All 12 Conference USA teams saw action on Saturday for Week 13. With each team having just two games remaining and bowl season kicking off on Dec. 13, CUSA’s slate was filled with pivotal games in terms of bowl eligibility, conference championship game bids, and possible coaching futures.
This week saw some major victories for several CUSA teams as Louisiana Tech and Florida International became bowl eligible. Kennesaw State kept its CUSA championship hopes alive in a thriller against Missouri State, and Jacksonville State suffered its first conference loss of the season, putting its aspirations to repeat as CUSA champions in jeopardy.
University of Delaware (5-6, 3-4 CUSA) 14, Wake Forest University (8-3, 4-3 ACC) 52
In just the third meeting all-time between the two schools, Delaware remained winless against Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons routed the Blue Hens 52-14 on Saturday. Although they would still be ineligible for a bowl game due to NCAA regulations prohibiting teams from postseason play in their inaugural FBS season, the Blue Hens are still hoping to finish their season at .500 as they take on UTEP at home next Saturday for their season finale and senior day.
Wake Forest QB Robby Ashford: 15-of-22 for 292 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception; eight carries for 64 yards and one touchdown
Wake Forest WR Carlos Hernandez: Five receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns
Missouri State University (7-4, 5-2 C–USA) 34, Kennesaw State University (8-3, 6-1 C–USA) 41
Kennesaw State will end its season undefeated at home and keep their Conference titles hopes alive as it won an absolute thriller in a battle between two of Conference USA’s top teams. In a game that was tight the whole way through Kennesaw State quarterback Amari Odom threw his school-record-setting fifth touchdown pass of the day to put the Owls ahead 41-34 with just 27 seconds left on the clock. Owls DB Alexander Ford sealed the win with an interception as time expired.
Kennesaw State travels to play the Liberty Flames next Saturday to close out their regular season. Missouri State will host Louisiana Tech for its senior day and last scheduled game of the season, although Mo State is filing an appeal to its bowl ineligibility.
Kennesaw State QB Amari Odom: 24-34 for 387 passing yards and five touchdowns; 16 carries for 32 rushing yards and one touchdown
Missouri State RB Shomari Lawrence: 20 carries for 173 rushing yards and one touchdown; one reception for nine yards
Kennesaw State WR Gabriel Benyard: Seven receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns
Kennesaw State WR Clayton Coppock: Four receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns
Liberty University (4-7, 3-4 CUSA) 28, Louisiana Tech University (6-5, 4-3 CUSA) 34
Two teams that have struggled with consistency all season continued that trend throughout the game on Saturday. Fighting back from down 21 points in the 2nd half to tie the game 28-28 Louisiana Tech had a chance to win in regulation with a 54-yard field goal attempt which would bounce of the right upright as time expired.
Two plays into overtime Liberty quarterback Ethan Vasko threw his fourth interception of the day. Louisiana Tech capitalized in one play on their overtime possession, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown run by running back Andrew Burnette to win the game 34-28 overtime.
Louisiana Tech became bowl-eligible on its senior day and will close out its regular season on the road against Missouri State next Saturday. Liberty lost its chance to make a bowl game this season and will close their season next Saturday as they host Kennesaw State.
LA Tech QB Trey Kukuk: 13-20 for 118 passing yards; 19 carries for 143 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns
Liberty RB Evan Dickens: 30 carries for 228 rushing yards and two touchdowns
LA Tech RB Andrew Burnette: 17 carries for 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns
Liberty QB Ethan Vasko: 8-21 for 141 passing yards, one touchdown, four interceptions
Sam Houston State University (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) 17, Middle Tennessee State University (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) 31
Sam Houston State was hoping to extend their two-game winning streak as they traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee Saturday, but Middle Tennessee State would get their first home win of the year instead.
MTSU redshirt freshman quarterback, Roman Gagliano, shined again in his second career start. Gagliano finished the game 21-of-34 for 267 passing yards, 67 rushing yards and three total TDs, and helped MTSU snap a seven-game losing streak in 31-17 victory for the Blue Raiders.
The Blue Raiders hope to finish their season strong as they go on the road to New Mexico State for their final game of the year. Sam Houston will wrap up its season next Saturday, hosting Florida International for senior day.
