Bilo's College Football PASS/FAIL Reports Week 7: Conference USA

Conference USA

PASS: Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, FIU, Marshall, UTSA

Western Kentucky was in must win mode at Middle Tennessee, and they came from behind late, drove the game into double OT, and won on the road in one of their most challenging games to date. The Hilltoppers are now 2-1 in CUSA play, one game behind…FIU?

FIU, the same team that started out winless and fired Ron Turner, has since turned their fortunes around. They are still just 3-4, but they have won 3 in a row, including a nail biter over Charlotte this week, and are now leading the East. Nobody could have seen this coming.

Louisiana Tech played out of conference this week on the road at U Mass, and they got the single performance of the week out of WR Carlos Henderson, who had a line of 12 receptions for 326 yards and 5 TDs. He now has 20 receptions over the last two games. The lesser line is that the Bulldogs blew out the Minutemen 56-28. Tech is now in a 4 way tie for first in the West.

Marshall was almost left for dead, but the Herd picked up a much needed win over a FAU team that completely lacks a pulse at this point. Marshall is now 1-1 in CUSA play, and 2-4 overall. There is still time to turn it around, but one more loss and the season may be over.

UTSA has been winning ugly at times, and this week was no different in a 14-13 win over Rice. UTSA, very quietly, is now 2-1 in conference play, and is part of that 4 way knot at the top of the West.

FAIL: Middle Tennessee, Charlotte, FAU, Rice, Southern Miss

Middle Tennessee had a shot to take control over the East with a win over WKU this week, but they blew a sizable lead, and lost it in OT. The Blue Raiders now trail FIU by a game, and that is not where they thought they would be at this point.

Charlotte is been playing with some energy the last couple of weeks, and had FIU on the ropes before blowing it late. Now at 2-5, the season is getting away from them, but remember, this is still a program in infancy. These things take time.

FAU is lifeless. Charlie Partridge is just 7-24 in his 3^rd season, there has been no development of any area of the program, and the ship is sinking fast. The Owls administration needs to make a move soon, or else this kind of damage becomes long term. FAU is just 1-6 this season.

Rice is now 0-4 in conference play, and 0-6 overall. How David Bailiff still has a job at this point is beyond me. What does it take to get this guy fired at this point?

Southern Miss is not performing up to par, nor up to their talent. Someone needs to tell them that football is played in 4 quarters, and 2 halves. They had LSU tied up last night at 10 heading into halftime, and then imploded to give up 35 unanswered points after the half. That’s not a great way to earn respect.