2020 Conference USA football season explained

2020 Conference USA football season
Color:
  1. 013ac6
Color Text:
  1. ffffff
Sport:Football
Pixels:200px
Duration:September 3, 2019 to December 18, 2020
No Of Teams:13†
Draft:2021 NFL Draft
Draft Link:2021 NFL Draft
Top Pick:DT Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech
Picked By:Philadelphia Eagles, 73rd overall
Season:Regular season
Mvp Link:Conference USA football individual awards
Conf1:East
Conf1 Champ:Marshall
Conf2:West
Conf2 Champ:UAB
Finals:Conference USA Championship Game
Finals Link:2020 Conference USA Football Championship Game
Finals Champ:UAB
Finals Runner-Up:Marshall
Finals Mvp:Spencer Brown, UAB[1]
Prevseason Link:2019 Conference USA football season
Prevseason Year:2019
Nextseason Link:2021 Conference USA football season
Nextseason Year:2021

The 2020 Conference USA football season was the 25th season of college football play for Conference USA (C-USA). It was played from September 3, 2020 until December 18, 2020. The league consisted of 14 members in two divisions. It was part of the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

Preseason

Preseason Awards

The conference preseason awards were released On August 25.[2]

Offense! Position! Player! Class! Team
QBJack AbrahamSeniorSouthern Miss
RBJustin HendersonSeniorLouisiana Tech
RBBrenden KnoxJuniorMarshall
OLD'Antne DemerySeniorFIU
OLDesmond NoelSeniorFlorida Atlantic
OLKody RusseySeniorLouisiana Tech
OLCain MaddenSeniorMarshall
OLJordan MeredithSeniorWKU
TEJason PirtleSeniorNorth Texas
WRJaelon DardenSeniorNorth Texas
WRTim JonesSeniorSouthern Miss
WRAustin Watkins Jr.SeniorUAB
Defense! Position! Player! Class! Team
DLMarkees WattsJuniorCharlotte
DLWillie BakerSeniorLouisiana Tech
DLDion NovilSeniorNorth Texas
DLJordan SmithJuniorUAB
DLDeAngelo MaloneSeniorWKU
LBTavante BeckettSeniorMarshall
LBBlaze AlldredgeSeniorRice
LBKristopher MollSeniorUAB
DBNazeeh JohnsonSeniorMarshall
DBBen DeLucaSeniorCharlotte
DBReed BlankenshipSeniorMiddle Tennessee
DBKy’el HembySeniorSouthern Miss
Specialists! Position! Player! Class! Team
KEthan MooneyJuniorNorth Texas
PJohn HaggertySeniorWKU
KRDeion Hair-GriffinJuniorNorth Texas
PRTalik KeatonSophomoreMarshall
LSReeves BlankenshipJuniorLouisiana Tech

Media predictions

No 2020 Preseason Media Poll was released by Conference USA.

Head coaches

Note: All stats shown are before the start of the 2020 season.

TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall record Record at schoolCUSA Record
CharlotteWill Healy220-277-65-3
FIUButch Davis386–5923-1614–10
Florida AtlanticWillie Taggart156–620–00–0
Louisiana TechSkip Holtz8144–10756–3637–19
MarshallDoc Holliday1178–5178–5149–29
Middle TennesseeRick Stockstill1591–8891–8868–41
North TexasSeth Littrell528–2628–2618–14
Old DominionRicky Rahne10–00–00–0
RiceMike Bloomgren35–205–204–12
Southern MissJay Hopson560–3928–2220-12
UABBill Clark545–2234–1923–9
UTEPDana Dimel332-612–221-15
UTSAJeff Traylor10–00–00–0
Western KentuckyTyson Helton29–49–46–2

Rankings

See main article: 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.

  Pre Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Wk
15
Final
rowspan="3" style="" CharlotteAP
C
CFPNot released
FIUAP
C
CFPNot released
Florida AtlanticAPRV
CRV
CFPNot released
Louisiana TechAPRV
CRVRVRV
CFPNot released
MarshallAPRVRVRVRV22191616151715
CRVRVRVRVRV25181515151615
CFPNot released21
Middle TennesseeAP
C
CFPNot released
rowspan="3" style="" North TexasAP
C
CFPNot released
Old Dominion AP
C
CFPNot released
RiceAP
C
CFPNot released
Southern MissAP
C
CFPNot released
UABAPRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CRVRVRVRV
CFPNot released
UTEPAP
C
CFPNot released
UTSAAP
C
CFPNot released
WKUAP
C
CFPNot released
Legend
  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
 No change in ranking from previous week
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
тTied with team above or below also with this symbol

Schedule

Old Dominion suspended all Fall sports including football for the 2020 season.[3] Rice suspended the start of the football season till September 26 on August 8.[4] Rice pushed the start of their football season back an additional month, not starting play until October 24.[5]

Regular season

Index to colors and formatting
C–USA member won
C–USA member lost
C–USA teams in bold

Conference USA Championship Game

See also: 2020 Conference USA Football Championship Game.

