2019 Conference USA football season


The 2019 Conference USA football season was the 24th season of College Football play for Conference USA. It was played from August 29, 2019 until January 2020. Conference USA consisted of 14 members in two divisions. It was part of the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season.
The conference consists of 14 members. The Conference USA Football Championship game was played on December 7.

Preseason

Preseason Awards

The conference preseason awards were released On July 15.
PositionPlayerClassTeam
QBMason FineSeniorNorth Texas
RBSpencer BrownJuniorUAB
RBBenny LeMaySeniorCharlotte
OLLevi BrownSeniorMarshall
OLJosh DunlapSeniorUTSA
OLDerron GatewoodSeniorUTEP
OLSosaia MoseSeniorNorth Texas
OLMiles PateSeniorWKU
TEHarrison BryantSeniorFlorida Atlantic
WRRico Bussey Jr.SeniorNorth Texas
WRAdrian HardyJuniorLouisiana Tech
WRQuez WatkinsJuniorSouthern Miss

PositionPlayerClassTeam
DLChanning HamesSeniorMarshall
DLLaDarius HamiltonSeniorNorth Texas
DLAlex HighsmithSeniorCharlotte
DLGarrett MarinoSeniorUAB
DLDeMarrio SmithSeniorSouthern Miss
DLJacques TurnerJuniorSouthern Miss
LBKhalil BrooksSeniorMiddle Tennessee
LBSage LewisSeniorFIU
LBRacheem BootheJuniorSouthern Miss
DBReed BlankenshipJuniorMiddle Tennessee
DBKy'el HembyJuniorSouthern Miss
DBAmik RobertsonJuniorLouisiana Tech
DBChris JacksonSeniorMarshall

PositionPlayerClassTeam
KJonathan CruzSophomoreCharlotte
PAlvin KenworthySeniorNorth Texas
KRBrett WinneganSeniorUTSA
PRMaurice AlexanderSeniorFIU
LSMatt BeardallSeniorMarshall

Media predictions

The 2019 preseason media football poll was released on July 16.
East Division
West Division
Note: All stats shown are before beginning of the season
TeamHead CoachYears at SchoolOverall RecordRecord at SchoolCUSA Record
CharlotteWill Healy120-267-55-3
FIUButch Davis380–5217-911–5
Florida AtlanticLane Kiffin351–3116–1028–17
Louisiana TechSkip Holtz7134–10446–3364–45
MarshallDoc Holliday1070–4670–4645–27
Middle TennesseeRick Stockstill1487–7887–7865–36
North TexasSeth Littrell423–1723–1715–9
Old DominionBobby Wilder1176–4576–4532–24
RiceMike Bloomgren22–122–121–7
Southern MissJay Hopson455–3321–1615-9
UABBill Clark436–1825–1417–7
UTEPDana Dimel231–501–111–7
UTSAFrank Wilson415–2115–2110–14
Western KentuckyMike Sanford Jr.39–169–166–10

Rankings

Schedule

Regular season

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Week Nine

Week Ten

Week Eleven

Week Twelve

Week Thirteen

Week Fourteen

Conference USA Championship Game

Postseason

Bowl games

Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime C-USA teamOpponentScoreAttendance
Bahamas BowlDecember 20Thomas Robinson Stadium • Nassau, BahamasESPN1:00 p.m.CharlotteBuffalo9–3113,547
Boca Raton BowlDecember 21FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FloridaABC2:30 p.m.Florida AtlanticSMU52–2823,187
Camellia BowlDecember 21Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, AlabamaESPN4:30 p.m.FIUArkansas St.26–3416,209
New Orleans BowlDecember 21Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LouisianaESPN8:00 p.m.UABAppalachian St.17–3121,202
Gasparilla BowlDecember 23Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FloridaESPN1:30 p.m.MarshallUCF25–4828,987
Independence BowlDecember 26Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LouisianaESPN3:00 p.m.Louisiana TechMiami, FL14–033,129
First Responder BowlDecember 30Gerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, TexasESPN11:30 a.m.WKUWMU23–2013,164
Armed Forces BowlJanuary 4Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TexasESPN10:30 a.m.Southern MissTulane13–3038,513

