Conference USA Football Predictions 2020

By Tyler Smith
Conference USA always makes for tough predictions. Since 2012 we have previewed CUSA. In 2014 we had the most accurate Conference USA predictions according to the Stassen. 

East

#1 Charlotte 7-4 (6-1)

Picture
​Coach: Will Healy
Offensive Coordinator: Mark Carney
Defensive Coordinator: Brandon Cooper and Marcus West
Stadium: Jerry Richardson Stadium (15,314)
​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 7-6
​2018 5-7
​2017 1-11
2016 4-8
​2015 2-10

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Chris Reynolds, JR, QB
​
Rushing
Chris Reynolds, JR, QB

Receiving
Victor Tucker, JR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Henry Segura, JR, LB

Sacks
Markees Watts, JR, DE
​
Tackles
Ja'Cione Fugate, SR, S

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At FAU
Toughest Road Game: At Tennessee
Biggest Conference Game: At FAU

Star Player

Picture
Markees Watts, Charlotte

Quick Thoughts

#2T FAU 7-2 (5-2)

Picture
​Coach: Willie Taggart
Offensive Coordinator: Drew Mehringer and Clint Trickett
Defensive Coordinator: Jim Leavitt
Stadium: ​FAU Stadium (29,571)
​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 11-3
2018 5-7
​2017 11-3
2016 3-9
​2015 3-9

Top Returners

​Offense
Passing
Chris Robison, JR, QB
​
Rushing
Malcolm Davidson, JR, RB

Receiving
John Mitchell, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
​Keke Leroy, SR, LB

Sacks
Leighton McCarthy, SR, LB
​
Tackles
Hosea Barnwell, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule 

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Charlotte
Toughest Road Game: At Minnesota
Biggest Conference Game: ​Charlotte

Star Player

Picture
Chris Robison, FAU

Quick Thoughts

#2T WKU 7-4 (5-2)

Picture
Coach: Tyson Helton
Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Aplin and Bryan Ellis
Defensive Coordinator: Maurice Crum and Clayton White
Stadium: ​​Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium (22,113)
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 9-4
2018 3-9
2017 6-7
2016 11-3
​2015 12-2

Top Returners

​Offense
Passing
Kevaris Thomas, SO, QB

Rushing
Gaej Walker, SR, RB
​
Receiving
Jahcour Pearson, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Kyle Bailey, SR, LB

Sacks
DeAngelo Malone, SR, DE
​
Tackles
Kyle Bailey, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis 

Biggest Game: Marshall
Toughest Road Game: At Louisville
Biggest Conference Game: ​​Marshall

Star Player

Picture
DeAngelo Malone, WKU

Quick Thoughts

#4 Marshall 6-4 (4-3)

Picture
Coach: Doc Holliday
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Cramsey
Defensive Coordinator: Brad Lambert and J.C. Price
Stadium: ​​​Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,016)
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 8-5
2018 9-4
2017 8-5
​2016 3-9
​2015 10-3

Top Returners

​Offense
Passing
Isaiah Green, JR, QB

Rushing
Brenden Knox, JR, RB
​
Receiving
Willie Johnson, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Steven Gilmore, JR, CB

Sacks
Darius Hodge, JR, DE
​
Tackles
Tavante Beckett, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule 

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Boise State
Toughest Road Game: At La Tech
Biggest Conference Game: ​​​At Western Kentucky

Star Player

Picture
Brenden Knox, Marshall

Quick Thoughts

#5 MTSU 4-6 (3-4)

Picture
​Coach: Rick Stockstill
Offensive Coordinator: Tony Franklin
Defensive Coordinator: Scott Shafer
Stadium: Floyd Stadium (30,788)
Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 4-8
​2018 8-6
2017 7-6
2016 8-5
​2015 7-6

Top Returners

​Offense
Passing
Asher O'Hara, JR, QB

Rushing
Asher O'Hara, JR, QB
​
Receiving
Jarrin Pierce, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Reed Blankenship, SR, S

Sacks
DQ Thomas, SR, LB
​
Tackles
DQ Thomas, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Virginia Tech
Toughest Road Game: At Duke
Biggest Conference Game: ​WKU

Star Player

Picture
Asher O'Hara, MTSU

Quick Thoughts

#6 FIU 3-7 (1-6)

Picture
Coach: Butch Davis
Offensive Coordinator: Rich Skrosky
Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Copp and Jerod Kuse
Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium (20,000)
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 6-7
2018 9-4
​2017 8-5
​2016 4-8
2015 5-7

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Kaylan Wiggins, JR, QB

Rushing
Kaylan Wiggins, JR, QB
​
Receiving
Shemar Thornton, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Rishard Dames, JR, CB

Sacks
Alexy Jean-Baptiste, SR, DE
​
Tackles
Jamal Gates, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: FAU
Toughest Road Game: AT UCF
Biggest Conference Game: ​FAU

Star Player

Picture
Jamal Gates, FIU

Quick Thoughts

#7 ODU 2-10 (0-8) Not Playing in 2020

Picture
Coach: Ricky Rahne
Offensive Coordinator: Kirk Campbell
Defensive Coordinator: Blake Seiler
Stadium: ​S. B. Ballard Stadium
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 1-11
2018 4-8
​2017 5-7
2016 10-3
​2015 5-7

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Stone Smartt, SR, QB

Rushing
Lala Davis, SO, RB
​
Receiving
Aaron Moore, SO, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Kaleb ford-Dement, JR, CB and Geronda Hall, JR, NB

