Conference USA Football Championship Game

American football game

Conference USA Football Championship Game

Sport| College football
Conference| Conference USA
Current stadium| Hosted at school site by team with best conference winning percentage
Played| 2005–present
Last contest| 2024
Current champion| Jacksonville State
Most championships| East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Tulsa, UAB, UCF, UTSA, Western Kentucky (2)
TV partner(s)| CBSSN
Official website| ConferenceUSA.com
Sponsors
Xbox 360 (2005)
Aéropostale (2006)
HotelPlanner.com (2010)
Dynacraft BSC (2016–2017)
Globe Life (2018)
Ryan LLC (2019–2022)

The Conference USA Football Championship Game is an annual American football game that has determined the season champion of Conference USA (CUSA) since 2005.

## History

[edit]

The championship game from 2005 to 2021 showcased the CUSA East Division regular season champion against the West Division regular season champion. From the 2022 season, the game pits the number one (1) team in the season standings versus the number two (2) team. The game is typically played on the first Saturday of December. The 2018 edition of the game, sponsored by Globe Life, was played on December 1, 2018, and televised by CBSSN. Ryan LLC currently holds sponsorship rights to the game.[1]

Due partly to major conference realignment in the early 2010s and early 2020s, only five of the nine current CUSA members have played in the Conference USA Football Championship Game, with the most recent 2023 edition featuring two schools in their first season in the conference. The only current CUSA members to have won the championship game are Liberty and Western Kentucky. During the era of divisional play, the overall series between both divisions was led 10–8 by the East Division.

The CUSA Football Championship Game had been aired on ESPN or its affiliates since 2005, but since the 2018 edition has aired on CBSSN.[2]

800km
500miles

Sam Houston

Jacksonville State

New Mexico State

Liberty

Western Kentucky

UTEP

Middle Tennessee

Louisiana Tech

FIU

## Results

[edit]

### Conference USA champions (1996–2004)

[edit]

Before 2005, each member of the conference played in a round-robin scheduling to determine the champion of the conference. In this time period, Southern Miss won the most titles with four. During this time frame, the winner of the CUSA Championship customarily received a berth to play in the Liberty Bowl against a member of the SEC. If two teams tied for the best conference record, co-champions were declared.

Season  | Champion(s)  | Conf.
record  | Overall
record  | Bowl result

|
|
|
|

1996 | Houston | 4–1 | 7–5 | lost Liberty Bowl
Southern Miss | 4–1 | 8–3 |
1997 | 19 Southern Miss | 6–0 | 9–3 | won Liberty Bowl
1998 | 7 Tulane | 6–0 | 12–0 | won Liberty Bowl
1999 | 14 Southern Miss | 6–0 | 9–3 | won Liberty Bowl
2000 | Louisville | 6–1 | 9–3 | lost Liberty Bowl
2001 | 17 Louisville | 6–1 | 11–2 | won Liberty Bowl
2002 | 23 TCU | 6–2 | 11–2 | won Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati | 6–2 | 7–7 | lost New Orleans Bowl
2003 | Southern Miss | 8–0 | 9–4 | lost Liberty Bowl
2004 | 6 Louisville | 8–0 | 11–1 | won Liberty Bowl

Final rankings from AP Poll shown.

### Conference USA Championship Game (2005–present)

[edit]

Below are the results from all Conference USA Football Championship Games played. The winning team appears in bold font, on a background of its primary team color. Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.