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

Selection of teams

Player of the week honors

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 YearBrenden Knox, RB, RS So.Marshall
Offensive Player of the YearJ'Mar Smith, QB, RS Sr.Louisiana Tech
Defensive Player of the YearDeAngelo Malone, DL, Jr.Western Kentucky
Special Teams Player of the YearJustin Rohrwasser, P/K, Jr.Marshall
Freshman Player of the YearSincere McCormick, RBUTSA
Newcomer of the YearTy Storey, QB, Jr.Western Kentucky
Coach of the YearTyson HeltonWestern Kentucky

All-conference teams

*Denotes Unanimous Selection
Ref:
All Conference Honorable Mentions:
Offense:
QB – Chris Reynolds, R-So., Charlotte •
QB – James Morgan, Gr., FIU •
QB – Jack Abraham, R-Jr., Southern Miss •
RB – Anthony Jones, R-Sr., FIU •
RB – Tre Siggers, R-So., North Texas •
RB – De’Michael Harris, Sr., Southern Miss •
RB – Sincere McCormick, Fr., UTSA •
OL – D’Ante Demery, Jr., FIU •
OL – Devontay Taylor, R-Jr., FIU •
OL – Desmond Noel, R-Jr., Florida Atlantic •
OL – Willie Allen, R-Jr., Louisiana Tech •
OL – Drew Kirkpatrick, R-Sr., Louisiana Tech •
OL – Kody Russey, R-Jr., Louisiana Tech •
OL – Gewhite Stallworth, R-Sr., Louisiana Tech •
OL – Will Gilchrist, Jr., Middle Tennessee •
OL – Robert Jones, Jr., Middle Tennessee •
OL – Isaac Weaver, Jr., Old Dominion •
OL – Shea Baker, R-So., Rice •
OL – Brian Chaffin, Gr., Rice •
OL – Justin Gooseberry, Gr., Rice •
OL – Nick Leverett, Gr., Rice •
OL – Arvin Fletcher, R-Jr., Southern Miss •
OL – Colby Ragland, R-Jr., UAB •
OL – Sidney Wells, Jr., UAB •
OL – Bobby DeHaro, R-So., UTEP •
OL – Spencer Burford, So., UTSA •
OL – Josh Dunlop, Sr., UTSA •
OL – Jordan Meredith, R-Jr., WKU •
TE – John Raine, Sr., Florida Atlantic •
TE – Jason Pirtle, R-Jr., North Texas •
TE – Carlos Strickland II, Jr., UTSA •
TE – Joshua Simon, Fr., WKU •
WR – Victor Tucker, R-So., Charlotte •
WR – Tony Gaiter IV, Sr., FIU •
WR – Deangelo Antoine, Sr., Florida Atlantic •
WR – Adrian Hardy, R-Jr., Louisiana Tech •
WR – Malik Stanley, R-Sr., Louisiana Tech •
WR – Jyaire Shorter, Fr., North Texas •
WR – Brad Rozner, Jr., Rice •
WR – Austin Trammell, Jr., Rice •
WR – Myron Mitchell, R-Jr., UAB
Defense:
DT – Ray Ellis, Gr., Florida Atlantic •
DT – Milton Williams, R-So., Louisiana Tech •
DT – Dion Novil, Jr., North Texas •
DT – Myles Adams, Sr., Rice •
DT – Delmond Landry, R-Sr., Southern Miss •
DT – Tony Fair, R-Jr., UAB •
DT – Jaylon Haynes, Jr., UTSA •
DT – Jeremy Darvin, R-Jr., WKU •
DT – Jaylon George, R-Sr., WKU •
DE – Markees Watts, So., Charlotte •
DE – Tim Bonner, R-Sr., Florida Atlantic •
DE – Willie Baker, R-Jr., Louisiana Tech •
DE – Darius Hodge, R-So., Marshall •
DE – LaDarius Hamilton, Sr., North Texas •
DE – Derek Wilder, Sr., Old Dominion •
DE – Jacques Turner, R-Jr., Southern Miss •
DE – Fitzgerald Mofor, R-Sr., UAB •
DE – Eric Banks, Sr., UTSA •
DE – Jarrod Carter-McLin, Sr., UTSA •
LB – Jeff Gemmell, R-Sr., Charlotte •
LB – Rashad Smith, Sr., Florida Atlantic •
LB – Collin Scott, R-Sr., Louisiana Tech •
LB – Connor Taylor, Sr., Louisiana Tech •
LB – KD Davis, So., North Texas •
LB – Tyreke Davis, Jr., North Texas •
LB – Racheem Boothe, R-Jr., Southern Miss •
LB – Swayze Bozeman, Jr., Southern Miss •
LB – Kyle Bailey, Jr., WKU •
DB – Nafees Lyon, R-Sr., Charlotte •
DB – Zyon Gilbert, Jr., Florida Atlantic •
DB – James Pierre, Jr., Florida Atlantic •
DB – Chris Tooley, Sr., Florida Atlantic •
DB – Michael Sam, R-Sr., Louisiana Tech •
DB – Nazeeh Johnson, R- Jr., Marshall •
DB – Jovante Moffatt, Sr., Middle Tennessee •
DB – Treshawn Chamberlain, So., Rice •
DB – Ky’el Hemby, R-Jr., Southern Miss •
DB – Rachuan Mitchell, R-Jr., Southern Miss •
DB – Will Boler, R-So., UAB •
DB – TD Marshall, R-Jr., UAB •
DB – Dy’Jonn Turner, Jr., UAB •
DB – Michael Lewis, R-Sr., UTEP •
DB – Ta’Corian Darden, R-Sr., WKU •
DB – Devon Key, R-Jr., WKU •
DB – Antwon Kincade, Jr., WKU •
DB – Trae Meadows, R-Jr., WKU
Special Teams:
K – Ethan Mooney, So., North Texas •
K – Andrew Stein, Fr., Southern Miss •
K – Nick Vogel, R-Sr., UAB •
K – Gavin Baechle, So., UTEP •
P – Tommy Heatherly, Jr., FIU •
P – Alvin Kenworthy, R-Sr., North Texas •
KR – Deangelo Antoine, Gr., Florida Atlantic •
KR – Blake Watson, R-Fr., Old Dominion •
KR – Myron Mitchell, R-Jr., UAB •
KR – Duron Lowe, R-Jr., UTEP •
PR – Darrell Brown, Sr., Old Dominion •
PR – Justin Garrett, R-Jr., UTEP •
LS – Jonathan Sullivan, Jr., Florida Atlantic •
LS – Nate Durham, Jr., North Texas •
LS – Campbell Riddle, So., Rice •
LS – T.J. Harvey, R-Fr., Southern Miss •
LS – Jacob Fuqua, R-Jr., UAB

