It's not just CUSA that has poor SOS, it's any G5 conference - particularly for teams doing well in those conferences.
(All of the following data pulled from Sagarin 10/24)
AAC SOS for their four best teams are 71 (Memphis), 100 (Navy), 111 (Temple), and 125 (Houston). Best two SOS are 30 (SMU) and 34 (Tulane), which have 3 combined wins; play in the same division as Houston, Memohis, and Navy; and each had OOC conference games against currently ranked teams (Duke, Baylor, and TCU). 8 teams under 100 by rank, 4 over. 9 teams under 100 by SOS, 3 over (or at, Navy).
MAC SOS for their top four teams are 80 (WMU), 85 (BGSU), 118 (Toledo), and 124 (NIU). Best two SOS are 46 (UMASS) and 72 (CMU), with 5 combined wins. 5 teams under 100 by rank, 8 over. 8 teams under 100 by SOS, 5 over.
MWC SOS for their top four teams are 45 (Utah St), 86 (Boise), 106 (SDSU), and 114 (Air Force). Best two SOS are 45 (Utah St) and 58 (Fresno), with 6 combined wins. 5 teams under 100 by rank, 7 over (or at, SJSU). 7 teams under 100 by SOS, 5 over.
SBC SOS for their top four teams are 105 (Ark St), 107 (ULL), 113 (GASO), and 148 (App St). Best two SOS are 65 (ULM) and 92 (USA), with 4 combined wins. 3 teams under 100 by rank, 8 over. 4 teams under 100 by SOS, 7 over.
Finally, CUSA SOS for the top four teams are 89 (WKU), 96 (LT), 128 (USM), and 156 (MU).Best two SOS are 55 (UTSA) and 74 (UNT) for 1 combined win. 5 teams under 100 by rank, 8 over. 5 teams under 100 by SOS, 8 over.
So what does this tell us? Well, at first glance, that the AAC is doing great, MWC is down, MAC and CUSA or more or less even, and SBC is lagging way behind. Nothing we didn't already know. However, to back up my original point - SOS is a G5 problem, not just a CUSA problem - let's check out the P5.
Combined from all five conferences (and ND), there are only two teams over 100 by rank - Kansas (137) and Purdue (102). There are also only two teams over 100 by SOS - NCState (108) and Baylor (101). After seeing this compared to 36 over-at 100 by rank and 29 by SOS in the G5 (plus BYU and Army), can you truly just put all the blame on CUSA? Because it looks like all five G5 conferences to me.