DALLAS – Conference USA has announced that the 2026 CUSA Football Kickoff and Media Days are slated for July 20-21, at the Texas Live! Arena and the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center in Arlington, Texas.
CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod, as well as head coaches and players from each of the 10 CUSA programs will be on hand to discuss and preview the upcoming 2026 football season. The 2026 alignment will feature 10 teams: Delaware, FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and WKU.
CUSA is coming off a 2025 season that saw Kennesaw State capture the CUSA crown after defeating Jax State, 19-15. Additionally, seven of the league’s teams earned a bowl berth in Delaware, FIU, Jax State, Kennesaw State, LA Tech, Missouri State and WKU.
In addition to traditional press conferences and media availability on Tuesday, July 21 at the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center, all participants will take part in a live
ESPN+ show, hosted by ESPN’s
Mike Corey on Monday, July 20 within the Texas Live! Arena.
Among the student-athletes in attendance are reigning CUSA Defensive Player of the Year
Baron Hopson (Kennesaw State), First-Team All-CUSA safety
Caleb Nix (Jax State) and Second-Team All-CUSA quarterback
Nick Minicucci (Delaware).
Hopson finished as Kennesaw State’s leading tackler and led CUSA with 138 tackles, averaging 9.9 per game. Nix was second in Conference USA with four interceptions, recovered a league-best three fumbles and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns.
In 2025, Minicucci led CUSA in passing yards (3,683), completions (322), attempts (512), passing yards/game (283.3), total offense (3,918), total offense per game (301.4), and points responsible for (200).
The group also includes honorable mention nods
Shamir Sterlin (FIU),
Jeron Askren (Missouri State),
Derrell Farrar (Liberty) and
Jaylen Lewis (WKU). MTSU quarterback
Roman Gagliano represents the Blue Raiders after starting the final three games last year, including two wins, and finishing with 1,005 yards on 78 completions with seven touchdowns. NM State wideout
TK King averaged 107.63 all-purpose yards in eight starts for the Aggies in 2025. Sam Houston linebacker
Dean Ford finished second on the team with 6.5 TFL and added 35 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
WHO: CUSA Players and Head Coaches
WHAT: 2026 CUSA Football Kickoff and Media Day
WHEN: July 20-21, 2026
WHERE: Texas Live! Arena & Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center
| Team |
Head Coach |
Offensive Player |
Defensive Player |
| Delaware |
Ryan Carty |
QB Nick Minicucci |
DE Noah Matthews |
| FIU |
Willie Simmons |
QB JJ Kohl |
S Shamir Sterlin |
| Jax State |
Charles Kelly |
QB Caden Creel |
S Caleb Nix |
| Kennesaw State |
Jerry Mack |
OL Nikola Milovac |
LB Baron Hopson |
| Liberty |
Jamey Chadwell |
TE Caleb Ryan |
LB Derrell Farrar |
| Missouri State |
Casey Woods |
TE Jeron Askren |
LB Jared Lloyd |
| MTSU |
Derek Mason |
QB Roman Gagliano |
P Ashton Logan |
| NM State |
Tony Sanchez |
WR TK King |
DL Henry Davis |
| Sam Houston |
Phil Longo |
QB Landyn Locke |
LB Dean Ford |
| WKU |
Tyson Helton |
OL Karsten Upchurch |
S Jaylen Lewis |
ABOUT CONFERENCE USA
Conference USA is an NCAA Division I conference championing success in college athletics through dedicated leadership, dynamic partnership, and diverse membership. Founded in 1995 and based in Dallas, CUSA is home to 10 schools: Delaware, FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and WKU.
ABOUT TEXAS LIVE!
Texas Live! is a premier $250 million entertainment, dining, and hospitality destination located in the heart of Arlington, Texas. Developed in partnership between the Texas Rangers and The Cordish Companies, the 200,000-square-foot complex serves as a central hub for sports fans and visitors, situated directly between
AT&T Stadium and
Globe Life Field.
ABOUT LOEWS ARLINGTON HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER
Loews Arlington Hotel and Convention Center is a state-of-the-art, full-service meetings and resort destination that caters to groups of all sizes, as well as families who are looking for a world-class experience in the epicenter of the premier sports and entertainment district in the country. Centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth between iconic sports stadiums, Globe Life Field, home of the 2023 World Champion Texas Rangers and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, the 888-room resort features five restaurants and lounges, two pools with a man-made sandy beach, cabanas and a water slide as well as a fitness center, full-service spa and salon and 266,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Loews Arlington Hotel is the second Loews Hotel in Arlington, Texas, joining the iconic sports resort, Live! By Loews - Arlington. For more information and to make reservations, please
online or call (682) 318-2810.