2026 NCAAF: Conference USA Preview

The 2026-2027 season marks a rare moment for Conference USA – one in which there is actual continuity amongst the league.

For the first time since 2019, there are no changes to the makeup of this league, which has been marked by consistent change for most of the past decade and has more or less served as a landing spot for many of the new additions to the FBS.

One of the reasons that the conference has been so unpredictable is due to that aspect of change, with the new additions being difficult to size up and somewhat surprisingly, being competitive earlier than would be expected given the competition gap between FBS and lower divisions.

At the same time, this level of unpredictability is what makes the league worth watching. While Conference USA is generally regarded as the weakest of the 10 conferences in FBS, not having a back-to-back champion since 2021-2022 speaks for itself. And yes, it even speaks over top of the fact that the regular changeover makes it difficult by default to see anyone have a stranglehold on the league.

Teams I Like

Jacksonville State

Rich Rod put this program on the map at the FBS level, but Charles Kelly did an excellent job last season maintaining the momentum build by his predecessor and looks to again be fielding a contender for the C-USA crown. Rodriguez has been poaching players from the roster ever since he left, and that continues into this year with Cam Cook bolting for West Virginia. Losing the FBS leader in rushing yards and four offensive linemen would normally be a huge gap to fill for a team so dedicated to the run game, but the Gamecocks will bounce back.

Cook is gone, but a by-committee scenario should emerge in his place at running back that should provide depth and risk mitigation at the position this season. The star in the run game may play the quarterback position, anyway. Caden Creel threw for over 1,500 yards and rushed for over 1,000, making him one of the most dangerous dual threat options in the country. With the rebuilt offensive line needing to come together, Jacksonville State may rely initially on the defense to keep it in tough games early in the season. The Gamecocks are solid at all three levels on that side and are equipped to approach the non-conference schedule in that way if needed. This team will improve as the season goes on, giving it a great opportunity to position itself for a Conference USA title game appearance.

Kennesaw State

Jerry Mack undoubtedly deserved the Bear Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year award that he received last season, turning a program that went 2-10 in 2024 into a 10-win squad and conference champion in just one year. Mack’s Kennesaw State team is being overlooked again this season, however, with few picking the Owls to defend their C-USA title. Much of that has to do with the seemingly unsustainable way that the Owls went about winning the conference last season, as well as needing to replace nearly the entire offense including star quarterback Amari Odom. If Mack proved anything last season, it’s that it doesn’t matter what the preseason perception of his squad is – he will squeeze the most out of it.

The Owls may not miss Odom as much as people think, with Rickie Collins coming in from Syracuse. The former four-star recruit out of high school possesses similar athleticism and could potentially be more dangerous as a passer. Kennesaw State should be able to protect him well enough and also has a good enough defense to keep things close early in the year if the offense is still finding its footing. The Owls face all of the other C-USA contenders this season, but two of them are at home (Jacksonville State / Liberty) and the road trip to Western Kentucky is the season finale, where everything will already be on the table.

Delaware

I was surprised by how well the Fightin’ Blue Hens adapted to the rigors of FBS in their inaugural season and won’t be underestimating them again in 2026. It is made much easier when looking at their offense, which returns seven starters including quarterback, best running back and top wideout. The question to be answered, which will likely determine whether this team is a true C-USA title contender or in similar position to last season, is whether the defense can improve upon its 2025 performance.

Unlike a lot of teams that have made the jump to FBS over the past decade, Delaware has stuck with the same coaching personnel that delivered success at the lower level and the intentional building that is being carried out at the program is obvious. With an offseason to recruit FBS talent and a strong nucleus already in place, I expect the Fightin’ Blue Hens to be a thorn in the side of the other C-USA contenders at the very least. At best, this is a team with individual talent that can rack up a lot of awards, in attention to helping the team capture championship hardware.

Not High On

Missouri State

Like Delaware, the Bears did an excellent job navigating FBS waters in their inaugural season in the division, rebounding from a 2-3 start to finish with a winning record and postseason appearance. Unlike the Fightin’ Blue Hens, Missouri State’s floodgates were busted open in terms of personnel following the season. Former head coach Ryan Beard left for the Coastal Carolina job and most of the production on both sides of the football left as well. New head man Casey Woods has his work cut out for him, both taking on his first head coaching job but also rebuilding what was lost.

If it were just a player replacement problem, I may be more inclined to give the Bears more grace given the way they rebounded last season after a tough start. Coach Woods knows offense and will probably get decent production from that group, but the defense is a question mark as well and faces a lot of teams that will bring the juice offensively (Texas A&M and SMU out-of-conference plus all of the C-USA contenders). The schedule looks a bit too difficult for the Bears to get back to the postseason again – doing so would be a massive accomplishment for this new coaching staff.

