Football

Week 1 Preview: All 14 C-USA Teams In Action Across Four Days

Week One Preview
 
DALLAS – Week 1 of the 2021 college football season has arrived and all 14 C-USA programs are in action. It all kicks off under the bright lights on Wednesday night, as defending C-USA champion UAB takes on Jacksonville State at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. C-USA teams are also in action on Thursday night (two), Friday night (two) and Saturday (nine).

UAB (0-0) vs. JACKSONVILLE STATE (0-0)
Date: Wednesday, September 1
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Montgomery, Alabama (Cramton Bowl)
Broadcast: ESPN
Announcers: Roy Philpott (PxP), Kelly Stauffer (AN), Lauren Sisler (SL)
All-Time Series: UAB leads 3-2

UAB will be opening its new home, Protective Stadium, on Oct. 2, so the Blazers open the season with a neutral site, non-conference affair in Montgomery against Jacksonville State on Wednesday night in the national spotlight. The Blazers, the reigning C-USA champions, return 17 starters, 11 of which are seniors. UAB is led by its swarming defense, and in 2020 the Blazers finished in the top-10 nationally for the third consecutive season (7th in total defense in 2020 – 311.1 yards per game).
 
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UAB Football: https://uabsports.com/sports/football
Jacksonville State Football: https://jsugamecocksports.com/sports/football
 
LONG ISLAND (0-0) at FIU (0-0)
Date: Thursday, September 2
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Miami, Florida (FIU Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN3
Announcers: AJ Ricketts (PxP), Cam Lynch (AN)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
 
FIU looks to rebound from a frustrating 2020 campaign that saw the Panthers finish 0-5. Head coach Butch Davis’ squad opens 2021 against a non-conference foe in Long Island. FIU boasts one of the best running backs in C-USA in D’Vonte Price, who carried 85 times for 581 yards and four scores in five appearances last season. His 6.84 yards per carry ranked 11th nationally and led C-USA. DL Davon Strickland is also back on the defensive side of the ball. An honorable mention All-Conference selection in 2020, Strickland recorded 15 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks in his five appearances last year.
 
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Long Island Football: https://www.liuathletics.com/sports/football
FIU Football: https://fiusports.com/sports/football
 
UT MARTIN (0-0) at WKU (0-0)
Date: Thursday, September 2
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky (Houchens-Smith Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN3
Announcers: Graham Doty (PxP), Bob Belvin (AN)
All-Time Series: WKU leads 4-0 (2-0 in Bowling Green)
 
WKU kicks off the 2021 season with a lot of new faces, including new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley and projected starting QB Bailey Zappe, who both arrived from Houston Baptist. Zappe completed 106-169 passes (62.7%) for 1,453 yards with 12 touchdowns to just one interception in three games against FBS opponents in 2020 (North Texas, Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech). The Hilltoppers also return DE DeAngelo Malone, who was voted C-USA’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s 14 head coaches.
 
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UT Martin Football: https://utmsports.com/sports/football
WKU Football: https://wkusports.com/sports/football
 
DUKE (0-0) at CHARLOTTE (0-0)
Date: Friday, September 3
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina (Jerry Richardson Stadium)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Chris Lewis (PxP), Corey Chavous (AN), Justin Walters (SL)
All-Time Series: Duke leads 1-0
 
Charlotte opens the 2021 season, the program’s ninth, with the 49ers hosting their first Power 5 opponent at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Three-year starting QB Chris Reynolds (1,305 yards with eight touchdowns in six games in 2020) and WR Victor Tucker (30 receptions for 400 yards and two scores in 2020) return offensively for the 49ers, while DE Markees Watts (10 tackles and 2.0 sacks in five 2020 appearances) and LB Tyler Murray (49 total tackles, 2.0 TFL, two interceptions, a FF and a FR in six appearances in 2020) help lead the Charlotte defense.
 
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Duke Football: https://goduke.com/sports/football
Charlotte Football: https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/football
 
OLD DOMINION (0-0) at WAKE FOREST (0-0)
Date: Friday, September 3
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Truist Stadium at Wake Forest)
Broadcast: ACC Network
Announcers: Drew Carter (PxP), Forrest Conoly (AN), Abby Labar (SL)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
 
Old Dominion is finally set to hit the field under head coach Ricky Rahne, who was hired ahead of the 2020 season, which ODU did not play. Friday night marks the first Monarch football game in 643 days. LB Jordan Young returns from the 2019 season when Young posted 86 total tackles, 4.0 TFL and an interception. Old Dominion added nine FBS transfers to its roster ahead of the 2021 season, and their nine seniors are the fifth-fewest among FBS programs.
 