MTSU QB Roman Gagliano: 21-34 for 268 passing yards, one touchdown; 9 carries for 67 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns
MTSU RB Jekail Middlebrook: 15 carries for 106 rushing yards; 2 receptions for 31 yards and 1 receiving TD
SHSU QB Landyn Locke: 25-40 for 281 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception; 4 carries for 2 rushing yards
New Mexico State University (4-7, 2-5 CUSA) 34, University of Texas El Paso (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) 31
The “Battle of I-10” was a battle for nothing else on Saturday, as New Mexico State and UTEP both came into the game as bottom dwellers of C-USA. Nevertheless, the game was a thriller from start to finish.
Trailing 27-24 with 4:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, UTEP grinded out a 97-yard drive, capped off by a 28-yard TD catch by Kenny Odom to put the Miners up 31-27 with just 56 seconds left. With the weight of dropping two in a row in the “Battle of I-10” mounting, Aggies’ sophomore quarterback Adam Damante led them 75 yards downfield in 35 seconds, ultimately throwing the game-winning TD to wide receiver T.K. King with 21 seconds left, putting the Aggies ahead 34-31 for the win.
New Mexico State concludes its season hosting Middle Tennessee next Saturday, and UTEP will round out its season on the road against Delaware.
NMSU QB Adam Damante**: 29-41 for 241 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception; eight carries for -22 rushing yards
UTEP RB Ashton Emory: 18 carries for 181 rushing yards, one touchdown; two receptions for 11 yards
NMSU WR Donovan Faupel: Nine receptions for 78 yards, two touchdowns
Jacksonville State University (7-4, 6-1 CUSA) 21, Florida International University (6-5, 4-3 CUSA) 27
A game in which Jacksonville State looked to continue their dominance over CUSA the last two seasons brought them their first conference loss in almost a year.
With a 21-17 lead and momentum seemingly in hand, Jacksonville State quarterback Caden Creel fumbled the football with the Panthers recovering on their 32-yard line with 13:42 left to play. Florida International capitalized on the turnover in two plays, with a 64-yard catch and run by wide receiver Alex Perry to take the lead 24-21. The Panthers added another field goal and stayed solid defensively, shutting out the Gamecocks the rest of the game and earning the upset victory 27-21.
Florida International became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2019 and looks to close out its regular season next Saturday at Sam Houston. Jacksonville State will host Western Kentucky in a battle to clinch a spot in the Conference USA Championship. Jacksonville State was among the preseason favorites to repeat as conference champions and needs either a win or a Kennesaw State loss to clinch a spot in the CUSA title game on Dec. 5.
JSU RB Cam Cook**: 25 carries for 138 rushing yards, one touchdown; two receptions for 41 yards
FIU RB Kejon Owens: 21 carries for 135 rushing yards, one touchdown; two receptions for 18 yards
FIU WR Alex Perry: Four receptions for 109 yards, one touchdown
Western Kentucky University (8-3, 6-1 CUSA) 10, Louisiana State University (7-4, 3-4 SEC) 13
Western Kentucky traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to play LSU in “Death Valley” on Saturday night Boasting CUSA’s most potent scoring offense, averaging 31.3 points per game. The Hilltoppers posted a field goal on their opening possession, but it was difficult for WKU to find success offensively after that. The Hilltoppers defense played tough throughout, however, and kept them in the game down 13-10 and attempting an onside kick with 1:05 remaining. LSU would recover the onside and kneel the ball out for a 13-10 win.
LSU closes out its regular season traveling to play Oklahoma next Saturday. Meanwhile, Western Kentucky wraps up its regular season, hosting Jacksonville State in a battle for a spot in the CUSA Championship game.
WKU DB Dylan Flowers: One tackle, one fumble recovery, one defensive touchdown
LSU RB Harlem Berry: 18 carries for 80 rushing yards; two receptions for two yards
CUSA offensive leaders (As of Nov. 24, 2025)
Passing: Delaware QB Nick Minicucci: 3,196 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns
Rushing: Jax State RB Cam Cook: 1,444 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns
Receiving: KSU WR Gabriel Benyard: 50 receptions for 795 yards, seven receiving touchdowns
Conference USA standings heading into Week 14
- Western Kentucky (8-3, 6-1 CUSA)
- Kennesaw State (8-3, 6-1 CUSA)
- Jax State (7-4, 6-1 CUSA)
- Missouri State (7-4, 6-1 CUSA)
- LA Tech (6-5, 4-3 CUSA)
- FIU (6-5, 4-3 CUSA)
- Delaware (5-6, 3-4 CUSA)
- Liberty (4-7, 3-4 CUSA)
- NM State (4-7, 2-5 CUSA)
- UTEP (2-9, 1-6 CUSA)
- Sam Houston (2-9, 1-6 CUSA)
- MTSU (2-9, 1-6 CUSA)
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