2019 CUSA Football Boilerplate on the Hourglass - records, projections and more

After Lane Kiffin walked through the doors of CUSA, many felt he would run rough shot over the league for as long as he wanted to. But, in 2018 Kiffin’s bunch won only five games and UAB went on to have a magical 11 win season and the conference title.

CUSA is wide open in 2019 and while it isn’t the AAC, the conference has some really good football in it and should have tons of story lines this fall.

Like our P5 schools, lets look at the conference through the criteria we set for all college teams, starting with the talent level within the conference. Our conference power rankings are as follows:

CUSA three year talent metric:

On paper on our three year metric scale - while they don’t have elite talent, FAU, Marshall and FIU have done a nice job on the recruiting trail - as has Southern Miss. Where UAB and North Texas may lack in some areas in talent, they have great coaching and quarterback play.

Speaking of quarterback play - there should be some good ball slingers in this league in 2019.

Mason Fine of North Texas as well as James Morgan of FIU both could see their names amongst possible 2020 draft quarterbacks. Both quarterbacks are head and shoulders above the rest in the conference; but we are seeing nice quarterback play at places like LA Tech and J’Mar Smith or down in Hattiesburg, MS with Jack Abraham.

For Kiffin and FAU, the jury is still out on Chris Robinson or whomever else may take the starting job come late August.

CUSA Coaches are good:

While we haven’t mentioned much about UAB - YET- Bill Clark shouldn’t even be in this league, he just chooses to do so. He is the man in this league and Skip Holtz who comes in at number two has become some what of a journeyman in this league. The same can be said about Rick Stockstill at Middle Tennessee and Doc Holiday at Marshall.

Butch Davis at FIU has had a heck of a turnaround and with his quarterback play, talent profile and schedule - we have FIU pegged to be the king of the CUSA castle this fall, knocking off North Texas in the Championship game.

It should be one heck of a year in this league and while that is our pick, we aren’t sleeping on UAB, FAU or maybe a Marshall or Southern Miss.

Editors Note: All photos courtesy of 247sports.com