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Old Dominion Football: https://odusports.com/sports/football
Wake Forest Football: https://godeacs.com/sports/football
 
RICE (0-0) at ARKANSAS (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas (Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: Mike Couzens (PxP), Dustin Fox (AN), Tara Talmadge (SL)
All-Time Series: Arkansas leads 35-29-3 (Arkansas leads 21-12 when hosting Rice in either Fayetteville or Little Rock, and the Razorbacks lead the series 12-9 when the game is played in Fayetteville)
 
Rice played just five games in 2020, finishing the season at 2-3. The Owls are looking for their first win in the series against the Razorbacks since 1990, when Rice knocked off the Hogs 19-11 in Little Rock. Rice returns 86% of its starters on both offense and defense, and also get WR Bradley Rozner (55 receptions for 770 yards and five touchdowns in 2019) and DB George Nyakwol (56 total tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in 2019) back, who both missed the 2020 campaign.
 
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Rice Football: https://riceowls.com/sports/football
Arkansas Football: https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/sport/m-footbl/
 
MARSHALL (0-0) at NAVY (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Annapolis, Maryland (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Chick Hernandez (PxP), Randy Cross (AN), Sheehan Stanwick Burch (SL)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
 
Marshall, the defending East Division champions, enter 2021 with a new head coach in Charles Huff, who makes his Thundering Herd debut on Saturday in Annapolis against Navy. QB Grant Wells, the reigning C-USA Freshman Player of the Year is back in the fold after throwing for 2,091 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2020. Marshall’s defense was a huge part of the Herd’s success last season, holding opponents to just 13.0 ppg, which led the nation. Key defensive fixtures DL Jamare Edwards (30 total tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks and a FF in 2020) and DB Steven Gilmore (39 total stops, 1.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, one interception and 2 FFs in 2020) return for the Herd in 2021.
 
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Marshall Football: https://herdzone.com/sports/football
Navy Football: https://navysports.com/sports/football
 
LOUISIANA TECH (0-0) at MISSISSIPPI STATE (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 3 p.m. CT
Location: Starkville, Mississippi (Davis Wade Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPNU
Announcers: John Schriffen (PxP), Rene Ingoglia (AN)
All-Time Series: Mississippi State leads 11-3 (10-2 in Starkville)
 
Skip Holtz and Louisiana Tech open the 2021 season on the road on Saturday, doing so for the fifth time in program history against Mississippi State. LA Tech returns 15 of its 16 leading tacklers from 2020, including LB Tyler Grubbs (99), LB Trey Baldwin (85), DB BeeJay Williamson (56) and LB Ezekiel Barnett (49). New to Ruston is QB Austin Kendall, who is listed as the team’s starter on the initial two-deep. Kendall joins Louisiana Tech after playing at West Virginia in both 2019 and 2020, throwing for 2,153 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 appearances (nine starts) for the Mountaineers.
 
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LA Tech Football: https://latechsports.com/sports/football
Mississippi State Football: https://hailstate.com/sports/football
 
MONMOUTH (0-0) at MIDDLE TENNESSEE (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPNU
Announcers: Jake Rose (PxP), Jeremy Kellem (AN), Sara Cardona (SL)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
 
Middle Tennessee looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2020 season that saw the Blue Raiders finish 3-6. A new offensive coordinator is in tow, in Brent Dearmon, as Middle Tennessee aims to improve offensively. WR Jarrin Pierce is a key returner on the offensive side of the ball, after hauling in a team-high 59 receptions for 584 yards and three scores. The Blue Raiders also have a pair of transfer running backs in Amir Rasul (Florida State) and Martell Pettaway (West Virginia), and a new starting quarterback, Bailey Hockman, who transferred from NC State. The trio of S Reed Blankenship (76 total tackles in 2020), DB Gregory Grate (74 total tackles, four interceptions in 2020) and LB DQ Thomas (67 total tackles, 7.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks and 2 FF in 2020) are also back in the fold for Middle Tennessee.
 
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Monmouth Football: https://monmouthhawks.com/sports/football
Middle Tennessee Football: https://goblueraiders.com/sports/football
 
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (0-0) at #13 FLORIDA (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Gainesville, Florida (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium)
Broadcast: SEC Network
Announcers: Roy Philpott (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (AN), Cole Cubelic (SL)
All-Time Series: Florida leads 3-0
 
Willie Taggart enters year two in Boca Raton, and the Owls open the 2021 season against a ranked, in-state opponent in No. 13 Florida. Taggart named Miami (FL) transfer N’Kosi Perry as the team’s starting quarterback earlier in the week, as Florida Atlantic looks to take steps forward offensively in 2021. Defensively, FAU ranked 10th nationally in 2020, allowing just 17.4 ppg, and look to lock down opposing offenses yet again in 2021. Overall, the Owls are an experienced group, returning 21 starters from a year ago.
 
