2023 Conference USA football season

The 2023 Conference USA football season will be the 28th season of college football play for Conference USA (C-USA). The season will begin on August 26, 2023, and conclude with the Conference Championship Game on December 2, 2023.[1] The conference will consist of nine members and will be part of the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

2023 Conference USA football season
LeagueNCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
SportFootball
DurationAugust 26, 2023, to December 2, 2023
Number of teams9
2024 NFL Draft
Regular Season
Conference USA Championship Game
2023 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
FIU  0 0   0 0  
Jacksonville State*  0 0   0 0  
Liberty  0 0   0 0  
Louisiana Tech  0 0   0 0  
Middle Tennessee  0 0   0 0  
New Mexico State  0 0   0 0  
Sam Houston*  0 0   0 0  
UTEP  0 0   0 0  
Western Kentucky  0 0   0 0  
Championship: December 2023
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules
As of May 16, 2023
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

During the 2022 season, the UTSA Roadrunners posted the best record in the regular season. UTSA and North Texas advanced to the championship game, where UTSA won by a score of 48–27.

Conference realignment

Prior to the 2023 season, Conference USA saw substantial realignment, with six schools leaving the conference to join the American Athletic Conference: UTSA, North Texas, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Rice, and UAB.[2] Conference USA then invited four schools to join: Liberty and New Mexico State, who were both previously FBS independents; Jacksonville State, who were previously in the ASUN Conference at the NCAA Division I FCS level; and Sam Houston, who were previously in the Western Athletic Conference also at the Division I FCS level.[3] The realignment left C-USA with nine football members for the 2023 season. C-USA further announced that Kennesaw State, another member of the ASUN Conference, would move up beginning in 2024.[4]

Both Jacksonville State and Sam Houston are ineligible for both the conference championship and for bowl games due to their transition from the FCS level to FBS level.

Head Coaches

Note: All stats shown are before the start of the 2023 season.

Team Head Coach Years at School Overall Record Record at School CUSA Record
FIU Mike MacIntyre 2 50–73 4–8 2–6
Jacksonville State Rich Rodriguez 2 172–121–2 9–2 0–0
Liberty Jamey Chadwell 1 99–57 0–0 0–0
Louisiana Tech Sonny Cumbie 2 5–12 3–9 2–6
Middle Tennessee Rick Stockstill 18 109–103 109–103 79–53
New Mexico State Jerry Kill 2 165–110 7–6 0–0
Sam Houston K. C. Keeler 10 259–100–1 85–27 0–0
UTEP Dana Dimel 6 47–79 17–40 8–28
Western Kentucky Tyson Helton 5 32–21 32–21 23–8

Rankings

 PreWk
1
Wk
2
Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Final
FIU AP
C
CFP Not released
Jacksonville State AP
C
CFP Not released
Liberty AP
C
CFP Not released
Louisiana Tech AP
C
CFP Not released
Middle Tennessee AP
C
CFP Not released
New Mexico State AP
C
CFP Not released
Sam Houston AP
C
CFP Not released
UTEP AP
C
CFP Not released
Western Kentucky AP
C
CFP Not released
Legend
    Improvement in ranking
  Drop in ranking
  Not ranked previous week
  No change in ranking from previous week
RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

Schedule

Index to colors and formatting
C-USA member won
C-USA member lost
C-USA teams in bold

The 2023 schedule was released on January 10, 2023.[1]

All times Eastern time.

Week 0

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
August 26 FIU Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA    
August 26 UTEP Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL    
August 26 UMass New Mexico State Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 1

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2 Maine FIU Riccardo Silva StadiumWestchester, FL    
September 2 East Tennessee State Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL    
September 2 Louisiana Tech SMU Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX    
September 2 Bowling Green Liberty Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA    
September 2 Middle Tennessee Alabama Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL    
September 2 Western Illinois New Mexico State Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM    
September 2 Sam Houston BYU LaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UT    
September 2 Incarnate Word UTEP Sun BowlEl Paso, TX    
September 2 South Florida Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 2

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 9 North Texas FIU Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, FL    
September 9 Jacksonville State Coastal Carolina Brooks StadiumConway, SC    
September 9 Northwestern State Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA    
September 9 New Mexico State Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA    
September 9 Middle Tennessee Missouri Faurot FieldColumbia, MO    
September 9 Air Force Sam Houston NRG StadiumHouston, TX    
September 9 UTEP Northwestern Ryan FieldEvanston, IL    
September 9 Houston Christian Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 3

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16 FIU UConn Rentschler FieldEast Hartford, CT    
September 16 North Texas Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA    
September 16 Liberty Buffalo UB StadiumAmherst, NY    
September 16 Murray State Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN    
September 16 New Mexico State New Mexico University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM (Rio Grande Rivalry)    
September 16 UTEP Arizona Arizona StadiumTucson, AZ    
September 16 Western Kentucky Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 4

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 23 Eastern Michigan Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL    
September 23 Louisiana Tech Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE    
September 23 Colorado State Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN    
September 23 New Mexico State Hawaii Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HI    
September 23 Sam Houston Houston TDECU StadiumHouston, TX    
September 23 UNLV UTEP Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX    
September 23 Western Kentucky Troy Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 5

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 28 Liberty FIU Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, FL    
September 28 Jacksonville State Sam Houston Bowers StadiumHuntsville, TX    
September 28 Middle Tennessee Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY (100 Miles of Hate)    
September 29 Louisiana Tech UTEP Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 6

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 4 Jacksonville State Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN    
October 5 FIU New Mexico State Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM    
October 5 Western Kentucky Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA    
October 5 Sam Houston Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 7

