Conference USA 2021 football preview: Who will challenge UAB in a compelling race? Predictions, players to watch
C-USA has struggled to get on the national radar, but UTSA, Marshall, Florida Atlantic and WKU are among the teams that should push UAB.
theathletic.com
Couple Herd related snippets from Chris Vannini's preview:
Biggest storyline: Can Conference USA produce an elite team?
Conference USA and the Sun Belt are the two Group of 5 conferences that have yet to earn a New Year’s Six bowl spot. Entering 2021, the Sun Belt has two preseason Top 25 teams and appears to be on the upswing. In C-USA, UAB won the conference last year but finished 6-3 in the regular season, and the league went winless in bowl games. UAB has been the class of the league over the past three years, but it hasn’t reached the AP Top 25.FAU has fallen back after some good years under Lane Kiffin. Marshall fell apart after reaching the top 20 last year. There are several well-resourced programs in the conference, but they haven’t had a breakthrough year to contend for the New Year’s Six. There is a lot of parity in this league, and that’s not a good thing. Conferences are defined by their top teams.
Top three nonconference games
- UTSA at Illinois (Sept. 4)
- Marshall at Appalachian State (Sept. 23)
- Liberty at UAB (Oct. 2)
Top three conference games
- UTSA at WKU (Oct. 9)
- UAB at Marshall (Nov. 13)
- UAB at UTSA (Nov. 20)
Projected standings
West Division1. UAB (Conference champion)
The Blazers went from the exiled program to Cinderella to king of the conference almost overnight, winning two of the past three C-USA titles and becoming the first program in league history to win three consecutive division crowns. Now, only three players on the 2021 team remember what it was like to not have a season. The passing game has been up-and-down and new receivers must emerge, but quarterback Tyler Johnston III is likely to resume his role as the starter. Former running back Spencer Brown departed with all the program’s rushing records, but coaches love sophomore DeWayne McBride, who averaged 9.3 yards per carry on 47 rushes last year. Four returning seniors anchor one of the best offensive lines in the conference. The defense has been among C-USA’s best for years, and disruptive edge rusher Jordan Smith must be replaced, but there is depth across the board, plus the return of cornerback Starling Thomas V, who missed 2020. UAB opens its new Protective Stadium on Oct. 2 after it begins the season with four games away from home, including trips to Georgia, North Texas and Tulane.
East Division
1. Marshall
Last year’s team started 7-0 and reached the top 20 in the polls. But a 20-0 loss to Rice sparked a collapse and three-game losing streak to end the season, and head coach Doc Holliday’s contract was not renewed. Enter Charles Huff, an Alabama assistant and one of the best recruiters in the country. He takes over a team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, led by quarterback Grant Wells, who passed for 2,091 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was exceptional before a five-interception performance against Rice, struggling down the stretch like the rest of the team. He’ll have the same offensive coordinator in Tim Cramsey, so the hope is the Wells from the first half of the season can return. All-conference running back Brendan Knox graduated, All-American offensive guard Cain Madden transferred to Notre Dame and No. 2 receiver Artie Henry transferred to Virginia, but receiver Corey Gammage and tight end Xavier Gaines give Wells weapons. The defense finished No. 1 nationally in scoring and No. 2 in yards per game allowed, and Lance Guidry will lead a group that returns as many as eight starters. Nonconference matchups with Navy, East Carolina and Appalachian State are worth keeping an eye on.
