Conference USA Preview 2021
Our C-USA preview 2021 observes that of the Group of Five leagues this one is fourth-ranked. Of the 14 teams in C-USA about half will play in bowl contests. The East Division is crowded at the top with the two major contenders being the Florida Atlantic Owls and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Plus, the Marshall Thundering Herd are expected to be on their heels. In the West Division, the best team looks to be the UAB Blazers. Of the other half-dozen teams in the division, the UTSA Roadrunners will likely be their major competitors.
C-USA Preview 2021 – Team Profiles and Standings
Our C-USA preview 2021 observes that when it comes to East versus West that in this league the West has the upper hand. We project that UAB will play FAU for the C-USA Championship and that the Blazers will take down the Owls. Games to pay attention to during the season include UTSA at Illinois (Sep. 4). The Roadrunners upset Baylor in 2017 and could do the same to the Fighting Illini in 2021. On Sep 11, UAB is at Georgia. The Blazers are the 2020 conference champs and will want to make a statement regarding the Bulldogs.
Indiana plays WKU on Sep. 25. As the Hilltoppers come off a 2020 season where they underperformed, a win against a Power Five team would be huge. There’s precedent, as in 2019 WKU hammered Arkansas 45-19. On Oct. 2, a strong Liberty team visits UAB. The Flames bring a highly productive offense which will have to contend with an extremely stingy UAB defense. The Nov. 6 matchup between Marshall and FAU will go a long way in determining the C-USA East title.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers play in three contests that will be instrumental in deciding which team finishes on top of the East. The Hilltoppers battle UTSA on Oct. 9, Florida Atlantic on Nov. 20, and Marshall on Nov. 27. Marshall took the crown last year and has won the last four meetings.
C-USA East
Our C-USA preview 2021 sees four teams in the East as having a shot at the top spot, including the FAU Owls. Plus, the WKU Hilltoppers, Marshall Thundering Herd, and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders will all have something to say regarding who finishes first. We do expect all of those teams to have shots at bowl berths. On the other hand, the FIU Panthers, Charlotte 49ers, and Old Dominion Monarchs will be hard pressed to record winning marks.
1. Florida Atlantic Owls
This team has a solid chance at the East Division title. Coach Willie Taggart starts his second season at the helm in search of a starting quarterback. Penn State transfer Michael Johnson Jr. will likely start. The major question is can FAU receivers come through? The rush attack, which includes USF transfer Johnny Ford, is three-to-four deep and the strength of the offense. On defense, the Owls have the best linebacking unit in C-USA, and their secondary isn’t far behind. The D-line is held together by Jaylen Joyner who notched six sacks last season. They must face both UAB and WKU on the road.
2. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
WKU is looking to rebound from a 2020 regular season record of 5-6. The problem was on offense they scored 19.0 PPG. Four players, including QB Bailey Zappe and three receivers, followed new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley from FCS Houston Baptist to WKU. It’s hoped the new guys will upgrade the attack. Both O-line and rush attack are questionable. The Hilltoppers bring the top C-USA defensive line to the field. Three-of-four frontline starters return, including lynchpin DE DeAngelo Malone (5 SCKs, 6 TFL, 9 QBH). The deep backs are questionable. They play a big game versus FAU on Nov. 20.
3. Marshall Thundering Herd
Our C-USA preview 2021 finds that the Herd could be the top team in this division. However, their schedule includes FAU on the road and UAB and WKU at home. Those three games occur in the last four weeks of the season. QB Grant Wells returns after a premium 2020 season. The receiving corps and O-line are top-notch, but the rush attack loses Brenden Knox. The defense will be challenged after losing Tavante Beckett and Darius Hodge. The best part of the Marshall D is the line.
4. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Last season, the Blue Raiders averaged just 22.9 PPG. The offense should perform better, as NC State starter Bailey Hockman arrives to take over the signal-calling chores. Last season, he threw for over 2,000 yards while hitting for 13 TDs. Hockman is a major upgrade who will throw to four seasoned receivers. Our C-USA preview 2021 likes the rushing unit too. But the O-line is problematic. The major question for this team is its defense, which last season allowed 35.4 PPG. Safeties Reed Blakenship and Gregory Grate, both All-C-USA selections, return. They’re the anchors for a group that definitely needs as much help as it can get upfront.