Year  | West  | East  | Site  | Attendance  | MVP  | TV

|
|
|
|
|
|

2005 | Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 44 | UCF Knights | 27  | Citrus Bowl • (Orlando, Florida)  | 51,978  | TE Garrett Mills, Tulsa  | ESPN
2006 | Houston Cougars | 34 | Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 20  | Robertson Stadium • (Houston, Texas)  | 31,818  | WR Vincent Marshall, Houston  | ESPN2
2007 | Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 25  | UCF Knights | 44 | Bright House Networks Stadium • (Orlando, Florida)  | 44,128  | RB Kevin Smith, UCF  | ESPN
2008 | Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 24  | East Carolina Pirates | 27 | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium • (Tulsa, Oklahoma)  | 22,740  | CB Travis Simmons, East Carolina  | ESPN2
2009 | 18 Houston Cougars | 32  | East Carolina Pirates | 38 | Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium • (Greenville, North Carolina)  | 33,048  | WR Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
2010 | SMU Mustangs | 7  | UCF Knights | 17 | Bright House Networks Stadium • (Orlando, Florida)  | 41,045  | RB Latavius Murray, UCF
2011 | 7 Houston Cougars | 28  | 24 Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 49 | Robertson Stadium • (Houston, Texas)  | 32,413  | RB/WR Tracy Lampley, Southern Miss  | ABC
2012 | Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 33 | UCF Knights | 27  | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium • (Tulsa, Oklahoma)  | 17,635  | RB/PR/KR Trey Watts, Tulsa  | ESPN2
2013 | Rice Owls | 41 | Marshall Thundering Herd | 24  | Rice Stadium • (Houston, Texas)  | 20,247  | RB Luke Turner, Rice
2014 | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 23  | Marshall Thundering Herd | 26 | Joan C. Edwards Stadium • (Huntington, West Virginia)  | 23,711  | K Justin Haig, Marshall
2015 | Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 28  | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 45 | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • (Bowling Green, Kentucky)  | 16,823  | QB Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky
2016 | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 44  | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 58 | 13,213  | RB Anthony Wales, Western Kentucky  | ESPN
2017 | North Texas Mean Green | 17  | Florida Atlantic Owls | 41 | FAU Stadium • (Boca Raton, Florida)  | 14,258  | WR Kalib Woods, Florida Atlantic  | ESPN2
2018 | UAB Blazers | 27 | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 25  | Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • (Murfreesboro, Tennessee)  | 15,806  | RB Spencer Brown, UAB  | CBSSN
2019 | UAB Blazers | 6  | Florida Atlantic Owls | 49 | FAU Stadium • (Boca Raton, Florida)  | 14,387  | WR Deangelo Antoine, Florida Atlantic
2020 | UAB Blazers | 22 | Marshall Thundering Herd | 13  | Joan C. Edwards Stadium • (Huntington, West Virginia)  | 8,324‡  | RB Spencer Brown, UAB
2021 | UTSA Roadrunners | 49 | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 41  | Alamodome • (San Antonio, Texas)  | 41,148  | RB Sincere McCormick, UTSA
Year  | No. 1 seed  | No. 2 seed  | Site  | Attendance  | MVP  | TV
2022 | 23 UTSA Roadrunners | 48 | North Texas Mean Green | 27  | Alamodome • (San Antonio, Texas)  | 41,412  | QB Frank Harris, UTSA  | CBSSN
2023 | 24 Liberty Flames | 49 | New Mexico State Aggies | 35  | Williams Stadium • (Lynchburg, Virginia)  | 20,077  | QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
2024 | Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 52 | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 12  | Burgess–Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium • (Jacksonville, Alabama)  | 15,628  | QB Tyler Huff, Jacksonville State

‡ 2020 game attendance limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Results by team

[edit]

#### Current members

[edit]

Appearances  | School  | W  | L  | Pct  | Titles  | Runners-up

|
|
|
|
|
|

4  | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 2  | 2  | .666  | 2015, 2016  | 2021, 2024
2  | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 0  | 2  | .000  |  | 2014, 2016
1  | Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 1  | 0  | 1.000  | 2024  |
1  | Liberty Flames | 1  | 0  | 1.000  | 2023  |
1  | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 0  | 1  | .000  |  | 2018
1  | New Mexico State Aggies | 0  | 1  | .000  |  | 2023

* FIU, Kennesaw State, Sam Houston and UTEP have yet to make an appearance in a Conference USA Championship Game.
* Both Delaware and Missouri State, which join in 2025, will respectively be eligible for the title game for the first time in 2026.

#### Former members

[edit]

Appearances  | School  | W  | L  | Pct  | Titles  | Runners-up

|
|
|
|
|
|

4  | Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 2  | 2  | .500  | 2005, 2012  | 2007, 2008
4  | UCF Knights | 2  | 2  | .500  | 2007, 2010  | 2005, 2012
3  | UAB Blazers | 2  | 1  | .666  | 2018, 2020  | 2019
3  | Houston Cougars | 1  | 2  | .333  | 2006  | 2009, 2011
3  | Marshall Thundering Herd | 1  | 2  | .333  | 2014  | 2013, 2020
3  | Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 1  | 2  | .333  | 2011  | 2006, 2015
2  | East Carolina Pirates | 2  | 0  | 1.000  | 2008, 2009  |
2  | Florida Atlantic Owls | 2  | 0  | 1.000  | 2017, 2019  |
2  | UTSA Roadrunners | 2  | 0  | 1.000  | 2021, 2022  |
2  | North Texas Mean Green | 0  | 2  | .000  |  | 2017, 2022
1  | Rice Owls | 1  | 0  | 1.000  | 2013  |
1  | SMU Mustangs | 0  | 1  | .000  |  | 2010

* Charlotte, Memphis, Old Dominion, and Tulane did not make an appearance in a Conference USA Championship Game while members of the conference.

