Weekday CUSA started last week with New Mexico State hosting Sam Houston on Thursday and Delaware hosting WKU on Friday, but now the spectacle firmly in full swing.
This marks the third-year of Weekday CUSA which will provide our first Wednesday night football — and next week, our first Tuesday night football — of 2025. The phenomenon continues to grow each year in a multitude of ways. The diversity in teams showcased on weeknights is now greater than ever as the CUSA is up to 12 teams after the additions
of Delaware and Missouri State. Also, just like #MACtion become a signature trademark for the MAC’s Tuesday and Wednesday games, the moniker “Weekday CUSA” is now emblazoned in a highly-visible manner below each school’s midfield logo.
The Week 7 slate of Weekday CUSA features four conference clashes. Here are the games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday:
Missouri State @ Middle Tennessee
Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPN2
Spread: Missouri State (-2.5)
Over/under: 51.5
Missouri State (2-3, 0-1 CUSA) makes its Weekday CUSA debut in Murfreesboro, and if you throw away a 60-point loss to USC in Week 1, it’s been a strong debut season for the Bears. Ryan Beard’s team erased a 13-point deficit to Marshall, led SMU until the final minute of the quarter, and went toe-to-toe with CUSA contender WKU. One of Missouri State’s strengths is the ability to sling it in the passing game, but quarterback Jacob Clark suffered an injury vs. WKU and is considered day-to-day, meaning we could see Deuce Bailey if Clark is unable to go. The starter has thrown for 270+ in three of five games and has two 3-touchdown outings, adding a semblance of verticality to the offense. Defensively, the Bears have been rather stout outside a disastrous Week 1 at USC, holding four-straight opponents — including SMU — to 28 or below thanks to solid backfield pressure.
Middle Tennessee (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) needs a nightmare season to turn around. The Blue Raiders were the only FBS team to drop a game by multiple scores to FCS competition, and they lost to Austin Peay by 20 in the opener. They did recover with a 14-13 comeback win over Nevada — another FBS cellar dweller — thanks to second half turnovers and missed field goals by the Wolf Pack. After a much-needed bye, Derek Mason’s team sets up in Murfreesboro with a chance to oust a CUSA newcomer. Middle Tennessee still enjoys the services of longtime starter Nicholas Vattiato who is closing in on 9,000 career passing yards and has dropped 400 vs. CUSA teams on multiple occasions. The run game and pass protection have been severe issues to date. Another area of improvement is defensive starts, considering the Blue Raiders allowed 21 first quarter points in consecutive losses.
Prediction: Missouri State 28, Middle Tennessee 19
Liberty @ UTEP
Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 8 pm ET on CBS Sports Network
Spread: Liberty (-1.5)
Over/under: 48.5
Liberty (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) is in uncharted territory at the moment. The Flames haven’t experienced a losing season since joining the FBS in 2018, but this year is off to a dire start for a team widely regarded as the preseason CUSA favorite. Jamey Chadwell’s team is 0-4 against FBS competition with four consecutive double-digit losses, and getting the offense working has been a struggle this year, and the Flames look differently schematically. There are still signs of Chadwell’s spread option offense that qualified for a Fiesta Bowl, but there is a lot less triple option and more traditional pistol and shotgun sets. After two years ranking top-4 nationally in rushing, Liberty is suddenly 61st in the category. Quarterback Ethan Vasko remains day-to-day, and Michael Merdinger will get his second-straight start if the 2024 Coastal Carolina starter is unable to go. Defensively, the Flames are fifth-to-last at stopping the run but one of the premier passing defenses in the CUSA. Strong safety Brylan Green — a key member of the 2023 team’s defense — remains the versatile star with 22 tackles and a pick on the year.
UTEP (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) entered the year with palpable hype, given a favorable schedule and armed with a former 5-star quarterback recruit in Malachi Nelson, by way of USC and Boise State. Nelson’s talent showed during the Miners’ lone win over FCS UT Martin and during an 18-0 run in a near-comeback effort vs. ULM, but the first-year UTEP starter must cut mistakes going forward. He has thrown eight touchdowns to nine interceptions on the year, firing six-straight picks since his last score. However, Nelson could benefit from a healthier Kenny Odom whose shoulder injury received time to progress over the bye week. Odom was UTEP’s top receiver with 741 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and remains in that role in 2025. Defensively, the Miners will turn to Udoka Ezeani to provide pressure on a Liberty line that yields 2.8 sacks per game. UTEP is tied for 13th nationally in sacks led by Ezeani’s 4.0 in five outings.
