since moving up to the FBS in 2018. The game provides an opportunity for the Liberty defense to bounce back from a loss to Jax State as the Falcons rank 92^nd in passing offense, 114^th in red-zone offense and 119^th in sacks allowed. Quarterback Ethan Vasko looks to build on a 335-yard performance – the first by a Flames’ quarterback since Dec. 1, 2023. 
 
MTSU (0-2) AT NEVADA (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Reno, Nevada (Mackay Stadium)
Broadcast: Mountain West Network
Announcers: Alex Marguiles (PxP), Lucas Weber (Analyst), Mike Stefansson (Reporter)
All-Time Series: First meeting
 
The Blue Raiders continue their road swing against Mountain West foe Nevada, which marks the furthest West they’ve played in the contiguous United States in their 111-year history. Looking to avoid starting 0-3 for the first time since 2020, MTSU will continue to lean on disciplined play as they rank 21^st nationally in fewest penalties per game and 23^rd in turnovers lost (1), while maintaining a perfect conversion percentage in the red zone (4-4).  
 
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (1-1) AT FIU (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Miami, Fla. (Pitbull Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Steve Goldstein (PxP), Kim Bokamper (Analyst)
All-Time Series: Florida Atlantic leads 17-4
 
First-year head coach Willie Simmons gets his first shot at the Owls in the Shula Bowl as the Panthers seek their first Shula Bowl victory since 2016 – the last time a first-year FIU coach won the Shula Bowl in his first attempt (Ron Cooper). While the Panthers have yet to record an interception, the talented secondary led by cornerback Brian Blades II are poised to get on the box score against an FAU offense that has thrown an FBS-high six interceptions.
 
MERRIMACK (1-1) AT KENNESAW STATE (0-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Fifth Third Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Nolan Alexander (PxP), Caleb O’Neal (Analyst), Jade Barkett (Reporter)
All-Time Series: First meeting
 
Still in search of the first victory of the Jerry Mack era, the Owls begin a four-game homestand against FCS foe Merrimack. Despite the early losses, Kennesaw State has seen some bright spots throughout the stat sheet. Wide receiver Gabriel Benyard leads the team with 154 yards on just seven receptions. Quarterback Amari Odom got a shot under center against Indiana and completed 10-16 passes for 176 yards. Freshman kicker Daniel Kinney is a perfect 4-4 on field goals, including a 50-yarder against the Hoosiers.
 
JAX STATE (1-1) AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (0-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Statesboro, Ga. (Allen E. Paulson Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Danny Waugh (PxP), Jayson Foster (Analyst), Whitney Haworth (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Georgia Southern leads 4-0
 
The Gamecocks head across the state line to face the Eagles for the first time since 2002. In last week’s win over Liberty, Jax State racked up 338 rushing yards and scored multiple rushing touchdowns for the 12^th time in the last 13 games. The ground attack has been led by Cam Cook, who has averaged 135 yards with two touchdowns over two weeks. The ground game should find even more success against GSU, which ranks last in FBS in rushing defense (330.0).
 
NM STATE (2-0) AT LA TECH (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Ruston, La. (Joe Aillet Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Malcolm Butler (PxP), Luke McCown (Analyst), Madison Kaufman (Reporter)
All-Time Series: LA Tech leads 8-6
 
While the Bulldogs lead the all-time series, the Aggies have captured both meetings as fellow CUSA members and each matchup has been decided by three points. Last year’s contest was a double-overtime thriller that ended on a blocked field goal and capped a 33-30 NMSU win. The matchup pits two of the nation’s top 30 scoring defenses (NMSU – 13^th; LA Tech – 30^th).
 
The Aggies enter as the only undefeated team in CUSA and are in search of their first 3-0 start since 1999 and just the third 3-0 start since 1975. NM State is one of just six programs to rank in the top five in red zone defense and boast a perfect conversion rate in red zone offense.
 
The Bulldogs join USF as the only two programs with three players in the top 50 nationally in tackles per game: Mekhi Mason (18th, 10.0), Kolbe Fields (25th, 9.5) and Sifa Leota (42nd, 8.5). Mason also leads the nation in tackles for loss (3.00) and ranks fifth in sacks (1.50).