### Game location

[edit]

The team with the best overall conference win percentage will be the team that hosts the championship game. Six venues have hosted two title games—Houston's Robertson Stadium (since demolished, with TDECU Stadium standing at its former site), UCF's FBC Mortgage Stadium (both under its former name of Bright House Networks Stadium), Tulsa's Chapman Stadium, Western Kentucky's Houchens Stadium, Florida Atlantic's FAU Stadium, and UTSA's Alamodome. Of these schools, the only one still a CUSA member is Western Kentucky.

In most recent years, Marshall and Rice both finished with 7–1 records in conference play in 2013, and did not play one another in the regular season; the site was chosen based on the BCS rankings at that time on December 1. Although only 25 teams were explicitly ranked, the ranking formula could be used to determine the relative rankings of any two teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Since 2014, when the BCS was replaced with the College Football Playoff rankings (CFP), national rankings have been removed from the tiebreaker process.

Following the 2024 contest, the home team is 15–5 overall in CUSA football championship games.

## Game records

[edit]

Team  | Record, Team vs. Opponent  | Year

|
|

Most points scored (one team)  | 58, Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech  | 2016
Most points scored (losing team)  | 44, Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky  | 2016
Fewest points scored (winning team)  | 17, UCF vs. SMU  | 2010
Fewest points scored  | 6, UAB vs. FAU  | 2019
Most points scored (both teams)  | 102, Western Kentucky (58) vs. Louisiana Tech (44)  | 2016
Fewest points scored (both teams)  | 24, UCF (17) vs. SMU (7)  | 2010
Most points scored in a half  | 38, Western Kentucky (1st half) vs. Louisiana Tech  | 2016
Most points scored in a half (both teams)  | 65, Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech (1st half)  | 2016
Largest margin of victory  | 43, Florida Atlantic (49) vs. UAB (6)  | 2019
Smallest margin of victory  | 2, UAB (27) vs. Middle Tennessee (25)  | 2018
Total yards  | 656, Western Kentucky (421 passing, 235 rushing) vs. Louisiana Tech  | 2016
Rushing yards  | 386, Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky  | 2024
Passing yards  | 577, Western Kentucky vs. UTSA  | 2021
First downs  | 33, Houston vs. East Carolina  | 2009
Fewest yards allowed  | 223, Florida Atlantic vs. UAB (84 passing, 139 rushing)  | 2019
Fewest rushing yards allowed  | −9, Western Kentucky vs. UTSA  | 2021
Fewest passing yards allowed  | 72, Marshall vs. Louisiana Tech  | 2014
Individual  | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent  | Year
Total offense | 582, Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky vs. UTSA | 2021
Touchdowns responsible for | 5, Case Keenum, Houston vs. East Carolina | 2009
Rushing yards | 284, Kevin Smith, UCF vs. East Carolina | 2007
Rushing touchdowns | 4, shared by:
Kevin Smith, UCF vs. East Carolina
Anthony Wales, Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech |
2007
2016
Passing yards | 577, Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky vs. UTSA | 2021
Passing touchdowns | 5, Case Keenum, Houston vs. East Carolina | 2009
Receiving yards | 241, James Cleveland, Houston vs. East Carolina | 2009
Receiving touchdowns | 3, Zakhari Franklin, UTSA vs. North Texas | 2022
Tackles | 15, shared by:
Gerald McRath, Southern Miss vs. Houston
C.J. Cavness, Houston vs. East Carolina |
2006
2009
Sacks | 2, Bruce Miller, UCF vs. SMU | 2010
Interceptions | 2, shared by 4 players, most recent:
Jaylen Young, Florida Atlantic vs. North Texas |
2017
Long Plays  | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent  | Year
Touchdown run | 74, Kevin Smith, UCF vs. Tulsa | 2007
Touchdown pass | 75, Deangelo Antoine from Chris Robison, Florida Atlantic vs. UAB | 2019
Kickoff return | 69, Dwayne Harris, East Carolina vs. Houston | 2009
Punt return | 83, Joe Burnett, UCF vs. Tulsa | 2007
Interception return | 72, Travis Simmons, East Carolina vs. Tulsa | 2008
Fumble return | 40, Travis Simmons, East Carolina vs. Tulsa | 2008
Punt | 73, Matt Dodge, East Carolina vs. Tulsa | 2008
Field goal | 54, Lucas Carneiro, Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State | 2024
Miscellaneous  | Record, Team vs. Team  | Year
Game attendance | 51,978, UCF vs. Tulsa | 2005
Source: Conference USA[3]

## Selection criteria

[edit]

Division standings are based on each team's overall conference record. Often, two or more teams tie for the best record in their division and each team is recognized as a divisional co-champion. However, tiebreakers are used to determine who will represent the division in the championship game.