Sacks
3 Tied at 3.5
​
Tackles
​Lawrence Garner, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Virginia
Toughest Road Game: At Charlotte
Biggest Conference Game: ​​FIU

Star Player

Picture
Lawrence Garner, ODU

Quick Thoughts

West

#1 UAB 9-2 (7-0)

Picture
Coach: Bill Clark
Offensive Coordinator: Bryant Vincent
Defensive Coordinator: David Reeves 
Stadium: Legion Field (72,000)
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 9-5
2018 11-3
​2017 8-5
2016 N/A
​2015 N/A

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Tyler Johnsoton III, JR, QB

Rushing
Spencer Brown, SR, RB
​
Receiving
Austin Watkins Jr., SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Will Boler, JR, S

Sacks
Jordan Smith, JR, OLB
​
Tackles
​Kristopher Moll, SR, MLB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At LA Tech
Toughest Road Game: At Miami
Biggest Conference Game: At La Tech

Star Player

Picture
Jordan Smith, UAB

Quick Thoughts

#2 Southern Miss 9-3 (6-2)

Picture
​Coach: Jack Abraham, SR, QB
Offensive Coordinator: Matt Kubik, Scotty Walden
Defensive Coordinator: Tony Pecoraro
Stadium: M. M. Roberts Stadium
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 7-6
​2018 6-5
​2017 8-5
​2016 7-6
​2015 9-5

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Jack Abraham, SR, QB

Rushing
Kevin Perkins, SR, RB
​
Receiving
Tim Jones, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Three tied with 2

Sacks
Jacques Turner, SR, DE
​
Tackles
Ky'el Hemby, SR, S

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Louisiana Tech
Toughest Road Game: At Auburn
Biggest Conference Game: ​At UAB

Star Player

Picture
Tim Jones, Southern Miss.

Quick Thoughts

#3 Louisiana Tech 7-4 (5-3)

Picture
Coach: Skip Holtz
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Sloan
Defensive Coordinator: David Blackwell
Stadium: ​Joe Aillet Stadium (28,019)
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 10-3
2018 8-5
​2017 7-6
​2016 9-5
2015 9-4

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Aaron Allen, SO, QB

Rushing
Justin Henderson, RB,  SR
​
Receiving
Griffin Hebert, JR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Trey Baldwin and Ezekiel Barnett

Sacks
Milton Williams, JR, DE
​
Tackles
Ezekiel Barnett and Milton Williams

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: UAB
Toughest Road Game: At UAB
Biggest Conference Game: ​​UAB

Star Player

Picture
Justin Henderson, LA Tech

Quick Thoughts

#4T North Texas 4-7 (3-5)

Picture
Coach: Seth Littrell
Offensive Coordinator: Seth Littrell
Defensive Coordinator: Clint Brown
Stadium: ​Apogee Stadium (30,850)
​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 4-8
​2018 9-4
2017 9-5
​2016 5-8
2015 1-11

Top Returners 

Offense
Passing
​Jason Bean, SO, QB

Rushing
Tre Siggers, JR, RB
​
Receiving
Jaelon Darden, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Makyle Sanders, SR, S

Sacks
Tyreke Davis, SR, LB
​
Tackles
KD Davis, JR, LB

Unit Rankings

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: SMU
Toughest Road Game: At Texas A&M
Biggest Conference Game: ​​​At MTSU

Star Player

Picture
Jaelon Darden, North Texas

Quick Thoughts

#4T UTSA 4-8 (3-5)

Picture
Coach: Jeff Traylor
Offensive Coordinator: Barry Lunney Jr. 
Defensive Coordinator: Tyrone Nix
Stadium: ​​Alamodome (65,000)
​​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 4-8
2018 3-9
​2017 6-5
​2016 6-7
2015 3-9

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Lowell Narcisse, JR, QB

Rushing
Sincere McCormick, SO, RB
​
Receiving
Zakhari Franklin, SO, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Three tied with 1

Sacks
DeQuarius Henry, SR, DE
​
Tackles
Trevor Harmanson, JR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule 

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At Texas State
Toughest Road Game: At LSU
Biggest Conference Game: At Rice

Star Player

Picture
Sincere McCormick, UTSA

Quick Thoughts

#6 Rice 1-8 (1-7)

Picture
Coach: Mike Bloomgren
Offensive Coordinator: Jerry Mack
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Smith
Stadium: ​​​Rice stadium (47,000)
​​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 3-9
2018 2-11
​2017 1-11
​2016 3-9
​2015 5-7

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Wiley Green, SO, QB

Rushing
JoVoni Johnson, FR, RB
​
Receiving
Austin Trammell, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Two tied at 2

Sacks
Blaze Alldredge, SR, LB
​
Tackles
Blaze Alldredge, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit Ranking
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
LB
DB

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: UTSA
Toughest Road Game: At Southern Miss
Biggest Conference Game: UTSA

Star Player

Quick Thoughts

#7 UTEP 1-11 (0-8)

Picture
Coach: Dana Dimel
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Canales
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Cox
Stadium: ​Sun Bowl (51,000)
​​​​​Last Five Year Win Totals
2019 1-11
2018 1-11
​2017 0-12
2016 4-8
2015 5-7

Top Returners 

Offense
Passing


Rushing

​
Receiving

Defense
Interceptions


Sacks

​
Tackles

Unit Rankings

Schedule

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At Rice
Toughest Road Game: At Texas
Biggest Conference Game:At Rice

Star Player

Quick Thoughts