Conference USA (FBS Group Of Five)
Overview: It was another competitive season for Conference USA in 2021, with UTSA having its best season since moving to the FBS level, as the Roadrunners finished the season at 12-2 overall. UTSA's lone losses came to North Texas in the regular-season finale on November 27, as well as to San Diego State in the Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl on December 21. The Roadrunners' biggest win of the season came in the C-USA championship game earlier in the month on December 3, as they outlasted Western Kentucky, 49-45. The Hilltoppers would go on to knock off Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl to finish their season at 9-5 overall.
Other C-USA squads had mixed results during the 2021 bowl season, with Middle Tennessee (Bahamas Bowl) and UAB (Independence Bowl) winning their games, while Marshall (New Orleans Bowl), North Texas (Frisco Football Classic), Old Dominion (Myrtle Beach Bowl), and UTEP (New Mexico Bowl) all lost their respective contest. Conference USA finished 3-5 overall in postseason play.
As for developments off the field, Conference USA is expected to go through tremendous changes over the next 2-to-3 years, with six of its current members: Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA, hoping to leave for the American Athletic Conference (AAC) by the start of the 2023 season, pending the successful negotiation of exit fees. Also, Liberty is among the multiple institutions expected to replace the six schools listed above, with fellow independent New Mexico State joining longtime FCS powers Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State in the C-USA fold at some point.
Going into 2022, Conference USA will operate with 11 schools, with Marshall (7-6 overall in 2021), Old Dominion (6-7), and Southern Mississippi (3-9) all moving into the Sun Belt Conference this fall. In the meantime, expect both Western Kentucky and UTSA to be in the conversation for the C-USA championship this fall.
2022 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2022 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Final 2021 Conference USA Football Standings
Western Kentucky
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
No comments:
Post a Comment