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA Division I FBS conference championship games

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ryan Named Football Championship Title Sponsor". Conference USA. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
2. ^ CBS SPORTS NETWORK ANNOUNCES 2018 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FEATURING SERVICE ACADEMIES AND TOP SCHOOLS FROM NINE CONFERENCES
3. ^ "C-USA Records Master" (PDF). conferenceusa.com. pp. 35–36. Retrieved December 3, 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Conference USA Football Championship Game

Years|

* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Venues|

* Citrus Bowl (2005)
* Robertson Stadium (2006, 2011)
* Bright House Networks Stadium (2007, 2010)
* Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium (2008, 2012)
* Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium (2009)
* Rice Stadium (2013)
* Joan C. Edwards Stadium (2014, 2020)
* Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium (2015, 2016)
* FAU Stadium (2017, 2019)
* Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium (2018)
* Alamodome (2021, 2022)
* Williams Stadium (2023)
* Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium (2024)

Broadcasters

* v
* t
* e

Conference USA football

Current teams|

* FIU Panthers
* Jacksonville State Gamecocks
* Kennesaw State Owls
* Liberty Flames
* Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
* Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
* New Mexico State Aggies
* Sam Houston Bearkats
* UTEP Miners (leaving in 2026)
* Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Future members|

* Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
* Missouri State Bears (both joining in 2025)

Championships & awards|

* Conference USA Football Championship Game
* All-time standings

Seasons|

* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Conference USA championships

* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Football
* Men's soccer
* Women's soccer

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I FBS conference championship games

Current|

* American Athletic Championship Game (2015–present)
* ACC Championship Game (2005–present)
* Big Ten Championship Game (2011–present)
* Big 12 Championship Game (1996–2010; 2017–present)
* CUSA Championship Game (2005–present)
* MAC Championship Game (1997–present)
* Mountain West Championship Game (2013–present)
* SEC Championship Game (1992–present)
* Sun Belt Championship Game (2018–present)

Former|

* Pac-12 Championship Game (2011–2023)
* WAC Championship Game (1996–1998)

* v
* t
* e

ESPN College Football

Related articles|

* College Football on ABC
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* College football on television

Programs|

* College GameDay
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* Heisman Trophy Presentation

Game coverage|

* ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime
* ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime
* ESPN2 College Football Saturday Primetime
* ESPNU College Football
* SEC Network Football

Current commentators|

* Todd Blackledge
* Lee Corso
* Rece Davis
* Dusty Dvoracek
* Dave Flemming
* Chris Fowler
* Rod Gilmore
* Kirk Herbstreit
* Desmond Howard
* Mark Jones
* Clay Matvick
* Sean McDonough
* Greg McElroy
* Beth Mowins
* Dan Orlovsky
* Jesse Palmer
* Dave Pasch
* Holly Rowe
* Anish Shroff
* Andre Ware
* Bob Wischusen
* Joe Tessitore

Past commentators|

* Anthony Becht
* Ray Bentley
* Mike Adamle
* Trev Alberts
* Adam Amin
* Erin Andrews
* Dave Barnett
* Bob Carpenter
* Todd Christensen
* Beano Cook
* Bill Curry
* Stacey Dales
* Gary Danielson
* Bob Davie
* Ron Franklin
* Terry Gannon
* Mike Golic
* Mike Gottfried
* Todd Harris
* Lou Holtz
* Craig James
* Adrian Karsten
* Paul Maguire
* Pat McAfee
* Brad Nessler
* Mike Patrick
* Jerry Punch
* Jim Simpson
* Robert Smith
* Chris Spielman
* Charley Steiner
* Rob Stone
* Mike Tirico
* Gino Torretta
* Pam Ward
* Matt Winer
* David Norrie
* Louis Riddick
* Mark May
* Steve Levy
* Brock Huard
* Brian Griese
* Matt Hasselbeck
* Jason Benetti
* Jim Mora
* Gene Chizik
* Kelly Stouffer

Lore televised by ESPN|

* First live telecast
* "Earthquake Game"
* "Seven OT Game"
* Biggest comeback in NCAA history
* Highest-scoring college football game

Conferences|

* ACC
* AAC
* Big Ten
* Big 12
* Conference USA
* MAC
* Pac-12
* SEC
* SBC

Conference Championships|

* Conference USA Championship Game
* MAC Championship Game

Bowls broadcast by ESPN|

* College Football Playoff
* Cotton Bowl
* Fiesta Bowl
* Orange Bowl
* Peach Bowl
* Rose Bowl
* Sugar Bowl
* CFP National Championship
* 68 Ventures Bowl
* Alamo Bowl
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* Pinstripe Bowl
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* Rate Bowl
* ReliaQuest Bowl
* Salute to Veterans Bowl
* Texas Bowl
* International Bowl (defunct)
* Poinsettia Bowl (defunct)
* San Francisco Bowl (defunct)

Other events broadcast by ESPN|

* FCS Kickoff

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