5. Florida International Panthers
Our C-USA preview 2021 notes that Florida International is thin on both sides of the ball. Last season, their PF/PA differential was -10.0. Although the Panthers have senior D’vonte Price leading the rushing unit, which is four deep, the line is inexperienced and lacks depth. Plus, there are concerns at quarterback. On defense, the Panthers have one of the best secondaries in the conference. However, there are holes in the front seven.
6. Charlotte 49ers
Last season, QB Chris Reynolds connected on just 54.9 percent of his passes while tossing eight TDs and two INTs. An uptick in performance will help. Plus, All-C-USA second-team receiver Victor Tucker is back. Still, the receiving group is thin, as is the rush attack and O-line. Can Iowa transfer Shadrick Byrd make a difference at running back? The defense sees some solid veterans come back, including Markees Watts, who played little last season due to injury. There’s promise, as in 2019 he made 9.5 sacks. LB Tyler Murray, who made 49 tackles and two picks, is solid. Safety Jon Alexander, a transfer from Kansas State, should help upgrade the secondary.
7. Old Dominion Monarchs
First-year coach Ricky Rahne comes in to coach a team that due to COVID saw no action last season. The prior season, the Monarchs were 1-11. Old Dominion has concerns regarding every unit. There’s some experience at QB, as Stone Smart and Hayden Wolff return. Still, the receivers are inexperienced, and the unit is thin. Elijah Davis offers solid rushing chops, but the offensive line is worrisome. On defense, there’s some talent in the secondary, while the front seven are a concern.
C-USA West
Our C-USA preview 2021 sees one team in this division outpacing all the others. The UAB Blazers, who won the C-USA title last year beating Marshall 22-13, play three games that could determine where they finish. FAU plays UAB on Oct. 9. This could be a preview of the C-USA title matchup. The Blazers are at the Thundering Herd on Nov. 13. Note, this game as well as the FAU contest will have a big impact on the race to win the East. Finally, the game between the UTSA Roadrunners and Blazers on Nov. 20 has the number two and one rated teams in the West facing off. Might this contest determine the C-USA West?
1. UAB Blazers
The Blazers return two experienced QBs, Bryson Lucero and Tyler Johnson. Lucero saw more reps last season, but Johnson comes back with a better completion percentage, fewer interceptions, and having made better decisions under pressure. UAB’s tight ends offer offensive variety, while wideout Trea Shropshire, who averaged 22.1 YPC last season, has solid potential. Although top rusher Spencer Brown is gone, there’s depth in that unit, which includes Dewayne McBride who averaged 9.3 YPA while scoring four times. The offensive line is experienced and able. The defense will use transfers to upgrade their edge rushing while the D-line has sound experience and skilled defenders. Our C-USA preview 2021 sees the linebacking and secondary units as the best in the conference. Strong safety Kristopher Moll, a premium defender, returns for his fifth season.
2. UTSA Roadrunners
UTSA returns 10 starters on offense and is in good shape when it comes to the ground game and frontline. Last season, RB Sincere McCormick is back after rushing for 1,467 yards and 11 TDs. QB Frank Harris, whose performance improved over the course of the season, is a dual threat. In 2020, he threw for 1,630 yards and rushed for 528 more. Harris threw 12 TD passes and rushed for nine more scores. He tossed a half-dozen picks. The two top receivers from last season are back. The D-line and LB unit look solid. In front, NG Jaylon Haynes has a lot of promise but must stay healthy, while DT Brandon Matterson is a quarterback threat. Last season, Mississippi transfer Charles Wiley led UTSA in tackles for a loss. Additionally, safety Rashad Wisdom, who was first-team All-C-USA, topped the team in tackles and interceptions with 95 and four respectively. This is a fine team on both sides of the ball.
3. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Our C-USA preview 2021 notes that for Louisiana Tech to be competitive, they’ll have to do something about their 2020 PF/PA differential of -8.0. The quarterback looks to be Luke Anthony who tossed 16 TD passes and five picks. The receiving group is fine but does not have a true playmaker. The rush attack will utilize Appalachian State transfer Marcus Williams Jr. as the primary running back. He was unspectacular at ASU. The frontline is inexperienced and lacks depth. On defense, top pass rusher from 2019 Willie Baker returns after missing all of 2020. LBs Trey Baldwin and Tyler Grubbs and All-C-USA safety BeeJay Williamson are the anchors on this side of the ball.
4. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
West Virginia transfer Trey Lowe III, a sophomore, will likely start at quarterback for Southern Miss. Four of the team’s top-five receivers return, including Jason Brownlee who caught 34 passes and scored five times. Last season, his first, running back Frank Gore Jr. finished fourth in the conference in rushing yards with 708. Gore scored two times while averaging 5.9 YPA. He also scored one receiving TD. The offensive line includes some solid, experienced talent. Of the 22 defensive players who experienced a minimum of 50 snaps last season, 21 return. That means there’s plenty of depth and that a lot of positions are up for grabs. The biggest returning names are two guys who did not play last season, LB Racheem Boothe (opted out) and CB Rachuan Mitchell (injury). They’re skilled, talented, and hugely experienced.
5. North Texas Mean Green
As it was for the Mean Green last year, the same should be true this season. Expect this team to put an offense on the field that can score points (they were the top-ranked offense in the conference last season), and a defense that cannot stop opponents from scoring (they were 13th-ranked). In 2020, North Texas averaged 34.4 PPG on offense and 42.8 PPG on defense. QB Austin Aune tossed 13 TD passes and four interceptions. He’ll need to find consistency this season. Meanwhile, premium wideout Jaelon Darden is off to the NFL, which means Deonte Simpson, who grabbed 25 passes for 349 yards and four scores, will have to step up. The running game is solid, and the offensive line is sound. On the other hand, the defense, which has an entirely revamped coaching staff, needs to improve its game. MLB K.D. Davis, who’s led the team in tackles the past two seasons, is the anchor on this side of the ball.
6. Rice Owls
In the past five seasons, Rice has won 11 games and lost 43. Last season, the Owls defense allowed just 18.8 PPG. However, their offense averaged merely 23.4 PPG. Although Rice only played five games, they still posted a losing mark of 2-3. Expect the Owls to transform from emphasizing a running offense to a passing offense that opens up the field more. QB is up for grabs, but Wiley Green is the leading contender. This season, the exceptionally versatile Jordan Meyers will move effortlessly from running back, to tight end, and to wideout. That will keep opponent defenses on their toes. The ground game is questionable while the line is experienced but lacking. The defense returns eight with starting experience. Nose tackle De’Braylon Carroll, who recorded 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL, and two QBH, is the glue in front. MLB Antonio Montero is a force, but others need to do more for this defense to get the job done.
7. UTEP Miners
We expect the Miners will struggle, as they have in the past five years. Last season, at 3-5, they had one of their better seasons. The three prior years they averaged 0.67 wins per season. QB Gavin Hardison is back. Last year, he threw five TD passes and five picks, hitting 54.3 percent of his passes. Hopefully, he can step up his game while tossing to the team’s top-three receivers from last season. Running back Deion Hankins, who had nine touchdowns in 2020, can pound the ball. The offensive line is seasoned and good. The frontline is the best part of this defense. Last year’s line, which was composed of junior college transfers, played exceptionally well. They’re back. DE Praise Amaewhule is a major talent. Last season, he recorded, seven sacks, nine PBU, and four QBH. With 54 tackles in 2020, MLB Tyrice Knight is the top returning tackler. The secondary needs more picks. Over the past two seasons, there has been a dearth of interceptions.
2021 Bowl Matchups
Armed Forces Bowl: UTSA vs Baylor
Bahamas Bowl: WKU vs Ball State
Boca Raton Bowl: UAB vs Coastal Carolina
First Responder Bowl: Marshall vs San Diego State
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs BYU
Lending Tree Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs Troy
New Orleans Bowl: FAU vs Louisiana
C-USA Preview 2021 – Final Thoughts
Our C-USA preview 2021 acknowledges that there’s quite a bit of separation between the top of each division and the second tier. Still, the top four in the East could finish in any order. Marshall and FAU are especially competitive. Although we picked the Owls to come in first, it could go either way. On the other hand, the Blazers are top dogs in the West and in C-USA. UTSA will contend with them for number one.