Conference USA, at a glance.
Top 10 by power rating — 2026 season, through the latest games.
Team
Power
Record
RR50
Home Conferences FBS 2026 season
VERDICT BEGINS · 2026
Conference USA
Coaching Premium League
The 2026 Conference USA season is underway — Delaware holds the early power lead, but the picture is still open.
Conference USA is outperforming its raw power profile. The league body of work is stronger than the market would expect.
#9overall
#9in FBS
+16.6RR50
+20.4upper strength
10teams
0top-25 teams
Power snapshot
Projected 2026 standing
Coaching Premium League
North Texas went 12-2 in 2025 with a recruiting class ranked #112 nationally. Old Dominion went 10-3 with a #102 class. UTSA finished at SP+ #26 with a #107 recruiting rank. The top three teams in Conference USA all carry coaching premiums above +80 — which means the coaches in this conference are collectively doing more with less than nearly any other league in FBS. Meanwhile UTEP went 2-10 with the #70 recruiting class.
0 top-25 teams.
The depth argument for this conference rests on how many credible opponents are clustered behind the leader. The gap between the top and bottom is narrow — a sign of genuine parity.
Where things stand right now.
The 2026 Conference USA season is underway — Delaware holds the early power lead, but the picture is still open.
The Best Story in C-USANorth Texas Went 12-2 With the 112th Recruiting Class
North Texas's coaching premium is +100 — the gap between their #112 recruiting rank and their #12 SP+ rating. Twelve wins in 2025 from a program in Denton, Texas that competes for recruits in the shadow of Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, TCU, and Baylor. No transfer portal intervention, no sudden spike in NIL budget: just a coaching staff that turns players other programs passed over into a team that wins twelve games. If Conference USA gets talked about nationally, this is why.
Why it matters →
The Co-LeaderOld Dominion's 10-3 Season Matches the North Texas Story
Old Dominion went 10-3 in 2025 with a recruiting class ranked #102 nationally — a +91 coaching premium that makes them the second-best overperformer in the conference. The program that started as an FCS power in Norfolk, Virginia and made the move to FBS in 2012 has spent more than a decade proving it belongs. Ten wins in 2025 is the most compelling argument they've made yet.
Why it matters →
The Other SideUTEP Recruited at #70 and Went 2-10
UTEP's coaching gap is -51: a #70 recruiting class — the conference's best after Rice's #70 match — produced a 2-10 season. Charlotte went 1-11. Middle Tennessee went 3-9 with a #98 class. The bottom of Conference USA is a study in what happens when G5 programs recruit well enough to create expectations but can't close the gap on the field. Every win by North Texas and Old Dominion lands differently when you know this is the same conference.
Why it matters →Active arcs our read
Active2wk ago
Middle Tennessee honors Dolly Parton with jersey patch in season opener
How will Middle Tennessee continue to honor Dolly Parton throughout the season?
Middle Tennessee
Developing2wk ago
Delaware Lands Commitment From Four-Star QB Julian Reese II
Will Julian Reese II's commitment translate into on-field success for Delaware's FBS program?
Delaware
Developing1wk ago
Gramatica kicks 4 FGs, USF gives new head coach Hartline a 19-9 win over Florida
Can USF’s defense continue to carry the team under Brian Hartline’s leadership?
Florida International
Developing2mo ago
Previewing every New Mexico State football opponent in the 2026 season - Las Cru
Can New Mexico State overcome its challenging schedule?
New Mexico State
Developing2mo ago
Notre Dame lands 5-star OL Albert Simien over Texas A&M
How will these commitments impact Notre Dame’s future roster and competitiveness?
Sam Houston
Fan pulse
17% positive
54% neutral
29% negative
Jacksonville State
244
↓ negative
Kennesaw State
236
↓ negative
Florida International
106
↓ negative
Sam Houston
67
→ neutral
Delaware
55
↓ negative
Liberty
39
↓ negative
Fan confidence — FBS percentile
Where each Conference USA program stands nationally in fan sentiment (100th = most positive in FBS, 0 = least). Conference median: 74th percentile.
Most volatile: Liberty
Fan confidence has swung 72 percentile points in the last 8 weeks — currently at the 74th percentile nationally.
The coaching premium
Recruiting class rank vs. SP+ performance — where coaches add or subtract value
Above line = coaching premium
Below line = underperforming
Gap = recruiting rank minus SP+ rank
Positive gap means the coaching staff won more than the recruiting class predicted. Data: Conference USA teams, 10 programs.
Standings
2026 season, in progress — sorted by power rating. Stature tag = interim Zeitgeist calibration (medium confidence).
| # | Team | Record | RR50 | Resume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DelawareRegional Program V#124
|
1-1 | +22.2 | +50.3 |
| 2 |
Western KentuckyRegional Program II#87
|
0-2 | +20.4 | +17.5 |
| 3 |
Jacksonville StateRegional Program III#97
|
1-2 | +19.1 | +50.4 |
| 4 |
LibertyRegional Program II#91
|
1-1 | +15.8 | +29.6 |
| 5 |
Missouri StateRegional Program V#129
|
1-1 | +15.7 | +75.3 |
| 6 |
Florida InternationalRegional Program V#123
|
1-1 | +14.3 | +67.1 |
| 7 |
Middle TennesseeRegional Program IV#118
|
1-1 | +13.7 | +84.3 |
| 8 |
New Mexico StateRegional Program VI#135
|
1-2 | +13.0 | +64.8 |
| 9 |
Kennesaw StateRegional Program IV#121
|
1-1 | +12.1 | +45.8 |
| 10 |
Sam HoustonRegional Program V#126
|
0-2 | +11.8 | +46.9 |
Projected Standings · Conference USA · 2026
Win Projection
Odds of winning at least N conference games from current power ratings — full slate played out, not locked to results. AVG = expected wins; W–L = most-likely record.
