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Old Dominion 52 Charlotte 17
Old Dominion posted their largest C-USA margin of victory in school history to move to 2-0 in conference play. David Washington threw three touchdown passes to go along with 256 yards through the air. Charlotte turned it over three times in their C-USA opening game of the 2016 season. Old Dominion will step away from C-USA play next week as they host UMass. Charlotte heads to the Sunshine State to face FAU.
FIU 33 FAU 31
A week after firing Ron Tuner, FIU rallied for an exciting win in the 2016 Shula Bowl. FIU's rushing combo of Alex Gardner and Anthony Jones helped the Panthers run for 270 yards. Gardner racked up 119 yards, Jones put up 90 yards and a touchdown. FAU also got solid rushing production from Gregory Howell Jr. and Devin Singletary as the Owls went over 200-yards rushing as a team. Austin Taylor hit a late third quarter field goal to trim the lead to 31-30. Taylor would then hit another field goal with 12:14 left after a physical FIU drive for the go-ahead score. FIU (1-4, 1-0), travels to El Paso to face UTEP, FAU (1-4. 0-1) hosts Charlotte next week.
LA Tech 28 UTEP 7
LA Tech running back Jarred Craft ran for 146 yards and a touchdown, and added another receiving touchdown as LA Tech pulled away late from UTEP. Ryan Metz threw for a UTEP season high 215 yards, but it wasn't enough as UTEP committed six penalties for 55 yards killing a few promising drives. Ryan Higgins threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns. UTEP actually out-gained the Bulldogs 415-387, but drop their fourth straight and sit at 1-4 overall and 2-0 in C-USA play. UTEP hosts FIU, and LA Tech (2-3, 1-1) hosts WKU.
Middle Tennessee 30 North Texas 13
North Texas started well on both sides of the ball, but Middle Tennessee scored 23 straight points after The Mean Green jumped out to a 7-0 lead. A late North Texas touchdown pulled the Mean Green within two scores with less than two minutes left, but I'Tavius Mather put up another productive Saturday with 135 yards and a late touchdown which put the Blue Raiders up 30-13. Middle Tennessee improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in early conference action and will have a bye next week. North Texas drops to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in C-USA play and will host Marshall next week.
Southern Miss 44 Rice 28
Southern Miss re-wrote a number of records, posting 697 total yards, and probably would have had more if it weren't for three turnovers. Rice actually lead 7-3 with 9:03 left until halftime, and the Golden Eagles led just 20-14 with 10:41 left in the third quarter. But back-to-back touchdowns, including a 93-yard touchdown pass from Nick Mullens to Allenzae Staggers for the Golden Eagles put this one away. Mullens threw for 591 yards and four touchdowns. Staggers finished with 292 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Staggers had touchdown catches of 75, 81, and 93 in the game. Southern Miss is the class of C-USA west with a 4-1 overall record, and a first place 2-0 record in C-USA play. Southern Miss is on the road against UTSA next week. Rice remains win-less and gets a much needed bye week next week.
WKU piled up 535 yards of total offense in an easy route over FCS Houston Baptist.. Ace Wales ran for 87 yards and a touchdown. Taywan Taylor caught seven passes for 146 yards, and Nicholas Norris caught two touchdown passes as the Tops bounce back from their overtime loss last week and improve to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference. WKU hosts LA Tech next week.
Pitt 43 Marshall 27
Pitt raced out to a 27-0 first half lead, and never looked back easily dropping Marshall. The Panthers totaled 532 yards of offense, with 252 coming on the ground. Chase Litton returned at quarterback for Marshall but his 240 yards and two touchdowns came late in the second half. Marshall drops to a surprising 1-3 overall, and will travel to Denton to face North Texas next week.