Conference USA has been a target of college football restructuring over the past few years, adding and replacing new teams and shuffling its composition.
Liberty was one of the newcomers last season and came in to dominate the conference, winning all of its conference games and claiming the title in its first year in the league. First-year head coach Jamie Chadwell used quarterback Kaydon Salter and an aggressive defense to quickly secure the title.
Oddsmakers are even more bullish on the Flames in 2024, making them the team most likely to win a conference title across all divisions this season. Will they live up to expectations?
Here are the results for Conference USA members this season:
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Liberty returns many key players, including star quarterback Salter, who rushed for nearly 4,000 total yards with 44 touchdowns and six interceptions, and runner Quinton Cooley, who rushed for 1,400 yards. The defense was loaded with young players last season, but the addition of Power Five transfers and the return of second-team All-American Brian Greene, among others, should make this team one of the best in the Group of Five.
The Flames enter the tournament as the favorite to win the CUSA championship and compete for a spot in the Group of 5 College Football Playoff, but only two teams are expected to compete closely: Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State.
WKU will have some changes with the graduation of Austin Reed, but the pass-loving Hilltoppers are loaded with talent, including Texas State (and Auburn) transfer TJ Finley. The team will need to find a replacement for wide receiver Malachi Corey, but the defense has improved and could offset any concerns.
Jacksonville State had an impressive first year in the FBS program, winning nine games in 2023, but they’ll need to make up for a ton of production. Coach Rich Rodriguez’s offense is performing well, but could new players step in to take their place? The team has several transfers competing for positions, and they’ll be hoping their new-look defense can continue to play at a high level despite ranking 116th in returning productivity.
New Mexico State is a long shot at winning the championship, with star quarterback Diego Pavia leaving for Vanderbilt and head coach Jerry Kill also leaving. The Aggies are listed at 80-1 at the start of their rebuild.
Game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.
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