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 10 Louisiana Tech Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN    
October 10 Liberty Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL    
October 11 UTEP FIU Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, FL    
October 11 Sam Houston New Mexico State Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 8

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 17 Western Kentucky Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL    
October 17 Middle Tennessee Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA    
October 18 FIU Sam Houston Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX    
October 18 New Mexico State UTEP Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX (Battle of I-10)    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 9

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 24 New Mexico State Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA    
October 24 Liberty Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY    
October 25 Jacksonville State FIU Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, FL    
October 25 UTEP Sam Houston Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 10

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 4 Jacksonville State South Carolina Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC    
November 4 Louisiana Tech Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA    
November 4 Middle Tennessee New Mexico State Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM    
November 4 Kennesaw State Sam Houston Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX    
November 4 Western Kentucky UTEP Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 11

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 11 FIU Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN    
November 11 Sam Houston Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA    
November 11 Old Dominion Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA    
November 11 New Mexico State Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 12

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 18 FIU Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR    
November 18 Louisiana Tech Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL    
November 18 UMass Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA    
November 18 UTEP Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN    
November 18 New Mexico State Auburn Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL    
November 18 Sam Houston Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 13

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 25 Western Kentucky FIU Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, FL    
November 25 Jacksonville State New Mexico State Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM    
November 25 Liberty UTEP Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX    
November 25 Middle Tennessee Sam Houston Bower Stadium • Huntsville, TX    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Conference USA Championship Game

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
TBA    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Conference USA records vs other conferences

2023–2024 records against non-conference foes:

Power Conferences 5 Record
ACC 0–0
Big Ten 0–0
Big 12 0–0
Pac-12 0–0
Notre Dame 0–0
SEC 0–0
Power 5 Total 0–0
Other FBS Conferences Record
American 0–0
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame) 0–0
MAC 0–0
Mountain West 0–0
Sun Belt 0–0
Other FBS Total 0–0
FCS Opponents Record
Football Championship Subdivision 0–0
Total Non-Conference Record 0–0

Conference USA vs Power 5 matchups

This is a list of games C-USA has scheduled versus power conference teams (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, Notre Dame and SEC). All rankings are from the current AP Poll at the time of the game.


DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 2SECMiddle TennesseeAlabamaBryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL
September 2Big 12Sam HoustonBYULaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UT
September 9SECMiddle TennesseeMissouriFaurot FieldColumbia, MO
September 9Big TenUTEPNorthwesternRyan FieldEvanston, IL
September 16Pac-12UTEPArizonaArizona StadiumTucson, AZ
September 16Big TenWestern KentuckyOhio StateOhio StadiumColumbus, OH
September 23Big TenLouisiana TechNebraskaMemorial StadiumLincoln, NE
September 23Big 12Sam HoustonHoustonTDECU StadiumHouston, TX
November 4SECJacksonville StateSouth CarolinaWilliams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC
November 18SECFIUArkansasDonald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR
November 18SECNew Mexico StateAuburnJordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL

Conference USA vs Group of Five matchups

The following games include C-USA teams competing against teams from the American, MAC, Mountain West, or Sun Belt.

DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 2AmericanLouisiana TechSMUGerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX
September 2MACBowling GreenLibertyWilliams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA
September 2AmericanSouth FloridaWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY
September 9AmericanNorth TexasFIURiccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, FL
September 9Sun BeltJacksonville StateCoastal CarolinaBrooks StadiumConway, SC
September 9Mountain WestAir ForceSam HoustonNRG StadiumHouston, TX
September 16AmericanNorth TexasLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA
September 16MACLibertyBuffaloUB StadiumAmherst, NY
September 16Mountain WestNew Mexico StateNew MexicoUniversity StadiumAlbuquerque, NM
September 23MACEastern MichiganJacksonville StateBurgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL
September 23Mountain WestColorado StateMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN
September 23Mountain WestNew Mexico StateHawaiiClarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HI
September 23Mountain WestUNLVUTEPSun Bowl • El Paso, TX
September 23Sun BeltWestern KentuckyTroyVeterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL
November 11Sun BeltOld DominionLibertyWilliams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA

Conference USA vs FBS independents matchups

The following games include C-USA teams competing against FBS Independents, which includes Army, UConn, or UMass.

DateVisitorHomeSiteScore
August 26UMassNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM
September 16FIUUConnRentschler FieldEast Hartford, CT
November 18UMassLibertyWilliams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA

Conference USA vs FCS matchups


DateVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 2MaineFIURiccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, FL
September 2East Tennessee StateJacksonville StateBurgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL
September 2Western IllinoisNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM
September 2Incarnate WordUTEPSun Bowl • El Paso, TX
September 9Northwestern StateLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA
September 9Houston ChristianWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY
September 16Murray StateMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN
November 4Kennesaw StateSam HoustonBower Stadium • Huntsville, TX

Awards and honors

Player of the week honors

Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams
Player Team Position Player Team Position Player Team Position
Week 0

References

  1. "FB: C-USA Announces 2023 Schedule". conferenceusa.com. Conference USA. January 10, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  2. Jeyarajah, Shehan (July 15, 2022). "AAC to add six new member schools from Conference USA ahead of 2023 college football season". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  3. Vannini, Chris (November 5, 2021). "Conference USA adds Liberty, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, Jacksonville State". The Athletic. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  4. "C-USA Adds Kennesaw State, Owls to Join in 2024" (Press release). Conference USA. October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  5. Thamel, Pete (December 4, 2022). "Liberty hires Jamey Chadwell; sides agree to 7-year deal, sources say". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
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