Weekday CUSA Previews: 2026 Week 7
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We’re in our third week of Weekday CUSA, and we’ve finally made it to Tuesday nights.
Last week, Weekday CUSA presented a Wednesday night thriller between Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State in a 2025 Conference USA title game rematch, but the other three matchups featured lopsided finishes.
On paper, several thrillers could be on the horizon this week. All four matchups have spreads within three points. The home teams are slight favorites on Tuesday, while the road teams are slight favorites on Wednesday.
From Murfreesboro, TN to Huntsville, TX, here are previews of Week 7’s Tuesday and Wednesday night CUSA matchups:
Delaware @ Middle Tennessee
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 pm ET on CBS Sports Network
Spread: Delaware (-1.5)
Over/under: 47.5
Delaware (2-3, 0-1 CUSA) is the conference’s ultimate wildcard right now. The Fightin’ Blue Hens looked like contenders through the first three weeks, but the outlook has certainly shifted since losing star quarterback Nick Minicucci to a lower body injury in Week 4. Minicucci’s timetable to return remains unclear, and Delaware rotated between three quarterbacks in its last matchup. EJ Archield Jr., who never fielded a collegiate snap, got the start against Liberty, while Braden Streeter and Tyler Bell also earned substantial reps. Any of those aforementioned names could start Tuesday. If Minicucci remains out, Delaware may have to lean on a run game that currently ranks 132nd in the FBS at 98.9 yards per game. The Fightin’ Blue Hens will also need the defense to step up, and they present a dangerous linebacker tandem in Blake Matthews and Collin Gallagher, who combine for 12.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks.
Middle Tennessee (2-3, 0-1 CUSA) is one win away from matching its total from last season. The Blue Raiders are clearly improved under third-year head coach Derek Mason, with two of their losses coming by thin margins. One reason for improvement is stability at quarterback. Roman Gagliano has 15 touchdowns against one interception in his college career, regularly taking exceptional care of the ball. However, he must bounce back from a 9-of-26 performance against Kansas where nothing worked offensively for the Blue Raiders. Running back Antonio Martin Jr. and wide receiver Cam’ron Lacy will assist Gagliano in guiding a Middle Tennessee offense currently last in the CUSA in production. Defensively, the Blue Raiders are an opportunistic unit, owning a plus-5 in the turnover battle. They’ve forced six fumbles with linebacker Ashton Taylor contributing two, in addition to 33 tackles. Another Ashton watch is Ashton Logan, who flips the field almost as well as anyone in the country with 49.6 yards per punt.
Prediction: Middle Tennessee 26, Delaware 20
FIU @ Jacksonville State
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 8 pm ET on ESPNU
Spread: Jacksonville State (-3)
Over/under: 43.5
FIU (3-2, 1-0 CUSA) is a defensive machine. The Panthers haven’t allowed a touchdown in 11 quarters. The last touchdown it allowed was from a 2-play, 9-yard drive in Week 3 against Florida Atlantic. FIU also hasn’t surrendered more than 20 points on the season, ranking sixth nationally in scoring defense at 12.2 points allowed per game. The Panthers are fourth in total defense, 13th in run defense, 13th in pass defense, and they limit red zone touchdowns better than anyone else in the country. DeeJay Holmes Jr., Kenton Simmons, and Elisha Baldridge are among the leaders of the unit, combining for 12 sacks on the season. However, the Panthers could use an offensive spark. While they produce the third-most yards per game in the CUSA, they rank last in the conference in scoring offense. JJ Kohl has multiple 300-yard passing games, but FIU needs to turn that production into points by limiting turnovers and finishing in the red zone. Last week, it won 22-3 over New Mexico State with just one touchdown and five Robert Czeremcha field goals.
Jacksonville State (4-2, 2-0 CUSA) has become accustomed to slow starts and strong finishes, hosting the conference title game after a 2-3 start last season and an 0-3 start in 2024. This year, the Gamecocks were 1-2 but found a rhythm with three-straight wins, including CUSA triumphs over Middle Tennessee and Kennesaw State. Jax State features an experienced mobile quarterback in Caden Creel. While Creel remains a lethal rusher, he has focused much more on the passing game this year. The Gamecocks aren’t as run-dominant as usual, but Creel has thrown for 300 yards on two occasions this year, delivering 10 touchdowns across six starts. Jax State hasn’t found its next Tre Stewart or Cam Cook at running back, but the team offers tremendous receiving talent, including the explosive 6’8” Deondre Johnson. On defense, the Gamecocks aren’t forcing as many turnovers as usual, producing just 1.0 per game after averaging 1.8 across their first three FBS seasons. Free safety Caleb Nix is the main star to watch. He leads the team in tackles with 35, while having two interceptions on the season, and two touchdowns — one from a pick-six and another from a punt return.
