Conference USA Football Recap: Weeks 1 & 2 + Beefy Cup Standings
As the 2024 Conference USA football season kicks off, teams are already battling both in regular play and in the thrilling Beefy Cup Tournament. With two weeks of action in the books, here's a look at how the teams are shaping up.
1. Liberty Flames (1-1, 1-0 Conf) (1-3 Beefy Cup, Eliminated)
The Flames, last year’s conference runner-up, had a rough start in Week 1 with a 35-41 home loss to the Charlotte 49ers. Despite the loss, QB Kaidon Salter was electric, completing 30 of 42 passes for a staggering 472 yards and 4 touchdowns. Liberty bounced back in Week 2 to secure their first conference win, putting them in a prime position to start the conference season strong. Unfortunately, Liberty’s Beefy Cup run ended early after three straight losses, but the focus is now on conference play.
2. UTEP Miners (2-0, 0-0 Conf) (1-2 Beefy Cup, Eliminated)
UTEP has enjoyed an undefeated start to the season, powered by standout QB Cade McConnell, who leads the conference with over 500 passing yards. With a solid non-conference run, they now turn their focus to Week 3, where they will host the Liberty Flames in a crucial conference opener. UTEP’s Beefy Cup campaign was also cut short, but their strong form bodes well for upcoming C-USA matchups.
3. Kennesaw State Owls (1-1, 0-0 Conf) (0-2 Beefy Cup, @Clemson remaining)
Kennesaw State’s high-octane offense has been flying, boasting the conference's leading passing attack with 576 yards. Their 1013 total yards are second only to UTEP. Despite this firepower, the Owls have a 1-1 record and are still looking to solidify their identity. They have one Beefy Cup game remaining against Clemson, which will test their mettle before conference play begins.
4. Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0-1, 0-0 Conf) (0-2 Beefy Cup, vs Pitt remaining)
Jacksonville State hasn’t started conference play yet, but they have a secret weapon in HB Anwar Lewis, who has already impressed with 105 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in just one game. The Gamecocks are looking to find their footing after a slow start in both the regular season and the Beefy Cup, where they still have one game remaining against Pitt.
5. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (0-1, 0-0 Conf) (0-3 Beefy Cup, vs UT San Antonio remaining)
The Bulldogs are leaning on a powerful two-headed rushing attack from Fred Robinson and Donerio Davenport, who have combined for 105 yards in their first game. With one Beefy Cup game remaining, Louisiana Tech will aim to turn their fortunes around as they prepare for conference action.
6. WKU Hilltoppers (0-1, 0-0 Conf) (0-3 Beefy Cup, Eliminated)
WKU has had a sluggish start to the season, losing all four of their games between the regular season and the Beefy Cup. The bright spot for the Hilltoppers has been QB TJ Finley, who threw for nearly 250 yards in their first game. However, with a 1-to-4 TD/INT ratio, Finley will need to tighten up his passing to help WKU climb the standings in C-USA.
7. Sam Houston Bearkats (0-2, 0-0 Conf) (0-1 Beefy Cup, @Syracuse & vs Wash State remaining)
Sam Houston has shown promise in their passing game but has struggled to finish games. WR Ife Adeyi leads the conference in receiving yards, with 7 catches for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns. Despite these flashes of brilliance, the Bearkats are still winless and looking for their first victory as they wrap up Beefy Cup play with two games left.
8. New Mexico State Aggies (0-2, 0-1 Conf) (0-3 Beefy Cup, vs Navy remaining)
NMSU has struggled to find their rhythm, starting the season 0-5 overall, including a 0-1 mark in conference play. QB Parker Awad has been a lone bright spot, throwing for 458 yards and 2 touchdowns across two games. The Aggies will need to build on his promising performances to turn their season around.
9. FIU Golden Panthers (0-0, 0-0 Conf) (0-3 Beefy Cup, vs Temple remaining)
FIU has yet to play a regular-season game but has already been eliminated from the Beefy Cup after a tough tournament. Their matchup with Temple in the remaining Beefy Cup game offers a chance to build momentum heading into the season.
10. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (0-0, 0-0 Conf) (1-2 Beefy Cup, Eliminated)
The Blue Raiders are yet to begin their conference campaign, but with a 1-2 Beefy Cup record, they’ve shown some early flashes. The first 2 weeks will be crucial for Middle Tennessee as they look to assert themselves in the competitive Conference USA race.
Standings Recap and Outlook
As the season enters Week 3, Conference USA is wide open, with teams like UTEP, Liberty, and Kennesaw State showing early promise. The Beefy Cup has been a mixed bag for the conference, with several teams eliminated but still honing their game for the long season ahead. With several key matchups on the horizon, including Liberty at UTEP and Sam Houston taking on Syracuse in the Beefy Cup, the next few weeks will set the tone for who emerges as true contenders in C-USA.
It’s anyone’s season for the taking, and with conference play just around the corner, expect plenty of excitement in the weeks to come.
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