By Luke Fletcher ｜ Atlanta, Georgia
New-Look Conference USA Ready for Another Wide-Open Race
Conference USA enters the 2026 football season looking much different than it did just one year ago. Following the departures of Louisiana Tech and UTEP, the league has settled into a streamlined 10-team conference that should produce one of the most competitive Group of Five races in the country.
The conference’s new format means every team will play an eight-game league schedule, with each school missing just one conference opponent. That places even greater importance on every league match up as teams chase a berth in the Conference USA Championship Game.
CUSA also continues to embrace its successful weekday television identity. Fans can expect 18 October conference games televised across the ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network, giving the league valuable national exposure throughout the heart of the season. The 22nd Conference USA Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, December 4, on CBS Sports Network.
After one of the nation’s most unpredictable seasons in 2025, nearly every preseason publication expects another tightly contested race. Liberty enters the year as the consensus favorite thanks to its roster depth, coaching stability and championship pedigree, but Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, Kennesaw State and FIU all appear capable of making noise in the title chase.
2026 Predicted Conference USA Standings
| Rank | Team | Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty | Conference Champion Favorite |
| 2 | Jacksonville State | Championship Game Contender |
| 3 | Western Kentucky | Offensive Threat |
| 4 | Kennesaw State | Dangerous Dark Horse |
| 5 | FIU | Bowl Team |
| 6 | Missouri State | Strong First-Year Contender |
| 7 | Delaware | Competitive Newcomer |
| 8 | New Mexico State | Improving |
| 9 | Middle Tennessee | Rebuilding |
| 10 | Sam Houston | Young Roster |
Team-by-Team Preview
1. Liberty Flames
Head Coach: Jamey Chadwell
Liberty enters 2026 with one goal: reclaim the Conference USA championship.
After an uncharacteristically inconsistent 2025 campaign, Chadwell once again has one of the conference’s deepest and most talented rosters. Several national projections believe the Flames possess the league’s highest ceiling and could reach double-digit victories if the quarterback competition produces a consistent starter.
Simply put, Liberty has more proven talent than anyone else in the conference.
Why They’ll Win the Conference
- Best overall roster
- Elite coaching continuity
- Highest talent ceiling
- Championship experience
Projected Record: 9-3 (7-1 CUSA)
Projected Bowl
College Football Playoff or Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
If Liberty captures Conference USA and finishes as the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, the Flames would earn an automatic berth into the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. If they narrowly miss the CFP, Conference USA’s premier bowl affiliation would likely send Liberty to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport against a Big 12 opponent.
2. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Head Coach: Charles Kelly
Jacksonville State has quickly become one of Conference USA’s flagship programs.
Even with coaching changes and roster turnover over the past several seasons, the Gamecocks continue to find ways to win. Dynamic quarterback Caden Creel returns after another impressive campaign and gives Jacksonville State one of the conference’s most dangerous rushing attacks.
The Gamecocks should once again be Liberty’s biggest challenger.
Strengths
- Physical rushing attack
- Veteran defense
- Winning culture
- Mobile quarterback
Projected Record: 8-4 (6-2 CUSA)
Projected Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
A second-place finish would likely send Jacksonville State to New Orleans for a matchup against one of the Sun Belt Conference’s top teams.
3. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Head Coach: Tyson Helton
Western Kentucky has become synonymous with offensive fireworks.
The Hilltoppers annually field one of the league’s best passing offenses and remain a legitimate championship contender entering 2026. If quarterback play develops quickly once again, WKU has every opportunity to challenge Liberty and Jacksonville State for the conference title.
Strengths
- Explosive passing offense
- Coaching stability
- Championship experience
Projected Record: 8-4 (6-2 CUSA)
Projected Bowl
68 Ventures Bowl
Western Kentucky is projected to earn a trip to Mobile, Alabama, for the 68 Ventures Bowl, giving the Hilltoppers another opportunity to cap the season with a quality postseason victory.
4. Kennesaw State Owls
Few programs have risen faster than Kennesaw State.
Despite offseason roster turnover, the defending conference champions remain one of the league’s most dangerous teams. The addition of transfer quarterback Rickie Collins provides another dynamic weapon for an already athletic football team.
Don’t be surprised if the Owls once again find themselves in the championship conversation deep into November.