Players To Watch

Kanye Udoh, Liberty running back

The pairing of Udoh and Liberty looks like a great one for two sides that needed a fresh start. Udoh had transferred to Arizona State for last season after having a great previous year at Army and was expected to be a key component of the Sun Devils offense. But despite what appeared to be a good start early in the season, Udoh was not utilized as heavily as expected and lost the starter’s role. Liberty lost its 1,300+ yard rusher Evan Dickens in the offseason and needed to find a new feature back for Jamey Chadwell’s offense.

There is not much from last season to carry forward suggesting that Udoh cannot return to the form that he exhibited at Army in 2024. The Liberty offense, meanwhile, will need a workhorse to run efficiently. Udoh can be that guy, having carried the ball 179 times (No. 5 in the American Conference) for the Black Knights two seasons ago. Newand Isaac’s offense contains some similarities to what Army runs and Udoh should be back to an 1,000+ yard guy again in 2026.

K.D. Hutchinson, Western Kentucky wide receiver

Hutchinson is one of the rare guys who has both made an impact with his team every season and decided to stick with the same program for the entirety of his career. For the third time, Hutchinson enters the season as the leading returning receiver for the Hilltoppers and should have a great chance to significantly improve his yardage this season thanks to the familiarity built with quarterback Rodney Tisdale last year. The back half of the season in which Tisdale started, Hutchinson had no fewer than five receptions per game.

The redshirt senior is a versatile slot receiver that has proven to be a reliable target and is a great outlet to have as Tisdale continues his development as a passer. Hutchinson gobbles up receptions, finishing second in the conference last season and will be a threat to finish at the top of the list in 2026. He is also utilized in the run game at times, proving that his versatility doesn’t just apply to when he is running routes downfield.

Caden Creel, Jacksonville State quarterback

Most of the time when we define quarterbacks as being versatile, it’s a nod to their ability as a dual threat. And for Creel that is certainly true, as his 1,514 yards passing and 1,075 yards rushing placed him in an elite quartet of players in the FBS last season who had at least 1,000 yards in both categories. But the junior takes the term versatility to a different level. Before he took over the starting job at quarterback last season, Creel was utilized as a running back, wide receiver and even punt returner in addition to signal-caller.

Creel’s resume accurately positions him as more dangerous on the ground than through the air, but with last season’s experience and an offseason where he was expected to lead the Gamecocks at quarterback in 2026, he should be improved and more confident through the air. With the multitude of ways that he provides value to Jacksonville State, it isn’t a stretch to say that Creel is the single most important player to any team in Conference USA this season.

Nick Minicucci, Delaware quarterback

On a broadcast last season I heard someone compare Minicucci’s playing style to that of Baker Mayfield, and in a lot of ways I find that to be a great match. Minicucci led Conference USA last season with 3,683 yards passing and was second in the entire nation in passing attempts with 512. While known for his strong arm and good decision making in the pocket, he is also an underrated athlete and isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body to make a play.

The only area where the comp doesn’t quite hold up is the legitimate “chip on the shoulder” attitude that Mayfield displays both with the media and in his playing style. Minicucci exhibits it on the field but is a more reserved leader and hasn’t put himself or his team in the spotlight due to something that got picked up by a mic. His announcement that he would return to Delaware this season was celebrated by the team due to the production and leadership he provides. A second-team all-conference selection last season, Minicucci should be in the running for player of the year honors in 2026.

Baron Hopson, Kennesaw State linebacker

Hopson’s first two seasons at Kennesaw State were cut short by injuries, but there has always been promise about what he could become following a solid sophomore season at Jackson State. Everything came together from a health perspective last season and Hopson took advantage, leading Conference USA with 138 tackles (No. 5 in country). He has good instincts and is willing to aggressively pursue sideline-to-sideline, making him a ever present force for Kennesaw State.

Kennesaw State’s linebacker corps figures to be a strong point for the defense this season and if Hopson stays healthy, will be the leader of that and attract more attention. While he isn’t the fastest player at his position and therefore can struggle with pass coverage assignments, his instincts to find and attack the ballcarrier still make him an interesting prospect for the next level.

Alton McCaskill, Sam Houston State running back

The 2021 AAC Rookie of the Year at Houston showed flashes of the production at Sam Houston State last year that earned him the title five seasons ago, but offensive line issues and an offensive scheme shift that failed to produce positive results stymied just about everything that the Bearkats wanted to do in 2025. With better support up front this year and luck with regards to health, McCaskill may finally be able to have the type of season that his freshman campaign suggested he can produce.