Postseason

Bowl games

Legend
 C-USA Win
 C-USA Loss

See also: 2020–21 NCAA football bowl games.

Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)C-USA teamOpponentScoreAttendance
Myrtle Beach BowlDecember 21ESPN2:30 p.m.North TexasAppalachian StateL 28–56 5,000
New Orleans BowlDecember 23Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LAESPN3:00 p.m.Louisiana TechGeorgia SouthernL 3–383,000
Montgomery BowlDecember 23Cramton BowlMontgomery, ALESPN7:00 p.m.Florida AtlanticMemphisL 10–252,979
Camellia BowlDecember 25Cramton BowlMontgomery, ALESPN2:30 p.m.MarshallBuffaloL 10–172,512
First Responder BowlDecember 26Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TXABC3:30 p.m.UTSA No. 19 LouisianaL 24–31
LendingTree BowlDecember 26Ladd-Peebles StadiumMobile, ALESPN3:30 p.m.Western KentuckyGeorgia StateL 21–39

Rankings are from CFP rankings. All times Eastern Time Zone. C-USA teams shown in bold.

Note: UAB was originally slated to play in the Gasparilla Bowl on December 26. However, the bowl was cancelled after their opponent, South Carolina, was forced to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues among the team.

Selection of teams

Awards and honors

Player of the week honors

WeekOffensive Defensive Special Teams
PlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPosition
Week 1 (Sept. 7)Grant WellsMarshallQB K.D. DavisNorth TexasLB Matt QuinnUABK
Week 2 (Sept. 14)Sincere McCormickUTSARBTyler MurrayCharlotteLBHunter DuplessisUTSAK
Week 3 (Sept. 21)Frank HarrisUTSAQBTavante Beckett,MarshallLBJacob BarnesLouisiana TechK
Week 4 (Sept. 28)Luke AnthonyLouisiana TechQBJamal Ligon UTSALBLexington JosephFIUKR
Week 5 (Oct. 5)Tyrrell PigromeWestern KentuckyQBLeighton McCarthyFlorida AtlanticLBBrayden NarvesonWestern KentuckyK
Week 6 (Oct. 12)Aaron McAllisterCharlotteRBTavante Beckett (2)MarshallLBDuron LoweUTEPKR
Week 7 (Oct. 19)Jason BeanNorth TexasQBEli NealMarshallLBNikia Eason Jr.UABOLB
Week 8 (Oct. 26)Sincere McCormick (2)UTSARBTrey Baldwin,
Antonio Parks
Louisiana Tech,
UTSA
LB,
S
Jalen JacksonMiddle TennesseeCB
Week 9 (Nov. 2)Aaron AllenLouisiana TechQBBee Jay WilliamsonLouisiana TechDBJacob Barnes (2)Louisiana TechK
Week 10 (Nov. 9)Grant Wells (2)MarshallQB DeAngelo MaloneWestern KentuckyDLMatt HayballFlorida AtlanticP
Week 11 (Nov. 16)Grant Wells (3)MarshallQB Rashad WisdomUTSASRobert LeFevreMarshallP
Week 12 (Nov. 23)Sincere McCormick (3)UTSARBDion NovilNorth TexasDLJohn HaggertyWestern KentuckyP
Week 13 (Nov. 30)
Week 14 (Dec. 7)
Week 15 (Dec. 14)

C–USA Individual Awards

The following individuals received postseason honors as voted by the Conference USA football coaches at the end of the season

AwardPlayerSchool
Player of the YearJaelon Darden, WR, Sr.North Texas
Offensive Player of the YearSincere McCormick, RB, So.UTSA
Defensive Player of the YearTavante Beckett, LB, Sr. Marshall
Special Teams Player of the YearLucas Dean, P, So.UTSA
Freshman Player of the YearGrant Wells, QBMarshall
Newcomer of the YearLuke Anthony, QB, Grad.Louisiana Tech
Coach of the YearDoc HollidayMarshall