All-Americans

The 2019 College Football All-America Teams are composed of the following College Football All-American first teams chosen by the following selector organizations: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, USA Today ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX Sports College Football News, Bleacher Report, Scout.com, Phil Steele, SB Nation, Athlon Sports, Pro Football Focus and Yahoo! Sports.
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.
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National award winners

John Mackey Award
Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic

C-USA records vs Other Conferences

2019–2020 records against non-conference foes:
Regular Season
Post Season

C-USA vs Power Five matchups

This is a list of games the Sun Belt has scheduled versus power conference teams. All rankings are from the current AP Poll at the time of the game.
DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
August 31Big 12Louisiana TechNo. 10 TexasDarrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TXL 14–45
August 31Big TenFlorida AtlanticNo. 5 Ohio StateOhio Stadium • Columbus, OHL 21–45
August 31Big TenMiddle TennesseeNo. 7 MichiganMichigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MIL 21–40
September 7ACCOld DominionVirginia TechLane Stadium • Blacksburg, VAL 17–31
September 7Big 12UTSABaylorMcLane Stadium • Waco, TXL 14–63
September 7Big 12UTEPTexas TechJones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TXL 3–38
September 7ACCWake ForestRiceRice Stadium • Houston, TXL 10–14
September 7SECSouthern MissMississippi StateDavis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MSL 15–38
September 14ACCDukeMiddle TennesseeFloyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TNL 18–41
September 14ACCLouisvilleWestern KentuckyNissan Stadium • Nashville, TNL 21–38
September 14Big 12TexasRiceRice Stadium • Houston, TXL 13–48
September 14Pac-12North TexasCaliforniaCalifornia Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CAL 17–23
September 21ACCCharlotteNo. 1 ClemsonMemorial Stadium • Clemson, SCL 10–52
September 21ACCOld DominionNo. 21 VirginiaScott Stadium • Charlottesville, VAL 17–28
September 21Big 12BaylorRiceRice Stadium • Houston, TXL 13–21
September 21SECSouthern MissNo. 2 AlabamaBryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, ALL 7–49
September 28Big TenMiddle TennesseeNo. 14 IowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IAL 3–48
November 2SECUABTennesseeNeyland Stadium • Knoxville, TNL 7–30
November 2SECUTSATexas A&MKyle Field • College Station, TXL 14–45
November 9SECWestern KentuckyArkansasDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, ARW 45–19
November 23ACCMiamiFIURiccardo Silva Stadium • Miami, FLW 30–24

