This year, we get 61 consecutive days of FBS or NFL football from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, and Weekday CUSA is largely to thank for it. Conference USA is in its fourth season of showcasing weekday games, and Week 6 featured the first 4-game Weekday CUSA slate of 2026:
Wednesday, October 7
- Jacksonville State 27, Kennesaw State 26
- FIU 22, New Mexico State 3
Thursday, October 8
- Liberty 35, Sam Houston 3
- WKU 34, Missouri State 13
Only the Jax State vs. Kennesaw State 2025 CUSA title game rematch was close. The other three matchups were blowouts. Still, things can be learned from all types of games, so here are four takeaways
from the Weekday CUSA matchups in Week 6:
Liberty is the clear frontrunner
Remember when Liberty struggled offensively in Week 1 at James Madison and then required a late fourth quarter comeback to defeat FCS Gardner-Webb? That Liberty does not exist anymore.
The Flames now ride a five-game win streak. They’ve completely dominated their last four FBS opponents, outscoring them by an average of 25.3 points per game and winning all four matchups by at least 16. Liberty’s offense is hitting its stride. Deshawn Purdie has been incredibly efficient with four-straight games completing passes at a 65.0 percent clip or better, and he has eight touchdown passes and zero interceptions on 114 attempts since transferring from Wake Forest. Jamey Chadwell’s famously high-powered run game is also living up to its potential. Kam Davis posted 313 rushing yards in a two-game stretch, and Liberty has exceeded 260 team rushing yards in three-straight outings — now owning the 18th-best rushing attack in the country.
It’s not just an offensive operation. Liberty’s defense has arguably been the superior unit. In the last 16 quarters, Liberty has only surrendered points in six of them and only allowed a touchdown in four. The Flames, which held James Madison to 20 points in Week 1, are 18th nationally in scoring defense at 15.3 points per game, 21st in pass defense, and 22nd in total defense. Every positive quality was shown on both sides in Liberty’s statement 35-3 win over an improved Sam Houston team.
Nobody is coming close to the red-hot Flames right now. Despite a 4-8 season last year, Chadwell brought Liberty back, and this team is the clear frontrunner at the midway point of 2026.
FIU’s defense is good enough to qualify for title game
If Liberty is the frontrunner, who are the contenders for the title game? One is FIU, and the Panthers’ defense alone makes them a force. Through five games, FIU has surrendered a total of 61 points, or an average of 12.2 per game — checking in at sixth in the country behind Miami (FL), North Dakota State, New Mexico, Notre Dame, and Indiana.
The most points scored on the Panthers all season is 20 from Buffalo. The defense had arguably its best performances in its losses — allowing just 19 to South Florida and yielding 16 to Florida Atlantic (which is averaging 42.5 points per game in its other four games) despite losing both turnover battles 3-0.
On Wednesday night, FIU’s defense stonewalled New Mexico State to a mere three points, holding the Aggies to 11-of-30 through the air and forcing three takeaways. The Panthers haven’t allowed a touchdown in 11 quarters, and that last touchdown came from a 2-play, 9-yard drive. The last time FIU gave up a sustained touchdown drive was Week 2 against Buffalo.
On a national level, FIU is fourth in total defense, 13th in run defense, 13th in pass defense, eighth in opponent completion rate, 14th in third down defense, and first in opponent red zone touchdown rate. The group has only allowed four offensive touchdowns all season. Stars to watch include defensive linemen DeeJay Holmes Jr., Kenton Simmons, and Elisha Baldridge, who combine for 12.0 sacks, as well as star safety Shamir Sterlin.
There are concerns with FIU’s offense as the unit only managed one touchdown against New Mexico State in the 22-3 victory. Interestingly enough, the Panthers are third in the CUSA in total offense, yet last in scoring offense — regularly struggling with turnovers and finishing possessions in the red zone. While the offense has room to progress, the defense in the 305 is already championship caliber.
Jax State is best as a pass-first team now
Jacksonville State joined the FBS in 2023 and immediately adopted a clear identity under head coach Rich Rodriguez. Even when Rodriguez left for West Virginia after the 2024 season, that identity sustained under Charles Kelly. The Gamecocks were an RPO-heavy run-based offense that regularly saw 100-yard rushing performances from its quarterback and 150-yard rushing performances from its running back.
Jax State ranked third nationally in rushing in 2023, third in 2024, and fifth in 2025. In the past two years, the Gamecocks ground attack produced two different 1,600-yard running backs and two different 1,000-yard quarterbacks. While leading rusher Cam Cook left for West Virginia, Jax State retained its latest 1,000-yard rushing quarterback in Caden Creel.
Yet, the 2026 Gamecocks shifted their identity, and they might be best as a pass-first offense. Jax State has plummeted to 83rd nationally in rushing, averaging just 146 yards per game. Meanwhile, they’re 55th in passing production after ranking among the FBS nadir in passing attempts the last two seasons. But the personnel agrees with this schematic shift. Creel has grown as a passer, and on Wednesday night against Kennesaw State, he recorded his second 300-yard outing of the year. He’s been efficient, recording four-straight games with a completion rate of 70.0 percent of better, and he has a strong receiving corps.
The 6’8” Deondre Johnson, the tallest wide receiver in the country, has been excellent, securing 18 receptions for 338 yards. Jamill Williams has been a touchdown machine as the recipient of five touchdown strikes from Creel, while Darius Cannon has also served as a reliable presence with 20 receptions. Meanwhile, the backfield hasn’t found the next Tre Stewart or Cam Cook yet, and Creel has more than double the rushing yards of any running back.
The Gamecocks are still one of the best teams in the CUSA, and a third-straight title game appearance could be in the works, but the path to get there may look significantly different offensively.
Vice Night is the best CUSA tradition
It’s hard to establish a tradition in modern-day college football. Most new traditions wear out over a few years or dissolve upon the change of a coaching staff. But FIU’s annual Vice Night has staying power, and it might be the CUSA’s best tradition.
FIU began Vice Night in 2023 — the same year Weekday CUSA started. Now once every year at Pitbull Stadium, when FIU is under the spotlight on national television, the Panthers can showcase their Miami heritage with their slick uniforms, featuring pink, teal, and black hues. It’s not just the annual “Vice U” uniforms that are cool. FIU will go full Miami, regularly displaying a 305 area code logo with the Panther head serving as the zero. They have also brought Lamborghinis and yachts on the sideline to give the full 305 experience.
FIU had an 0-3 record on Vice Nights prior to Wednesday, but the Panthers finally got their long-awaited triumph wearing the Vice U alternates. They handled New Mexico State 22-3, giving the modern tradition the support it needed. Vice Night has lasted through multiple coaching regimes, survived a losing streak, and it still stands strong. This blossoming tradition is one of the best things to look forward to on Weekday CUSA every season.
