2025 College Football Review: Conference USA

Photo by Hyosub Shin from AJC

The two new members, Delaware and Missouri State, had excellent debut seasons in the nation’s most misfit conferences.

But it was another newer member that stole the show.

Biggest Surprise: Kennesaw State Owls

2-10 a year ago.

Fired the only coach in program history.

Didn’t look like they had any direction whatsoever.

In steps Jerry Mack, and the Owls go 10-3 and win the conference championship.

One of the most surprising turnarounds, and incredible to watch unfold.

Biggest Disappointment: Liberty Flames

Liberty is, by far, the richest team in Conference USA.

And in a sport where cash is becoming more and more necessary, a 4-8 season with that budget is just absolutely not going to cut it.

What I Got Right

KC Keeler leaving Sam Houston State felt like a death sentence for the Bearkats.

Not necessarily for the long term, but certainly for 2025.

After a 2-10 campaign, it looks like I was dead on the money.

What I Got Wrong

I said that Delaware and Missouri State wouldn’t make a bowl game because they simply aren’t allowed to due to NCAA rules.

Well, don’t I look stupid.

Due to both schools winning 6 games, and there not being enough bowl eligible teams, both schools will actually end up going bowling!

Egg on my face.

Coach Of The Year: Jerry Mack

This was Jerry Mack’s first ever year as an FBS head coach, and he inherited an absolute disaster and turned them into a 10-3 conference champion.

There was only one possible answer.

Player Of The Year: Caden Creel

I debated between Caden Creel or Cam Cook from Jacksonville State, as both led a dominant rushing attack all the way to the C-USA championship game.

In the end, I went with Creel thanks to his thousand yard passing and rushing season.

Rich Rodriguez might be at WVU now, but the Gamecocks offense still runs wild without him.

Team Of The Year: Kennesaw State Owls

Conference USA is always going to be up for grabs, but you can kind of guess who will be near the top.

Jacksonville State has earned that right. Western Kentucky is always there. Liberty should be, at least.

Nobody thought Kennesaw State would be in that conversation.

It can’t be said enough how excellent this season for the Owls was.