Prediction: Liberty 24, UTEP 10
Louisiana Tech @ Kennesaw State
Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 pm ET on ESPNU
Spread: Louisiana Tech (-7.5)
Over/under: 45.5
Louisiana Tech (4-1, 2-0 CUSA) looks every part of a contender in this conference. The Bulldogs are off to a 2-0 start in league play, and the only loss beside their name was a 23-7 shortcoming in a night game at LSU. As evidenced by that score, the Bulldogs are ferocious on defense, ranking first in the country with 11 interceptions. Three different players have multiple picks — and one of those is leading tackler Kolbe Fields. Unfortunately for Louisiana Tech, the star outside linebacker is out for the season, meaning other defenders must step up. So far the secondary has the talent to hold firm with strong safety Jakari Foster (3 interceptions) and cornerback Jhamal Shelby Jr. (FBS-best eight pass deflections). The Bulldogs are also shining offensively with three-straight 30+ point games — all decisive wins. One name to watch on that side is the league’s best tight end Eli Finley who recorded 154 yards in Week 4 vs. Southern Miss.
Kennesaw State (3-2, 1-0 CUSA) is also one of the most improved teams in college football. The Owls already surpassed their 2024 win total, and the second-year FBS program still has seven games looming on the schedule. As exhibited in Week 1 in a 10-9 loss at Wake Forest, the strength of Jerry Mack’s team lies within its defense — although its national rankings got skewed due to a 56-9 loss to Indiana. Kennesaw State rides a three-game win streak heading into Thursday, headlined by a notable 28-21 non-conference victory over Arkansas State. Quarterback Amari Odom is 2-0 since taking the reins as the starter, firing four touchdowns and zero interceptions on a 73.8 completion rate over this stretch. Gabriel Benyard is the home run playmaker increasing this team’s offensive output, ranking second in the CUSA with 363 receiving yards on the year.
Prediction: Louisiana Tech 35, Kennesaw State 17
Jacksonville State @ Sam Houston
Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8 pm ET on CBS Sports Network
Spread: Jacksonville State (-7.5)
Over/under: 55.5
Jacksonville State (2-3, 1-0 CUSA) is still adjusting to life without Rich Rodriguez. The defending CUSA champions enjoyed a strong first two weeks under new head coach Charles Kelly, taking UCF to the finish line and defeating Liberty by 10. But the Gamecocks’ Sun Belt non-conference showings were a struggle with road losses to Georgia Southern and Southern Miss. Now is a perfect rebound opportunity for the run-heavy Gamecocks which replace last year’s dynamic QB-RB duo of Tyler Huff and Tre Stewart with Caden Creel and Cam Cook. Jax State unlocked something with Creel last game, and the quarterback rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown in a scheme which relies on frequent zone reads. Cook is also capable of producing such numbers, reaching 195 yards vs. Liberty and ranking sixth in the FBS in rushing. Also ranking sixth in the FBS in rushing is Jacksonville State as a team, but the run defense is offsetting some of that production.
Sam Houston (0-5, 0-2 CUSA) is one of three remaining winless FBS teams, sharing the unwanted designation with UMass and Oregon State. The Bearkats were favored last Thursday in Las Cruces, but New Mexico State piled on a 37-10 victory — continuing a season that greatly contrasts from Sam Houston’s 10-3 mark a year ago. Sam Houston returns “home” for just the second time in six games, except the Bearkats are playing 70 miles south of home in downtown Houston due to construction on Bowers Stadium. Looking to notch a one in the win column is quarterback Hunter Watson, who is capable of inflicting damage with his legs. Sam Houston is in desperate need of skill position players to emerge alongside its second-year starter, as the top running back has 110 rushing yards and top wide receiver has 104 receiving yards through five games. Also, the defense that lost 11 starters remains a work in progress, allowing the second most points per game in the country, only ahead of Kent State.
Prediction: Jacksonville State 34, Sam Houston 31
