The 2025 football regular season concluded on Saturday, Nov. 29, with seven Conference USA teams received bids to postseason bowl games, including three first-time Football Bowl Subdivision bowl game participants: the Delaware Blue Hens, the Missouri State Bears and the CUSA champion Kennesaw State Owls.
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Jacksonville State University (9-5, 7-1 CUSA) 17, Troy University (8-6, 6-2 Sun Belt) 13
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks rallied late in the 4th quarter to defeat the Troy Trojans in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 16, with a final score of 17-13. This bowl game marked the reignition of a classic college football rivalry between the schools, Battle for the Ol’ School Bell, that ceased when Troy moved to Division 1 in 2001.
The Gamecocks were without the FBS leading rusher Cam Cook, leaving the majority of carries to sophomore running back Khristian Lando.
The Gamecocks’ defense was effective in stagnating the Trojan offense, holding them to six points, 217 total yards and forcing two interceptions. Troy’s sole touchdown of the game came on the defensive end, off a botched Jax State flea-flicker in the first quarter that Trojan defensive tackle Luis Medina recovered for a touchdown. Jax State responded in the 4th quarter as junior running back Andrew Paul found the end zone from one yard out to take the lead and seal the victory.
The Gamecocks’ victory marks head coach Charles Kelly’s first bowl win with the program, and the university’s first bowl win since 2023.
JSU QB Caden Creel: 14/20, 173 yards, 1 TD
JSU RB Khristian Lando: 11 rushes, 44 yards
Troy LB Luis Medina, 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovered, 1 TD
68 Ventures Bowl: University of Delaware (7-6, 4-4 CUSA) 20, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (6-7, 5-3 Sun Belt) 13
The Delaware Blue Hens defeated the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in the 68 Ventures Bowl 20-13 on Wednesday Dec. 17, to secure a bowl win in their inaugural season of FBS play.
Senior running back Jo Silver opened the scoring of the contest with a massive 61-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Junior quarterback and CUSA’s passing leader Nick Minicucci, found sophomore wideout Sean Wilson to extend the Hens’ lead in the third quarter.
The key factor for the Blue Hens was their defense, who held the Ragin’ Cajuns to only two field goals through three quarters and forced three turnovers, including an interception by senior cornerback Nate Evans in the first quarter.
ULL sophomore quarterback Lunch Winfield connected with fellow sophomore receiver Shelton Sampson Jr for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put Louisiana-Lafayette within striking distance.
However, the Blue Hens’ defense kept the Ragin’ Cajuns out of the endzone on the final drive, as senior linebacker Blake Matthews broke up a crucial pass at the goal line to seal the victory for Delaware.
The win marks the Blue Hens’ first bowl win and the first bowl win for head coach Ryan Carty.
ULL QB Lunch Winfield: 21/36, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
UD RB Jo Silver: 14 rushes, 116 yards, 1 TD
UD WR Sean Wilson: 8 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD
Xbox Bowl: Arkansas State University (7-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) 34, Missouri State University (7-6, 5-3 CUSA) 28
The Missouri State Bears fell short in the inaugural Xbox Bowl to the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Thursday, Dec. 18, ending with a final score of 34-28. This matchup marked the Bears’ first bowl appearance as an FBS program.
Passing attacks prevailed for both the Bears and Red Wolves, as both quarterbacks combined for 637 yards through the air and six touchdowns.
Arkansas State amassed a 17-point lead going into halftime, featuring a trio of passing touchdowns from junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor, all to different targets. On the other end, the Bears only managed to score seven points in the first half, as senior quarterback Jacob Clark connected with senior receiver Dash Luke from 39 yards out to put Missouri State on the board.
The Bears’ offense did not come alive until the fourth quarter, where Clark amassed three passing touchdowns to give Missouri State a chance to mount a comeback. Despite surrendering three fourth quarter touchdowns and only scoring three points of their own in the final period, the Red Wolves were able to hold on.
The win marks Arkansas State’s sixth bowl game victory in university history, and head coach Butch Jones’ second consecutive bowl win with the program.
MOST QB Jacob Clark: 25/35, 349 yards, 4 TD
ARST WR Corey Rucker: 6 receptions, 166 yards, 1 TD
MOST WR Dash Luke: 7 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TD
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Western Michigan University (10-4, 7-1 MAC) 41, Kennesaw State University (10-4, 7-1 CUSA) 6
The Western Michigan Broncos overpowered the CUSA champion Kennesaw State Owls in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Friday, Dec. 19, ending with a final score of 41-6. The clash in Conway, South Carolina, featured the only non-College Football Playoff bowl game between conference champions, with the Broncos defeating Miami University in the Mid-American Conference Championship.
