The 2024 Conference USA football season was the 29th season of college football play for Conference USA (CUSA). The season began on August 31, 2024, and concluded with the conference championship game on December 6, 2024. CUSA consisted of 10 members, and conference play was part of the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season.
Conference realignment
For the 2024 season, Kennesaw State joined CUSA, moving up from NCAA Division I FCS to Division I FBS. Due to NCAA rules regarding transitioning from FCS to FBS, the school was ineligible for post-season play for the 2024 season.
The conference was set to expand further in 2025, with Delaware and Missouri State confirming that they would join CUSA for the 2025âÂÂ26 academic year. The 2025 football season would be the second year of transition from FCS to FBS for both teams.
Preseason
Preseason poll
The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. Liberty was named the favorite to win the conference.
Preseason player awards
Preseason player awards were announced on July 22.
- Offensive Player of the Year: Kaidon Salter (Junior, Liberty quarterback)
- Defensive Player of the Year: CJ Bazile Jr. (Junior, Liberty defensive end)
- Special Teams Player of the Year: Lucas Carneiro (Sophomore, Western Kentucky kicker)
Head coaches
- On November 26, 2023, UTEP announced that it had fired head coach Dana Dimel after 6 seasons with the school. Dimel had posted a 20âÂÂ49 record in his tenure. On December 4, 2023, UTEP announced Scotty Walden as the new head coach for the 2024 season. Walden had previously been head coach at Austin Peay.
- On November 27, 2023, Middle Tennessee announced that it had fired head coach Rick Stockstill after 18 seasons with the school. Stockstill had a 113âÂÂ111 record during his tenure at the school. On December 6, 2023, Middle Tennessee announced Derek Mason as the new head coach for the 2024 season. Mason had previously been head coach at Vanderbilt.
- On December 23, 2023, New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill announced that he was stepping down from the position. The school announced that wide receivers coach Tony Sanchez would be promoted to the head coach position for 2024.
Note: All stats shown are before the start of the 2024 season.
Mid-season changes
Post-season changes
- On December 1, FIU announced they had fired head coach Mike MacIntyre. On December 7, FIU named Willie Simmons as their new head coach for the 2025 season. Simmons had previously been the running backs coach at Duke.
Rankings
Schedule
The 2024 schedule was released on February 1, 2024.
All times Eastern time.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Conference USA Championship Game
Postseason
Bowl Games
- Louisiana Tech was bowl ineligible with a 5âÂÂ7 record, but was selected to compete in the Independence Bowl after Marshall withdrew.
Conference USA records vs other conferences
2024âÂÂ2025 records against non-conference foes:
Conference USA vs power 5 matchups
This is a list of games CUSA teams scheduled against power conference teams (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, Notre Dame and SEC). All rankings are from the current AP Poll at the time of the game.
Conference USA vs group of five matchups
The following games include CUSA teams competing against teams from the American, MAC, Mountain West, or Sun Belt.
Conference USA vs FBS independents matchups
The following games include CUSA teams competing against FBS independents, which includes UConn or UMass.
Conference USA vs FCS matchups
Awards and honors
CUSA individual awards
On December 16, 2024, CUSA released their individual award winners and all-conference honors for the 2024 season.
Player of the week honors
NFL draft
The NFL draft will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The following list includes all C-USA players in the draft.
List of selections
References