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.
DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
August 29AmericanFIUTulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAL 14-42
September 6Mountain WestMarshallNo. 24 Boise StateAlbertsons Stadium • Boise, IDL 7–14
September 7Sun BeltCharlotteAppalachian StateKidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NCL 41–56
September 7MACUABAkronInfoCision Stadium • Akron, OHW 31–23
September 7AmericanNo. 17 UCFFlorida AtlanticFAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FLL 14–48
September 7AmericanNorth TexasSMUGerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TXL 27–49
September 14Sun BeltSouthern MissTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, ALW 47–42
September 14MACFlorida AtlanticBall StateScheumann Stadium • Muncie, INW 41–31
September 14MACOhioMarshallJoan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WVW 33–31
September 14MACLouisiana TechBowling GreenDoyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OHW 35–7
September 21Sun BeltSouth AlabamaUABLegion Field • Birmingham, ALL 3–35
September 21Mountain WestNevadaUTEPSun Bowl • El Paso, TXL 21–37
September 28AmericanCincinnatiMarshallJoan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, VAL 14–52
September 28AmericanEast CarolinaOld DominionS.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VAL 21–24
September 28AmericanHoustonNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TXL 25–46

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.
DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
August 30IndependentsRiceArmyMichie Stadium • West Point, NYL 7-14
September 14IndependentsUMassCharlotteMcColl-Richardson Field • Charlotte, NCW 52–17
September 14IndependentsArmyUTSAAlamodome • San Antonio, TXL 13–31
October 5IndependentsUMassFIURiccardo Silva Stadium • Miami, FLW 44–0
October 12IndependentsUMassLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LAW 69–21
October 12IndependentsArmyWestern KentuckyL.T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYW 17–8
November 23IndependentsUTEPNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NML 35–44

C–USA vs FCS matchups

DateVisitorHomeSiteScore
August 29Central ArkansasWestern KentuckyL.T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYL 28-35
August 29Gardner–WebbCharlotteMcColl-Richardson Field • Charlotte, NCW 49-28
August 29Alabama StateUABLegion Field • Birmingham, ALW 24-19
August 31Incarnate WordUTSAAlamodome • San Antonio, TXW 35–7
August 31VMIMarshallJoan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WVW 56–17
August 31Norfolk StateOld DominionS.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VAW 24–21
August 31Alcorn StateSouthern MissM.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MSW 38–10
August 31Abilene ChristianNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TXW 51–31
August 31Houston BaptistUTEPSun Bowl • El Paso, TXW 36–34
September 7Grambling StateLouisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LAW 20–14
September 7Tennessee StateMiddle TennesseeFloyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TNW 45–26
September 14New HampshireFIURiccardo Silva Stadium • Miami, FLW 30–17
September 21WagnerFlorida AtlanticFAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FLW 42–7

Home game Attendance

Bold – Exceed capacity
†Season High

NFL Draft

The following list includes all C-USA players who were drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Round #Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
3102Pittsburgh SteelersAlex HighsmithOLBCharlotte
4115Cleveland BrownsHarrison BryantTEFlorida Atlantic
4125New York JetsJames MorganQBFIU
4129New York JetsCameron ClarkOTCharlotte
4138Kansas City ChiefsL'Jarius SneedSLouisiana Tech
4139Las Vegas RaidersAmik RobertsonCBLouisiana Tech
5159New England PatriotsJustin RohrwasserKMarshall
6200Philadelphia EaglesQuez WatkinsWRSouthern Miss
7221Carolina PanthersStantley Thomas-OliverCBFIU
7243Tennessee TitansChris JacksonCBMarshall