All-conference teams

PositionPlayerTeam
First Team Offense
WRJaelon Dardenstyle=North Texas
WRAustin Trammellstyle=Rice
WRAustin Watkins, Jr.style=UAB
OLKody Russeystyle=Louisiana Tech
OLCain Maddenstyle=Marshall
OLJosh Ballstyle=Marshall
OLColby Raglandstyle=UAB
OLSidney Wellsstyle=UAB
TEXavier Gainesstyle=Marshall
QBGrant Wellsstyle=Marshall
RBBrenden Knoxstyle=Marshall
RBSincere McCormickstyle=UTSA
First Team Defense
DTMilton Williamsstyle=Louisiana Tech
DTDion Novilstyle=North Texas
DEDarius Hodgestyle=Marshall
DEJordan Smithstyle=UAB
DEDeAngelo Malonestyle=WKU
LB Tavante Beckettstyle=Marshall
LB Blaze Alldregdestyle=Rice
LB Kristopher Mollstyle=UAB
DBBeeJay Williamsonstyle=Louisiana Tech
DBSteven Gilmorestyle=Marshall
DBGregory Grate, Jr.style=Middle Tennessee
DBRashad Wisdomstyle=UTSA
First Team Special Teams
KHunter Duplessisstyle=UTSA
PLucas Deanstyle=UTSA
KRWayne Toussantstyle=Louisiana Tech
PRTalik Keatonstyle=Marshall
LSJacob Fuquastyle=UAB

Ref:[6]

All Conference Honorable Mentions:

Offense:

Defense:

Special Teams:

All-Americans

The 2020 College Football All-America Teams are composed of the following College Football All-American first teams chosen by the following selector organizations: Associated Press (AP), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Walter Camp Foundation (WCFF), The Sporting News (TSN), Sports Illustrated (SI), USA Today (USAT) ESPN, CBS Sports (CBS), FOX Sports (FOX) College Football News (CFN), Bleacher Report (BR), Scout.com, Phil Steele (PS), SB Nation (SB), Athlon Sports, Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Yahoo! Sports (Yahoo!).

Currently, the NCAA compiles consensus all-America teams in the sports of Division I-FBS football and Division I men's basketball using a point system computed from All-America teams named by coaches associations or media sources. The system consists of three points for a first-team honor, two points for second-team honor, and one point for third-team honor. Honorable mention and fourth team or lower recognitions are not accorded any points. Football consensus teams are compiled by position and the player accumulating the most points at each position is named first team consensus all-American. Currently, the NCAA recognizes All-Americans selected by the AP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, and the WCFF to determine Consensus and Unanimous All-Americans. Any player named to the First Team by all five of the NCAA-recognized selectors is deemed a Unanimous All-American.[7] [8]

PositionPlayerSchoolSelectorUnanimousConsensus
First Team All-Americans
WRJaelon Dardenstyle=North TexasESPN, FWAA, USAT
OLCain Maddenstyle=MarshallAthletic, USAT
PositionPlayerSchoolSelectorUnanimousConsensus
Second Team All-Americans
WRJaelon Dardenstyle=North TexasAFCA, AP, CBS, TSN
OLCain Maddenstyle=MarshallAP
RBSincere McCormickstyle=UTSAFWAA
LBTavante Beckettstyle=MarshallFWAA
PLucas Deanstyle=UTSATSN

National award winners

C-USA records vs Other Conferences

2020–2021 records against non-conference foes:

Regular season

Power 5 ConferencesRecord
ACC0–3
Big Ten0–0
Big 120–1
BYU/Notre Dame0–3
Pac-120–0
SEC0–0
Power 5 Total0–7
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American0–2
Independents (Excluding BYU and Notre Dame)2–4
MAC0–0
Mountain West0–0
Sun Belt5–5
Other FBS Total7–11
FCS OpponentsRecord
Football Championship Subdivision8–1
Total Non-Conference Record15–19

Post Season

Power Conferences 5Record
ACC0–0
Big Ten0–0
Big 120–0
BYU/Notre Dame0-0
Pac-120–0
SEC0–0
Power 5 Total0–0
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American0–0
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–0
MAC0–0
Mountain West0–0
Sun Belt0-0
Other FBS Total0–0
Total Bowl Record0–0

C-USA vs Power Five matchups

This is a list of games the Sun Belt has scheduled versus power conference teams (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, BYU/Notre Dame and SEC). All rankings are from the current AP Poll at the time of the game.

Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
September 10 ACC UAB Miami, FLHard Rock Stadium • Miami, FLL 14–31
September 12 Big 12 UTEP No. 14 TexasDarrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TXL 3–59
September 12 ACC Western Kentucky LouisvilleCardinal Stadium • Louisville, KYL 21–35
October 2 Independents Louisiana Tech No. 22 BYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTL 14–45
October 9 Independents UTSA No. 15 BYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTL 20–27
October 31 ACC Charlotte DukeWallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NCL 19–53
October 31 Independents Western Kentucky No. 11 BYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTL 10–41

C-USA vs Group of Five matchups

The following games include C-USA teams competing against teams from the American, MAC, Mountain West or Sun Belt.

Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
September 3 Sun Belt South Alabama Southern MissM.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS L 21-32
September 12 Sun Belt Charlotte App StateKidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC L 20-35
September 12 Sun Belt UTSA Texas StateBobcats Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 51-48 2OT
September 19 Sun Belt Troy Middle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN L 20-35
September 19 Sun Belt No. 23 App State MarshallJoan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV W 17-7
September 19 American SMU North TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TX L 35-65
September 24 Sun Belt UAB South AlabamaHancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL W 42-10
September 26 American Tulane Southern MissM.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS L 24-66
September 26 Sun Belt UTEP Louisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LA W 24-10
October 23 Sun BeltLouisianaUABLegion Field • Birmingham, AL L 20-24
November 21 Sun Belt Middle Tennessee TroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL W 20-17
December 7 Sun Belt Florida Atlantic Georgia SouthernAllen E. Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA L 3-20

C-USA vs FBS independents matchups

The following games include C-USA teams competing against FBS Independents, which includes Army, Liberty, New Mexico State, or UMass.

Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
September 5 Independents Middle Tennessee ArmyMichie Stadium • West Point, NY L 0-42
September 19 Independents Liberty Western KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY L 24-30
September 26 Independents FIU Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA L 34-36
September 5 Independents Army UTSAAlamodome • San Antonio, TX L 16-28
November 7 Independents UMassMarshallJoan C. Edwards Stadium• Huntington, WV W 51-10
November 20 Independents UMassFlorida AtlanticFAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FL W 24-2

C–USA vs FCS matchups

Date Visitor Home Site Score
September 3 Central Arkansas UAB Legion Field • Birmingham, AL W 45-35
September 5 Eastern Kentucky Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV W 59-0
September 5 Houston Baptist North Texas Apogee Stadium • Denton, TX W 57-31
September 5 Stepen F. Austin UTEP Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX W 24-14
September 19 Abilene Christian UTEP Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX W 17-13
September 26 Houston Baptist Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA W 66-38
October 23 Jacksonville State FIU Riccardo Silva Stadium • Miami, FL L 10-19
October 24 Chattanooga Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY W 13-10
November 7 North Alabama Southern Miss M.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS W 24-13

NFL Draft

The following list includes all C-USA players who were drafted in the 2021 NFL draft.

PlayerPositionSchoolDraft
Round
Round
Pick
Overall
Pick
Team
Milton WilliamsDTLouisiana Tech3973Philadelphia Eagles
Jordan SmithOLBUAB416121Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaelon DardenWRNorth Texas424129Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh BallOTMarshall433138Dallas Cowboys

Notes and References

  1. News: CHAMPS AGAIN! UAB Defeats Marshall 22-13 to Win C-USA Title . uabsports.com . December 18, 2020 . December 19, 2020.
  2. Web site: 2020 Preseason Football Awards. Conference USA. en. 2020-05-11.
  3. Web site: Old Dominion Athletics Announces Cancellation of Fall Sports Season. ODUsports.com. August 10, 2020. November 7, 2020.
  4. Web site: Rice Delays Start of 2020 Football Season. RiceOwls.com. August 10, 2020. November 7, 2020.
  5. Web site: Owls Opener with Middle Tennessee to be Played Without Fans. RiceOwls.com. October 9, 2020. November 7, 2020.
  6. Web site: C-USA Announces 2020 All-Conference Teams. December 20, 2020. December 22, 2020. conferenceusa.com. Conference USA.
  7. Web site: 2010-11 NCAA Statistics Policies(updated 9/15/2010) . December 10, 2011 . January 3, 2012 . September 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120103181529/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Stats/Statistics+Policies . . dead .
  8. http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/ncaa-football/news/alabamas-tua-tagovailoa-2018-consensus-all-american-team/u4gei2bnxvig1jmptsbwhsj97 2018 Consensus All-America Team