Strengths
- Athletic roster
- Aggressive defense
- Strong coaching staff
Projected Record: 7-5 (5-3 CUSA)
Projected Bowl
Salute to Veterans Bowl
A winning season would likely send the Owls to Montgomery, Alabama, where they would represent Conference USA against either the MAC or Sun Belt.
5. FIU Panthers
FIU quietly put together one of its better seasons in recent memory and appears poised to continue climbing the Conference USA ladder.
Transfer quarterback JJ Kohl brings renewed optimism to the Panthers’ offense, and another winning season would represent continued progress for a program trending upward.
Projected Record: 7-5 (5-3 CUSA)
Projected Bowl
Frisco Football Classic
The Panthers are projected to earn Conference USA’s fifth bowl berth with a trip to Frisco, Texas.
6. Missouri State Bears
Missouri State officially begins year 2 in the FBS after making the jump from the FCS.
Several preseason publications believe the Bears could become one of Conference USA’s biggest surprises. While growing pains are still expected, Missouri State has enough experience to compete.
Projected Record: 5-7 (4-4 CUSA)
7. Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens
Quarterback Nick Minicucci returns after an impressive debut FBS season, giving Delaware one of Conference USA’s better passing attacks.
If the Blue Hens improve defensively, they could easily outperform expectations.
Projected Record: 5-7 (4-4 CUSA)
8. New Mexico State Aggies
The Aggies continue rebuilding and should be more competitive in conference play.
Consistency remains the biggest question entering the season.
Projected Record: 5-7 (3-5 CUSA)
9. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Replacing longtime quarterback Nicholas Vattiato marks the beginning of a new chapter.
The Blue Raiders have enough talent to remain competitive, but youth and inexperience could make 2026 a transition year.
Projected Record: 4-8 (2-6 CUSA)
10. Sam Houston Bearkats
Sam Houston enters 2026 with one of the conference’s youngest rosters.
While the rebuilding process continues, the Bearkats have enough talent to play spoiler throughout conference play.
Projected Record: 3-9 (1-7 CUSA)
Projected 2026 Bowl Outlook
| Finish | Team | Projected Bowl |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Liberty | College Football Playoff or Independence Bowl |
| 🥈 | Jacksonville State | New Orleans Bowl |
| 🥉 | Western Kentucky | 68 Ventures Bowl |
| 4 | Kennesaw State | Salute to Veterans Bowl |
| 5 | FIU | Frisco Football Classic |
Players & Storylines to Watch
Can Liberty reclaim the Conference USA crown?
After falling short in 2025, the Flames once again enter the season as the conference favorite with the league’s deepest roster and highest ceiling.
Jacksonville State’s pursuit continues
The Gamecocks have become one of the nation’s most consistent Group of Five programs and look poised for another championship run under Charles Kelly.
Missouri State’s OOC schedule
The Bears may be Conference USA’s biggest wild card. Their transition from the FCS to FBS in year 1 showed they can compete. However they play Texas A7M, SMU, and Marshall and project a 1-3 OOC record preventing them from a bowl game.
Quarterback play will shape the conference
Quarterbacks Caden Creel (Jacksonville State), Nick Minicucci (Delaware), JJ Kohl (FIU) and Rickie Collins (Kennesaw State) headline one of the strongest collections of signal-callers the conference has featured in years.
Projected Conference USA Championship
🏆 Liberty vs. Jacksonville State
Projected Champion: Liberty Flames
Liberty’s combination of roster depth, coaching continuity and championship experience gives the Flames the edge entering 2026. Jacksonville State should once again provide the biggest challenge, while Western Kentucky and Kennesaw State remain close enough to make this one of the nation’s most entertaining Group of Five championship races.
Final Take
Conference USA may have trimmed its membership to 10 schools, but it hasn’t lost any of its competitiveness. With Liberty looking to return to the top, Jacksonville State chasing another title game appearance, Western Kentucky continuing its offensive tradition, Kennesaw State emerging as a legitimate contender and FIU on the rise, the conference is positioned for another exciting season.
The streamlined schedule means there will be little margin for error, and every conference game will carry championship implications. By the time December arrives, don’t be surprised if the Liberty Flames are once again celebrating a Conference USA championship—and potentially preparing for a College Football Playoff appearance.
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