Conference USA featured a full Saturday slate to close out the football regular season. With wins from Kennesaw State and Jax State, the 2025 Air National Guard CUSA Championship is decided with the Gamecocks set to host the Owls at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama, on Saturday, Dec. 5.
University of Texas at El Paso (2-10, 1-7 CUSA) 31, University of Delaware (6-6, 4-4 CUSA) 61
Delaware closed out its inaugural Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season with a high-scoring season finale, defeating the UTEP Miners 61-31. Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci led a dominant offensive performance, throwing for 311 yards and a total of four touchdowns.
UTEP generated big plays through the air for the second straight week, as Skylar Locklear threw for three touchdowns and 338 yards. However, six turnovers led to the Miners playing catch-up throughout the second quarter as Delaware scored 17 unanswered points.
In the win, Delaware posted season bests in points (61), total offense (527), tackles for loss (14), and sacks (five). The Blue Hens secured a bowl berth in their victory over the Miners.
Florida International University (7-5, 5-3 CUSA) 56, Sam Houston State University (2-10, 1-7 CUSA) 16
FIU capped off its regular season with a dominant 56-16 win over Sam Houston, securing its fourth straight Conference USA victory. The win also guarantees the Panthers their first winning season since 2018. FIU relied on a heavy offensive attack, finishing with a total of 591 yards, including a season-high 303 yards on the ground.
Panther quarterback Keyone Jenkins finished with four touchdowns, with his favorite target coming in wide receiver Alex Perry. Perry recorded career– high numbers with 140 receiving yards alongside two touchdowns. Leading the rushing attack was Kejon Owens, who provided 124 yards alongside Sterling Joseph, who put up 112 yards and two late touchdowns.
On the defensive side, FIU put pressure on the Bearkats, as Dante Anderson provided two strip-sacks along with Victor Evans and Shamir Sterlin each grabbing an interception.
Western Kentucky University (8-4, 6-2 CUSA) 26, Jacksonville State University (8-4, 7-1 CUSA) 35
Jax State defeated Western Kentucky in a dramatic final act, scoring a last– second field goal to secure a 37-34 victory. Gamecock quarterback Caden Creel shined with 347 total yards, along with a huge 70-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter.
Jax State fought through adversity all afternoon overcoming two double digit deficits, relying on a strong defensive second half and a clutch performance from kicker Garrison Rippa to secure the win. The Gamecocks trailed 21-7 early before a late second quarter surge to close the gap. The two teams entered the fourth quarter tied 31-31 before exchanging field goals to even the score as the seconds ticked down. Creel led the Gamecocks through multiple third down conversions to set up Rippa’s game-winner from 28 yards.
The victory extends Jax State’s home winning streak to 11 games as it will host Kennesaw State in the CUSA Championship next Saturday at 6 p.m. CDT.
Louisiana Tech University (7-5, 5-3 CUSA) 42, Missouri State University (7-5, 5-3 CUSA) 30
Louisiana Tech pulled away late to beat Missouri State 42-30 in a high-scoring regular season finale. The game’s defining moment came late as LA Tech burst through with 21 fourth–quarter points.
The Bulldogs relied on a heavy offensive attack throughout the afternoon with 388-of-475 total yards coming on the ground. Andrew Burnette rushed for a total of 132 yards alongside two first half touchdowns. Quarterback Trey Kukuk was also a big factor on the ground, putting up 172 rush yards and providing three touchdowns.
Missouri State kept the game close, but LA Tech answered each rally by the Bears. A late interception shut down the Bears’ final drive, allowing LA tech to run out the clock.
Middle Tennessee State University (3-9, 2-6 CUSA) 31, New Mexico State University (4-8, 2-6 CUSA) 24
Middle Tennessee closed out the 2025 football season with its second straight win and third of the season, defeating New Mexico State 31-24 in overtime. Redshirt freshman Roman Gagliano led MTSU in his third start, finishing the game with 260 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Running backs DJ Taylor and Jekail Middlebrook led the Blue Raiders’ rushing attack, as MTSU finished with a season-high 199 yards on the ground.
The game featured back-and-forth momentum swings and an overtime finish. Prior to overtime. there was controversy as MTSU cornerback De’Arre McDonald intercepted the Aggies on a fourth-and-two and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. Referees nullified the touchdown due to defensive pass interference, and New Mexico State tied the game 24-24 with a 35-yard field goal by Ryan Hawk to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, MTSU scored on its first drive as Gagliano found AJ Jones in the endzone to put MTSU ahead. On NM State’s one possession in OT, the Blue Raider defense held strong and forced three incompletions to secure an overtime victory. The win marked MTSU’s first consecutive victory under head coach Derek Mason as the Blue Raiders finished the season with a 3-9 record for the second straight year.
Kennesaw State University (9-3, 7-1 CUSA) 48, Liberty University (4-8, 3-5 CUSA) 42
Kennesaw State came out on top in a double overtime thriller and secured a spot in the CUSA championship game on Dec. 5. The win extends KSU’s recent hot streak as the Owls have won nine out of their last 10 games.
Quarterback Amari Odom led KSU, finishing the game with 312 total yards and five touchdowns. One of Odom’s key targets throughout the afternoon was Gabriel Benyard, who set the KSU single season receiving touchdown record with nine. On the ground, Coleman Bennet added 92 rushing yards alongside two touchdowns.
Liberty had an opportunity to steal the game but missed a last second field goal at the end of regulation. In double overtime, Kennesaw State scored on back-to-back touchdowns from Odom, first to Benyard and then to Christian Moss in the second overtime. The Owls’ defense then delivered a crucial stop with an endzone breakup on fourth-and-14 to secure the 48-42 victory.
The win marked KSU’s first overtime victory since 2022 and sets up a rematch with Jax State in the CUSA Championship.
CUSA offensive leaders (End of regular season)
Passing: Delaware QB Nick Minicucci: 3,507 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns
Rushing: Jax State RB Cam Cook: 1,581 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns
Receiving: KSU WR Gabriel Benyard: 54 receptions for 877 yards, nine receiving touchdowns
CUSA standings (End of regular season)
- Kennesaw State (9-3, 7-1 CUSA)
- Jax State (8-4, 7-1 CUSA)
- WKU (8-4, 6-2 CUSA)
- Missouri State (7-5, 5-3 CUSA)
- FIU (7-5, 5-3 CUSA)
- LA Tech (7-5, 5-3 CUSA)
- Delaware (6-6, 4-4 CUSA)
- Liberty (4-8, 3-5 CUSA)
- NM State (4-8, 2-6 CUSA)
- MTSU (3-9, 2-6 CUSA)
- UTEP (2-10, 1-7 CUSA)
- Sam Houston (2-10, 1-7 CUSA)
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