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NEWARK, DELAWARE - OCTOBER 3: Nick Minicucci #4 of the Delaware Blue Hens reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Delaware Stadium on October 3, 2025 in Newark, Delaware. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a new-look Conference USA for 2026.
For the first time since 2022, the league will not introduce new members. However, the conference reduces from 12 to 10 member programs after the departures of Louisiana Tech (to the Sun Belt) and UTEP (to the Mountain West). The 10-member conference converges in Arlington, TX on July 20 and 21 for its 2026 media days.
Prior to media days, the league issued several preseason honors, highlighting the best players in the conference, handing five watchlist selections to all 10 teams, and ranking the programs by “Bowl Confidence Index.” The results are below:
Preseason Players of the Year
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The league’s 10 head coaches voted on the CUSA Preseason Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Year. All three recognized players were members of the 2025 All-CUSA teams.
Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Minicucci, QB, Delaware
Minicucci wasn’t even the Fightin’ Blue Hens’ Week 1 starter last year, but by the time December rolled around, he was undoubtedly a star. The quarterback finished sixth in the FBS in passing yards (3,683) while delivering 23 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns. Minicucci’s versatile skillset led Delaware to a 7-6 record in year one of FBS membership, and the Fightin’ Blue Hens staged a 68 Ventures Bowl victory over Louisiana to conclude their inaugural campaign.
Defensive Player of the Year: Baron Hopson, ILB, Kennesaw State
Hopson was the heart of a CUSA championship defense in 2025. He garnered CUSA Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors after racking up 138 tackles — which ranked atop the conference and fifth in the FBS. Hopson added nine tackles for loss, five pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble to a loaded season stat-line. The star linebacker attained double-digit tackles in nine contests last year, guiding the Owls to their first winning season (and first conference title) as an FBS program.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Garrison Rippa, K, Jacksonville State
Rippa landed on the All-CUSA First Team in 2025 for his tremendous range. He connected on 4-of-5 attempts from 50 yards and beyond, most notably sinking a 52-yard game-winner to defeat Sam Houston on Oct. 9 — a key victory in preserving Jacksonville State’s spot in the CUSA Championship Game. Rippa sunk 21-of-28 field goals overall and finished 100 percent on 40 extra point attempts. The longtime Gamecock prepares for his fourth season on campus, as Jax State aims to clinch a third-straight CUSA title game appearance.
Preseason Watchlist
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In lieu of an all-preseason team, the CUSA found a more equitable way to present preseason honors. Five players from all 10 programs were named to the conference’s preseason watchlist, divided into two offensive, two defensive, and one special teams representative. New Mexico State is the only exception to this rule, and the Aggies have one offensive, three defensive, and one special teams representative on the watchlist.
Here are all 50 honorees, as selected by the league’s head coaches:
| School | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Nick Minicucci | QB |
| Delaware | Steven Demboski | C |
| Delaware | Noah Matthews | DE |
| Delaware | KT Seay | FS |
| Delaware | Josh Cupitt | P |
| FIU | Kyle McNeal | WR |
| FIU | Antonio Tripp Jr. | OG |
| FIU | Kenton Simmons | DE |
| FIU | Shamir Sterlin | SS |
| FIU | Maguire Anderson | PR |
| Jacksonville State | Deondre Johnson | WR |
| Jacksonville State | Lucas Mrachkovskiy | C |
| Jacksonville State | Jawaun Campbell | DE |
| Jacksonville State | Te’Quon Fegans | CB |
| Jacksonville State | Garrison Rippa | K |
| Kennesaw State | Brayden Munroe | WR |
| Kennesaw State | Nikola Milovac | OT |
| Kennesaw State | Marcus Patterson | DE |
| Kennesaw State | Baron Hopson | ILB |
| Kennesaw State | Davis Bryson | KR |
| Liberty | Jamari Person | WR |
| Liberty | DJ Geth | OT |
| Liberty | Mike Jarvis | DT |
| Liberty | Deuce Spurlock | ILB |
| Liberty | Darius Copeland | PR |
| Middle Tennessee | Cam’ron Lacy | WR |
| Middle Tennessee | Reese Tripp | OT |
| Middle Tennessee | Reggie Johnson | DE |
| Middle Tennessee | Jason Hardy | CB |
| Middle Tennessee | Dominic Bourgeois | K |
| Missouri State | Jeron Askren | TE |
| Missouri State | Matthew Greene | OT |
| Missouri State | Tim Brantley Jr. | DT |
| Missouri State | Jared Lloyd | ILB |
| Missouri State | Jmariyae Robinson | KR |
| New Mexico State | TK King | WR |
| New Mexico State | Gabe Peterson | DE |
| New Mexico State | Henry Davis III | DT |
| New Mexico State | Sone Aupiu | LB |
| New Mexico State | Brody Richter | P |
| Sam Houston | Landyn Locke | QB |
| Sam Houston | Alton McCaskill | RB |
| Sam Houston | Dylan Frazier | DT |
| Sam Houston | Darien Jackson | DT |
| Sam Houston | Tim Burns Jr. | KR |
| WKU | Rodney Tisdale Jr. | QB |
| WKU | Karsten Upchurch | OT |
| WKU | LaTrevion Thompson | OLB |
| WKU | Jaylen Lewis | SS |
| WKU | KD Hutchinson | PR |
Of the 50 selections, XX are returning players from the 2025 season. X transfers were selected:
- Kennesaw State WR Brayden Munroe (formerly FCS Northern Colorado)
- Middle Tennessee OT Reese Tripp (formerly Minnesota)
- Middle Tennessee CB Jason Hardy (formerly Division II Grand Valley State)
- Middle Tennessee K Dominic Bourgeois (formerly Division III Susquehanna)
- New Mexico State P Brody Richter (formerly Minnesota)
- WKU OLB LaTrevion Thompson (formerly FCS Southeast Missouri)
Bowl Confidence Index
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In lieu of a preseason media or coaches poll, the CUSA released its “Bowl Confidence Index” results. A 20-person panel, consisting of one sports information director (SID) and one media representative of each program voted the likelihood of each CUSA team reaching bowl eligibility in 2026. The results are as follows:
| School | Bowl Confidence % |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | 100% |
| Liberty | 100% |
| WKU | 100% |
| Kennesaw State | 85% |
| Delaware | 75% |
| FIU | 60% |
| Missouri State | 35% |
| New Mexico State | 20% |
| Middle Tennessee | 15% |
| Sam Houston | 10% |
Jax State, Liberty, and WKU were selected by all 20 members of the panel to reach bowl eligibility. Jax State hosted its second-straight CUSA Championship Game last December and attained nine wins for the third-straight year. WKU posted its fifth-consecutive season of attaining at least eight victories. Meanwhile, Liberty is fresh off its first losing campaign since joining the FBS in 2018. The Flames did not qualify for bowl eligibility after a 4-8 finish, but there is supreme confidence among the panel they restore their winning tradition in 2026.
On the other end of the poll, Middle Tennessee and Sam Houston, which finished 3-9 and 2-10, respectively, in 2025, are projected as the greatest longshots for bowl eligibility.
There is a significant gap between the top six and bottom four. At least 60% of the panel projected Jacksonville State, Liberty, WKU, Kennesaw State, Delaware, and FIU to go bowling, while Missouri State, New Mexico State, Middle Tennessee, and Sam Houston were projected to qualify for the postseason at a rate of 35% or lower.
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