| # | Team | W–L | PWR | AVG | ≥8 | ≥7 | ≥6 | ≥5 | ≥4 | ≥3 | ≥2 | ≥1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favorites | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Delaware | 5–3 | +6.4 | 5.2 | 3 | 17 | 43 | 71 | 90 | 98 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2 | Western Kentucky | 5–3 | +4.6 | 4.9 | 2 | 12 | 34 | 63 | 85 | 96 | 99 | ✓ |
| Challengers | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Jacksonville State | 5–3 | +3.2 | 4.7 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 55 | 81 | 94 | 99 | ✓ |
| 4 | Liberty | 4–4 | -0.0 | 4.1 | 4 | 15 | 38 | 66 | 87 | 97 | ✓ | |
| 5 | Missouri State | 4–4 | -0.1 | 3.9 | 3 | 12 | 34 | 63 | 86 | 97 | ✓ | |
| The Field | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Florida International | 4–4 | -1.5 | 3.8 | 2 | 11 | 31 | 59 | 83 | 96 | ✓ | |
| 7 | Middle Tennessee | 4–4 | -2.1 | 3.6 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 51 | 78 | 94 | 99 | |
| 8 | New Mexico State | 3–5 | -2.8 | 3.3 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 44 | 72 | 91 | 99 | |
| Rebuilding | ||||||||||||
| 9 | Sam Houston | 3–5 | -4.0 | 3.3 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 44 | 72 | 91 | 99 | |
| 10 | Kennesaw State | 3–5 | -3.7 | 3.2 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 68 | 89 | 98 | |
How they play
Six advanced-stat dimensions per team, ranked against all 134 FBS programs, 2026 season. Every column reads higher-is-better. Click a column to sort.
ScoringConvertsBig playsDefensePacePass rate
| Team | Scoring | Converts | Defense | Identity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | +0.16 | 39.6% | +0.08 | Big-play offense |
| Western Kentucky | -0.03 | 35.5% | -0.59 | High-tempo |
| Jacksonville State | +0.16 | 45.9% | -0.04 | Balanced |
| Liberty | -0.03 | 38.2% | -0.12 | Balanced |
| Missouri State | +0.07 | 31.9% | -0.19 | Can't sustain drives |
| Florida International | +0.15 | 39.1% | +0.01 | Balanced |
| Middle Tennessee | +0.29 | 46.4% | -0.12 | Balanced |
| New Mexico State | +0.23 | 43.8% | -0.13 | Big-play offense |
| Kennesaw State | +0.23 | 48.5% | -0.03 | Balanced |
| Sam Houston | +0.14 | 45.1% | -0.09 | Balanced |
Identity is the single dimension where a team is most above or below the FBS average (pace, defense, big plays, or converting drives) — "Balanced" means nothing stands out either way. CFBD 2026 advanced stats, excludes garbage time.
Top players
Conference USA's highest CFB Index Scores, 2025 season.
| # | Player | Team | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jakari FosterS | Louisiana Tech | #4 of 544 |
| 2 | Elijah HillEDGE | Kennesaw State | #12 of 420 |
| 3 | Damonte SmithIDL | Middle Tennessee | #9 of 330 |
| 4 | Cam CookRB | Jacksonville State | #5 of 326 |
| 5 | Mister ClarkCB | Florida International | #12 of 364 |
| 6 | Kadarion JohnsonIDL | UTEP | #12 of 330 |
| 7 | Naeten MitchellS | New Mexico State | #12 of 544 |
| 8 | Jacob FieldsS | Louisiana Tech | #20 of 544 |
| 9 | Sifa LeotaLB | Louisiana Tech | #40 of 583 |
| 10 | Walker O'SteenLB | Jacksonville State | #41 of 583 |
Where Conference USA stands nationally
Conference strength by RR50 (round-robin adjusted power).
1
SEC
SEC
+22.8
2
B10
Big Ten
+21.7
3
IND
FBS Independents
+20.4
4
P12
Pac-12
+20.2
5
B12
Big 12
+19.5
6
ACC
ACC
+19.2
7
AAC
American Athletic
+17.3
8
SB
Sun Belt
+17.0
9
CUSA
Conference USA
+16.6
10
MAC
Mid-American
+16.2
Conference USA title odds
Best available American odds · sportsbook consensus.
| # | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liberty
|
+235 |
| 2 |
Western Kentucky
|
+400 |
| 3 |
Jacksonville State
|
+525 |
| 4 |
Delaware
|
+425 |
| 5 |
Kennesaw State
|
+600 |
| 6 |
Florida International
|
+650 |
| 7 |
New Mexico State
|
+1400 |
| 8 |
Missouri State
|
+2000 |
| 9 |
Middle Tennessee
|
+3000 |
| 10 |
Sam Houston
|
+4000 |