[2023] quick CUSA preview

[tsweezy]

Conference USA lost 4 of their top teams to the AAC and backfilled with some interesting new additions but who knows what the divisions look like now (not me)

 

Team	2022 Record	Talent Rank	Best Player	2nd Best	3rd Best	1st round talents	Projected Draft Picks	Predicted Conference finish
Western Kentucky	11-2	79	Western KentuckyFBIanJenningsRushingSr4A	Western KentuckyWREvanGordonRoute RunnerSr4A	Western KentuckyOGCaseyHatcherBalancedJr5A	0	3	1
Old Dominion	7-5	27	Old DominionCRashardNallLine CaptainSr4A	Old DominionCBBobbyGonzalezBall HawkJr5A	Old DominionSSJamesWilsonZone CoverageJr4A	0	3	2
New Mexico State	7-5	49	New Mexico StateRBMickeyTulowitzkiReceivingSr4A	New Mexico StateFBItoHerreraReceivingSr4A	New Mexico StateOTRyanSegoviaRun BlockingJr4A	0	2	3
Marshall	7-5	32	MarshallFSMychalMercedesZone CoverageSr3A	MarshallCBNickMcKinneyBall HawkSr4A	MarshallQBShaironJansenScramblerSr4A	1	2	4
Middle Tennessee	7-5	68	Middle TennesseeRBDevanteFuentesReceivingSr4A	Middle TennesseeFBKristjanPorter Jr.BlockingSr4A	Middle TennesseeCBOwaJacksonMan CoverageJr4A-	0	1	5
Louisiana Tech	9-4	112	Louisiana TechOTFrancisSnellPass BlockingSr4A	Louisiana TechDTReshadCervelliNose TackleSr3A	Louisiana TechCBTreyBrownMan CoverageSr4A	1	1	6
Southern Miss	5-7	104	Southern MissOTChrisReyesRun BlockingSr4A	Southern MissDTChrisCrawfordBalancedSr4A	Southern MissDEJoelChirinosSpeed RusherSr4A	0	2	7
Florida International	6-6		#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	0	0	8
Liberty	4-8	115	LibertyFBShaquilWatkinsBalancedSr4A	LibertyCBFreddieKochMan CoverageJr4A-	LibertyOGL.T.BardBalancedSr3A-	0	1	9
UTEP	5-7	120	UTEPCBArnoldSmithMan CoverageSr4A	UTEPOTParkerBolingPass BlockingJr4A	UTEPFBClintonMarteBlockingSr4A	0	1	10

 

Western Kentucky was a playoff team last year and started off the campaign by blasting national champion Alabama 27-0 in the first game (albeit before significant roster changes). Liberty also pulled an upset on playoff semifinalist Tennessee, so this conference has a reputation for big upsets now. I think WKU maintains their conference hold and takes it this year, but I have them at 26 in national rankings as I don't think they'll live up to 2022. Old Dominion is led by an absolutely shut down secondary and should take #2, while I have NMSU at third. Other than that, I just don't know much about many of these teams.

[TuscanSota]

Old Dominion, Marshall, and Southern Miss are in the sunbelt this year