Prediction: Jacksonville State 16, FIU 13
Kennesaw State @ Missouri State
Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 pm ET on CBS Sports Network
Spread: Kennesaw State (-3)
Over/under: 51.5
Kennesaw State (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) is the reigning CUSA champion until December, but the title defense hasn’t gone as planned. The Owls struggled in non-conference play but nearly put those trials behind last Wednesday against Jacksonville State. However, they lost a heartbreaker on a last-minute field goal. Still, there were positives in the 27-26 result. The offense generated more than 17 points on FBS competition for the first time all season, and quarterback Rickie Collins moved the ball well with 293 passing yards and a team-high 61 on the ground. Also, Brayden Munroe emerged as a potential star receiver with 159 yards on seven receptions. But the M.O. of this particular Owls team is the defense, particularly the linebacking corps. Baron Hopson was the 2025 CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, and he remains one of the top run-stoppers in the conference. Outside linebacker Tywon Christopher provides strong support, coming off an outing with 15 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Missouri State (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) is in similar desperation for its first FBS and conference victory of 2026. The Bears showed flashes of potential under first-year head coach Casey Woods — and they even possessed the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to take a lead at SMU. But last week felt like a return to reality for an overhauled staff and roster, falling by three touchdowns on the road at WKU. The Bears have rotated between Skyler Locklear and Henry Belin IV at quarterback, and both may get reps in this matchup. Regardless of the quarterback, wide receiver Isaiah Myers has been the standout on offense, generating 419 yards and three touchdowns on an explosive 21.0 yards per catch. The running back duo of Breezy Dunbar and Ramone Green Jr. has been productive at times too. Missouri State demands more from a defense that ranks 129th in yards allowed per game nationally, and it requires more pressure. The Bears rank in the bottom 20 nationally in both sacks (6) and tackles for loss (21).
Prediction: Kennesaw State 24, Missouri State 19
WKU @ Sam Houston
Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 8 pm ET on ESPN
Spread: WKU (-1.5)
Over/under: 53.5
WKU (2-4, 1-1 CUSA) had the most cathartic win in the conference last week. The Hilltoppers are used to winning eight or nine games every year, but that winning tradition was in jeopardy after a 1-4 start. However, WKU recollected itself and handled Missouri State 34-13 last Thursday in Bowling Green. Now, the Hilltoppers aim to snap a six-game road losing streak. WKU reinvigorated the offense last week under first-year coordinator Bodie Reeder, as Brock Glenn threw for 211 yards and rushed for 95, while Ajay Allen added 105 on the ground. More importantly, the Hilltoppers must carry their defensive success over from last week. WKU struggled mightily against the run during a 1-4 start, and it currently ranks dead last in the FBS at 6.0 yards allowed per carry. Meanwhile, the unit has surrendered points on 20-of-21 red zone trips. They’ll hope for another strong outing from safety Jaylen Lewis, who registered 14 tackles and two tackles for loss in Week 6.
Sam Houston (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) had a stellar non-conference outing, although it wasn’t reflected in the record. The Bearkats played Troy and Tulsa down to the wire and competed neck-and-neck with Texas Tech for a half. However, that didn’t translate to the conference opener when the Bearkats were swept away 35-3 at Liberty. Now Sam Houston returns to Bowers Stadium for its first home conference game since 2024, and it will play the only CUSA opponent that won in Huntsville in 2024. The strength of this Sam Houston team lies within the passing game. Landyn Locke threw for over 300 yards in each of his first three starts, and he has three receivers with at least 200 yards and two touchdowns on the season to help him — Grady O’Neill, Chris Reed, and Tim Burns Jr. Sam Houston will need better run support, and this might be a favorable matchup to spark the running backs. Against a WKU team that loves to sling it, the Bearkats’ key defensive player is 6’4” cornerback Ishmel Atkins, who has used his length and speed to break up a CUSA-high five passes.
Prediction: Sam Houston 28, WKU 24
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