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Florida Atlantic Football: https://fausports.com/sports/football
Florida Football: https://floridagators.com/sports/football
 
NORTHWESTERN STATE (0-0) at NORTH TEXAS (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Denton, Texas (Apogee Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN3
Announcers: Hank Dickenson (PxP), John Liddle (AN)
All-Time Series: Northwestern State leads 6-4
 
The Mean Green kick off the 2021 campaign Saturday, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Apogee Stadium. UNT boasted the nation’s eighth-ranked offense in 2020 (513.2 yards per game), and return QB Austin Aune (1,650 passing yards), RB DeAndre Torrey (670 rushing yards), WR Deonte Simpson (517 receiving yards) and welcome back WR Jyaire Shorter (473 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2019), who missed the majority of 2020 due to injury. Defensively, UNT welcomes new defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, as the Mean Green look to make marked improvement in 2021. Another new face, QB Jace Ruder, who transferred from North Carolina, may factor in on Saturday, potentially sharing time with Aune.
 
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Northwestern State Football: https://nsudemons.com/sports/football
North Texas Football: https://meangreensports.com/sports/football
 
UTSA (0-0) at ILLINOIS (1-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Champaign, Illinois (Memorial Stadium)
Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Announcers: Lisa Byington (PxP), Anthony Herron (AN), Coley Harvey (SL)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
 
UTSA kicks off its 11th season, and second under head coach Jeff Traylor, as the Roadrunners look to improve on their 8-2 mark in season openers (5-2 on the road) when they travel to Illinois. UTSA welcomes back 21 starters from a team that finished 7-5 in 2020, including All-American RB Sincere McCormick (249 carries for 1,467 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020). Illinois was one of 10 teams to see action in Week 0, holding off a late charge by Big Ten foe Nebraska, to win its opener 30-22 at home. QB Artur Sitkowski came on for an injured Brandon Peters and completed 12-15 passes for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns in new head coach Bret Bielema’s first game at the helm of the Illini.
 
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UTSA Football: https://goutsa.com/sports/football
Illinois Football: https://fightingillini.com/sports/football
 
SOUTHERN MISS (0-0) at SOUTH ALABAMA (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Mobile, Alabama (Hancock Whitney Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Announcers: J.D. Byars (PxP), Pat Greenwood (AN)
All-Time Series: South Alabama leads 1-0
 
New Southern Miss head coach Will Hall makes his debut with the Golden Eagles Saturday night in Mobile against South Alabama. Southern Miss finished 3-7 in 2020, and over a disjointed season had three different head coaches (Jay Hopson, Scotty Walden - interim and Tim Billings - interim). Southern Miss does return 21 total starters on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, including RB Frank Gore, Jr., who carried 121 times for 708 yards and two scores in 10 appearances. QB Trey Lowe, who is 2-1 as a starter, will take the reins in 2021 under center for the Golden Eagles.
 
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Southern Miss Football: https://southernmiss.com/sports/football
South Alabama Football: https://usajaguars.com/sports/football
 
BETHUNE-COOKMAN (0-0) at UTEP (1-0)
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 8 p.m. CT
Location: El Paso, Texas (Sun Bowl Stadium)
Broadcast: ESPN3
Announcers: Erik Elken (PxP), Trevor Vittatoe (AN)
All-Time Series: First meeting
 
The Miners were the lone C-USA team in action in Week 0, and took care of business in a road rivalry game at New Mexico State, dominating the Aggies 30-3 in Las Cruces. The Miners started quickly, jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the opening quarter, which marked the first time UTEP scored 17 in the first stanza since 2014. WR Jacob Cowing earned Offensive Player of the Week honors after catching five passes for a career-best 158 yards and a touchdown, and QB Gavin Hardison completed 11-16 passes for 249 yards and one score in the win. Defensively, UTEP clamped down on the Aggies, holding them to three points and just 190 yards of total offense. The Miners were solid in the kicking game as well, as Special Teams Player of the Week Gavin Baechle made all three of his field goal attempts (35, 27, 33) and had five touchbacks in six attempts.
 
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Bethune-Cookman Football: https://bcuathletics.com/sports/football
UTEP Football: https://utepminers.com/sports/football