Conference USA quietly had a very solid 2017. Not only did FAU win 11 games, but nine teams in the league earned a bowl bid, plus UTSA was eligible at 6-5 and missed out. The league was very deep, and it should be again in 2018.
At the top, there are several experienced teams. C-USA has six of the 17 most experienced teams in the nation, according to Phil Steele, and eight teams are among the nation’s top 30 in returning starters (Marshall, Charlotte, North Texas, Middle Tennessee, UAB, Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech and FAU). At media days, the coaches of those teams were feeling quite optimistic.
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It will be tough for the league to earn the Group of 5 New Year’s Six bowl bid, in part because of the depth and in part because of FAU’s difficult schedule, but this should be an exciting season with several teams that could win their division.
Predicted order of finish
Championship game: Florida Atlantic over North Texas
Predicting the East Division
Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin must pick a quarterback between De’Andre Johnson and Chris Robison. Both have big upside, but they need to take care of the ball. Running back Devin Singletary is a beast, but FAU must fill some holes on the line. A defense that had 20 interceptions last year brings back 10 starters. With new coordinators on both sides and six road games against teams that made bowl games (including Oklahoma and UCF), there are questions, but Kiffin hasn’t lost a C-USA game yet.
Marshall basically has everything back from last year’s 8-5 bounce-back season, except at quarterback. Graduate transfer Alex Thomson comes from Wagner with a lot of hype, and new offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey had the best offense in the FCS last year at Sam Houston State. Marshall gets FAU at home and is best positioned to knock off the Owls.
If quarterback Brent Stockstill stays healthy, Middle Tennessee could navigate a tough schedule that includes three SEC teams. Over the past two seasons, MTSU is 11-5 with Stockstill and 4-6 without him. The Blue Raiders open conference play with games against FAU and at Marshall, and that should determine if they’ll contend for the East or not.
This is the most experienced team in Old Dominion’s short history, and even with Ray Lawry gone, the Monarchs should have an improved running game with seniors Jeremy Cox and Kesean Strong, sophomore Brandon Sinclair and incoming freshmen Lala Davis and Will Knight running behind a line that returns all five starters. The defense will be led by Oshane Ximines, who had a school-record 8.5 sacks last year.
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Western Kentucky ranked dead last nationally in rushing in 2017 and didn’t have a single run of at least 20 yards. It went from one of the best offenses in the country to one of the worst in Mike Sanford’s first year as head coach. That offense returns only three starters. It’s hard to see a huge rebound, and non-conference games at Wisconsin and Louisville will make getting to a bowl game a challenge.
Butch Davis’ eight-win debut season at Florida International was a stunner, but the Panthers could come crashing down after losing a number of key players to graduation. Davis is confident in the recruiting talent he’s bringing in, but it might not be ready in 2018.
Will new coordinators on both sides be enough for Charlotte head coach Brad Lambert to save his job? Since moving to FBS in 2015, the 49ers are 7-29. Charlotte brings back 18 starters, so he’ll have experience to work with, but this is the year the program needs to show marked improvement.
Predicting the West Division
Seth Littrell has reached two bowl games in two seasons at North Texas, with a West Division title last year. The offense needs to find answers in the running game, but quarterback Mason Fine is the best passer in the league. Last year’s defense finished No. 110 in scoring, but it will have experience with eight starters back. FAU outscored North Texas 110-48 in two games and outgained the Mean Green 1,437-857 in total yards. UNT hosts FAU on Nov. 15 this season, and they could have another rematch in the Conference USA championship game.
In its second season back from the dead, UAB is a legitimate contender. Running back Spencer Brown rushed for 1,329 yards as a freshman, and eight starters return on offense, with a new coordinator in Bryant Vincent. The defense was in the middle of the pack a year ago and will be led by a veteran secondary.
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Skip Holtz will have the same starting quarterback in consecutive seasons for the first time in his six years at Louisiana Tech, and there’s reason to expect J’Mar Smith to have a big season with eight offensive starters back. On defense, sophomore cornerback Amik Robertson is a rising star. The Bulldogs open conference play at North Texas and at home against UAB, two huge games in the West Division race.
Senior quarterback Kwadra Griggs was suspended indefinitely early in fall camp, adding more uncertainty to a Southern Miss offense full of new starters. The defense returns just three starters and has a new defensive coordinator in the promoted Tim Billings. Non-conference games against Louisiana Monroe and Appalachian State could determine if the Golden Eagles reach a bowl game.
UTSA lost most of its top offensive talent and a huge chunk of its coaching staff. Last year’s defense finished No. 8 nationally in scoring, but coordinator Pete Golding was hired by Alabama and defensive end Marcus Davenport was a first-round NFL pick. Still, recruiting under head coach Frank Wilson has been strong, and there should be more depth. Non-conference games at Arizona State, home against Baylor and at Kansas State could determine if the Roadrunners can get to a bowl game.
New head coach Mike Bloomgren will try to bring the run-first Stanford offense to Rice. The good news is he might have some running backs. The bad news is there’s little else on offense. This rebuild will take a few years.
UTEP was the only winless team in the FBS last year, and there’s not much reason to expect a quick turnaround. New head coach Dana Dimel says he’ll bring a positive attitude and work on the small victories first. There might not be many victories on the field in his first season. Expect to see a lot of offensive concepts similar to the ones Dimel used at Kansas State.
Players to know
Marshall WR Tyre Brady: A big-play threat who had 942 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, Brady should benefit from an adjusted offensive scheme.
Louisiana Tech CB Amik Robertson: Robertson intercepted five passes and deflected six more as a freshman last year.
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UAB RB Spencer Brown: Brown rushed for 1,329 yards as a true freshman, including more than 850 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus.
Rising assistant
Marshall offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey: Cramsey began his college coaching career at New Hampshire working under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. He begins in his third stint as an FBS offensive coordinator, previously getting one year at FIU and one year at Nevada before head coaching changes. The 42-year-old directed the top-scoring FCS offense at Sam Houston State last year and led strong offenses at Montana State from 2013 to 2015. Marshall head coach Doc Holliday opted to make a coordinator change and bring in Cramsey. With a deep pool of experienced talent all over the Marshall offense, Cramsey’s first year in Huntington could be a big one.