Broncos running back Jalen Buckley took it 65-yards for a house call on the first play from scrimmage as Western Michigan’s offense came out on fire with 27 first quarter points. The Broncos took their foot off the gas following their first quarter rout, only scoring two touchdowns for the remainder of the game.
The Broncos’ secondary shutdown CUSA’s leading receiver Gabriel Benyard, as he finished with a season-low one reception for two yards. Owls quarterback Amari Odom also struggled against the Broncos’ defense, as he threw two interceptions and finished with a season-low 10.3 quarterback rating.
Odom did manage to find sophomore receiver Javon Rogers on an 82-yard bomb in the third quarter to avoid being shutout.
The Broncos’ victory marks their 3rd bowl game victory in program history and head coach Lance Taylor’s first bowl win with the team.
WMU QB Brock Lowry: 12/19, 120 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
WMU RB Jalen Buckley: 8 rushes, 174 yards, 1 TD
WMU FS Joey Pope: 2 tackles, 1 PD, 1 INT, 1 TD
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky University (9-4, 6-2 CUSA) 27, University of Southern Mississippi (7-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) 16
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers cruised to victory over the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the New Orleans Bowl 27-13 on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The Hilltoppers got off to a slow start in the first half, with their offense only managing to notch two field goals. Southern Miss led 13-6 at half, thanks to a passing touchdown and two field goals.
Following the slow first half, WKU opted to make a change at quarterback, as they subbed in senior quarterback Maverick McIvor for freshman quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr.
McIvor made an immediate impact for the Hilltoppers, leading the offense to three rushing touchdowns, including one of his own.
Freshman running back Marvis Parrish found paydirt from 54-yards out with 3:00 to play, to put the ‘Tops up 27-16 and secure the win.
Western Kentucky’s victory marks its 8th bowl win in program history and head coach Tyson Helton’s 5th bowl win with the Hilltoppers.
WKU QB Maverick McIvor: 12/19, 199 yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 INT
WKU RB Marvis Parrish: 7 rushes, 65 yards, 1 TD
WKU WR Matthew Henry: 7 receptions, 126 yards
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: University of Texas at San Antonio (7-6, 4-4 AAC) 57, Florida International University (7-6, 5-3 CUSA) 20
The UTSA Roadrunners dominated the Florida International Panthers 57-20 in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 26.
The Panthers set the tone early as they opened the game with a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, courtesy of a 19-yard passing touchdown by senior quarterback Joe Pesansky and a 97-yard punt return touchdown by sophomore receiver Maguire Anderson.
However, the Roadrunners quickly overcame the early deficit and scored 31 unanswered points in the first half. Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown added to the lead after two scores from running back Will Henderson III, as he found junior receiver Devin McCuin from 23 yards out, to give UTSA a 24-14 lead. The Roadrunners added 26 more points to their lead in the second half to continue the rout.
The win marks UTSA’s third consecutive bowl win and head coach Jeff Traylor’s third bowl win with the program.
UTSA QB Owen McCown: 18/28, 295, 3 TD
UTSA RB Will Henderson III: 14 rushes, 59 yards, 2 TD
UTSA WR Devin McCuin: 6 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech University (8-5, 5-3 CUSA) 23, Coastal Carolina University (6-7, 5-3 Sun Belt) 14
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs rallied late to defeat the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 23-14 in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
LA Tech struggled to get the offense going, with its lone score of the first half being a 42-yard field goal from freshman kicker Kaegan Kent.
Chanticleers quarterback Tad Hudson connected with Dominic Kniceley and Robby Washington through the air for two first half touchdowns, giving CCU a 14-3 lead.
The Bulldog offense came alive in the fourth quarter off the back of an early interception by sophomore cornerback Jordan McCrae. Junior quarterback Trey Kukuk capitalized on the turnover, connecting with junior receiver Marlion Johnson for a 52-yard touchdown. Kukuk showed off his dual threat ability in the win, as he led the Bulldogs in rushing with 104 yards.
Senior running back Andrew Burnette found the endzone from one-yard out and also scored the two-point conversion to put the Bulldogs up by six.
The Chanticleers offense was unable to replicate their same success of the first half, as they were shut out for the entirety of the second half. The win marks Louisiana Tech’s 8th bowl win in program history and head coach Sonny Cumbie’s first bowl win with the team.
CCU QB Tad Hudson: 25/49, 311 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
LT QB Trey Kukuk: 9/19, 114 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 19 rushes, 121 yards
LT CB Jakori Foster: 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT
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