DALLAS – Week four of the Conference USA football schedule brings five matchups against the Sun Belt Conference, kicking off with the Battle of the Blue Ridge between James Madison and Liberty at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU. The lone league game of the weekend pits two teams coming off pivotal wins in Delaware and FIU. Nevada and Texas are back on the CUSA slate against WKU and Sam Houston, respectively, and Jax State and Missouri State host FCS foes.
JAMES MADISON (1-1) AT LIBERTY (1-2, 0-1 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPNU
Announcers: Courtney Lyle (PxP), Rene Ingoglia (Analyst)
All-Time Series: James Madison leads 12-6
This year’s contest marks the return of the Battle of the Blue Ridge after the teams last met in 2014. The Flames are in search of their first-ever victory over the Dukes inside Williams Stadium, as Liberty’s last home win over JMU came on Sept. 30, 1989, less than a month before Williams Stadium opened. Discipline may be the name of the game as the Dukes come in ranked in the bottom 10 of FBS in penalties per game and penalty yards per game, while the Flames rank 32
nd nationally in both categories.
DELAWARE (2-1) AT FIU (2-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Miami, Fla. (Pitbull Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Steve Goldstein (PxP), Kim Bokamper (Analyst)
All-Time Series: First meeting
The first meeting of the Blue Hens and Panthers pits the league’s second-ranked passing offense (Delaware) against the league’s second-ranked rushing offense (FIU). The Panthers enter on a five-game home winning streak, including a 38-28 triumph over Shula Bowl rival Florida Atlantic last week, while the Blue Hens are coming off a 44-41 overtime victory over UConn. Both teams simultaneously rank in the top four in CUSA in red zone offense and red zone defense, setting that area of the field up to be the biggest X factor.
ARKANSAS STATE (1-2) AT KENNESAW STATE (1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Fifth Third Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Nolan Alexander (PxP), Caleb O’Neal (Analyst), Maria Martin (Reporter)
All-Time Series: First meeting
Owls head coach
Jerry Mack takes on his alma mater in the programs’ first meeting after securing his first win at the helm with a 27-13 victory over Merrimack last week. The Red Wolves also started the year with two P4 losses before winning over an FCS squad. Fresh off a contest in which Kennesaw State racked up a program-record 14 tackles for loss, the Owls – who rank 19
th nationally in the stats – should continue to apply pressure against an Arkansas State team that ranks 114
th in TFL allowed.
MURRAY STATE (0-3) AT JAX STATE (1-2, 1-0 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 6 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 17-2
The Gamecocks celebrate Homecoming against former Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State and look to extend their winning streak over the Racers to nine games. Jax State’s talented group of people movers up front have paved the way for the nation’s 18
th-ranked rushing offense (239.0), while ranking 26
th in FBS in sacks allowed per game (1.00). The backfield duo of running back
Cam Cook (130.0 YPG, 2 TD) and quarterback
Gavin Wimsatt (55.0 YPG, 3 TD) is poised to run the ball at will against Murray State.
MARSHALL (1-2) AT MTSU (1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Jake Rose (PxP), Jeremy Kellem (Analyst), Justin Beasley (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Marshall leads 6-5
The former CUSA foes square off for the first time since a 34-28 Blue Raiders triumph on Oct. 2, 2021. The game will be filled with pomp and circumstance as MTSU celebrates both Homecoming and its 2025 Hall of Fame Class, which includes the school’s record holder for career interceptions and current All-Pro safety for the Chicago Bears,
Kevin Byard II. The matchup should provide an opportunity for quarterback
Nicholas Vattiato to have a breakout game as the Thundering Herd rank 105
th in FBS in passing yards allowed (242.7).
UT MARTIN (0-3) AT MISSOURI STATE (1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 6 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: Missouri State leads 8-2
The Bears wrap up their non-conference slate against former FCS foe UT Martin on Family Weekend in Springfield. While Missouri State wound up on the wrong end of its game against SMU last weekend, the Bears managed to jump out to an early 10-0 lead. MSU has scored first in each of its three games and scored on its opening drive in two of the three contests. The Bears rank third in CUSA in both passing offense (274.0) and passing efficiency (141.4) and have managed to control the clock with the second-highest time of possession (32:51).
NEVADA (1-2) AT WKU (2-1, 1-0 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (Houchens Industries – L.T. Smith Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Tyler Eaton (PxP), Terry Obee (Analyst)
All-Time Series: First meeting
Fresh off a bye week, the Hilltoppers return to the gridiron to host Nevada, who is coming off a 14-13 loss to MTSU. WKU looks to defend its turf, having won eight of its last nine games at home. The matchup sets up favorably for quarterback
Maverick McIvor (313.7 YPG, 10 TD) and the Tops offense as the Wolfpack rank 110
th in FBS in passing yards allowed (258.3). It also presents an opportunity to reignite the Takeover Tops as UNR ranks 124
th in turnovers lost (7) and 128
th in interceptions thrown (5).
SOUTHERN MISS (2-1, 1-0 SBC) AT LA TECH (2-1, 1-0 CUSA)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
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: Southern Miss leads 36-17
Another meeting of former CUSA foes pits a pair of 2-1 squads that got off to conference play on the right foot and are looking to prove themselves as top G5 squads. At stake for the Bulldogs is their best four-game start since 2020 and their first 3-0 start at home since 2019. LA Tech put up a record-setting offensive performance last week, gaining the most yards in a half (406) by a CUSA squad dating back to 2012, and turns next to a Southern Miss defense that ranks 110
th in total defense (419.0) and 113
th in passing yards allowed (261.7).
SAM HOUSTON (0-3, 0-1 CUSA) AT NO. 8 TEXAS (2-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Austin, Texas (DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Clay Matvick (PxP), Chase Daniel (Analyst), Tori Petry (Reporter)
All-Time Series: Texas leads 1-0
The Bearkats make a three-hour trek over to the state’s capital to face the first ranked team in their FBS era. Sam Houston enjoyed a bye week this past week after a loss at Hawaii, while Texas mustered a sloppy win over UTEP to move to 2-1. Both squads come in ranked 32
nd in FBS with an average turnover margin of +0.67 with Sam Houston holding a slight edge in the department of turnovers lost (3 vs. Texas’ 4). Redshirt senior defensive back
Emon Allen has played a vital role in that with two interceptions and a forced fumble.
ULM (1-1) AT UTEP (1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 8 p.m. CT
Location: El Paso, Texas (Sun Bowl)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Andy Morgan (PxP), Ed Stansbury (Analyst)
All-Time Series: UTEP leads 1-0
The Miners kick off a three-game homestand against ULM, facing the Warhawks for the first time since a 31-6 victory in 2020. The matchup that jumps off the page between these teams is UTEP’s “Wefense” against the ULM offensive line. Through three games, the Miners rank in the top 10 in tackles for loss (9.3) and sacks (3.33), while the Warhawks rank dead last in tackles for loss allowed (10.00). Bandit
Udoka Ezeani’s 1.83 tackles for loss per game rank ninth nationally.