As one of the rare seventh-year players in college football (and one of the even more rare seventh-year running backs), McCaskill’s story will pick up steam quickly if either Sam Houston State or he individually is able to find success. One of his primary strengths has always been his patience as a runner, which is something that injuries can’t take away.

Games to Watch (Conference)

Liberty at Delaware (October 2)

Defense was entirely optional in this matchup a year ago, with Liberty ultimately cruising to a 29 point victory over the Fightin’ Blue Hens. This is the end of a tough four game stretch for Delaware, and a win here could inject some needed confidence into the team depending on how the earlier slate goes.

Jacksonville State at Kennesaw State (October 7)

The highly anticipated matchup featuring last year’s CUSA title game teams takes place on a Wednesday night, maximizing the chances that casual fans will get a chance to watch these two relatively undistracted.

Liberty at Kennesaw State (October 21)

The Owls have had a some highly celebratory moments at the expense of Liberty the past couple of years, beginning with their first victory as an FBS program (as 28 point underdogs) in 2024 and then a dramatic, double overtime victory last year in the season finale that sent Kennesaw State to the CUSA title game. Talk about a revenge spot for the Flames.

Delaware at Kennesaw State (November 7)

A first-ever meeting for the two recently transitioned FBS programs. If Kennesaw State has a suitable replacement for Amari Odom at quarterback, this one has a great chance of being a track meet.

Jacksonville State at Delaware (November 28)

Potentially a crucial game for Jacksonville State’s title hopes, with nearly all of its toughest conference battles on the road this season. The Gamecocks have struggled in season finales on the road (zero wins in last three) and the Fightin’ Blue Hens figure to be a handful for defenses in 2026.

Kennesaw State at Western Kentucky (November 28)

The Hilltoppers face perhaps the most difficult three game stretch of any CUSA team all season by taking on Jacksonville State, Liberty on the road and Kennesaw State in succession. To add to the importance of this stretch, these games are at the end of the regular season, with this contest against the Owls serving as the season finale. The ‘Tops title chances will almost surely be decided by this stretch.

Games to Watch (Non-Conference)

Jacksonville State at North Dakota State (August 29)

One of the opening weekend’s more intriguing matchups. Although an FBS debutante, North Dakota State will look more like a division veteran and are incredibly difficult to play at the Fargodome, boasting a 29-2 record there over the past five regular seasons.

Liberty at Coastal Carolina (September 24)

Jamey Chadwell returns to the Surf Turf for the first time since leaving for Lynchburg after the 2022 season. The Chanticleers have struggled to maintain the momentum that Chadwell built during his time with the program, but Ryan Beard brings a jolt of energy to it and the team should be motivated to perform well in this one.

Delaware at Virginia (September 26)

The presumably stout Virginia defense will be a great test to understand whether Delaware’s offense can be legitimately potent. The Cavaliers will be breaking in a lot of new pieces offensively this season and may rely on the defense in this spot. Also, an intriguing quarterback battle exists between Nick Minicucci and Beau Pribula.

Aw, Shuck It (3 Bets to Place)

*odds via DraftKings at time of publication. Around The Corn is not responsible for lost bets!

Kennesaw State Reaches Conference USA Championship Game (+340)

The Owls were massive underdogs to make the C-USA title game in 2025 and while they won’t be quite as big of one this season, still have plenty of doubters. If it turns out that there isn’t a huge drop off in quarterback play for Kennesaw State this season, this could end up being a steal.

Delaware Over 6.5 Wins (+130)

With the schedule being littered with difficult matchups this season, it won’t be surprising if Delaware’s success ebbs and flows. That said, this is an experienced group that can handle it. This one probably won’t clear early in the year, but there are enough spots on the schedule for the Blue Hens to get there in 2026.

Liberty Makes College Football Playoff (+7000)

For a team that is favored to win its conference and has a manageable out-of-conference schedule as well, these seem like astronomically long odds. Maybe it’s a moon shot, but for the payout potential alone this is an intriguing play.

Predictions

1. Liberty (10-2, [7-1])
2. Kennesaw State (9-3, [6-2])
3. Jacksonville State (9-3, [6-2])
4. Western Kentucky (7-5, [5-3])
5. Delaware (7-5, [5-3])
6. FIU (6-6, [4-4])
7. New Mexico State (4-8, [3-5])
8. Middle Tennessee State (3-9, [2-6])
9. Missouri State (2-10, [1-7])
10. Sam Houston State (2-10, [1-7])

Conference Title Game

Kennesaw State at Liberty

Champion: Kennesaw State