Three also aim for 10th victory
Conference USA
North Texas (7-5, 6-2) at
No. 24 UT-San Antonio (10-2, 8-0)
Friday, 8 p.m. ET, CBSSN Tipico Sportsbook line: UTSA by 9 The C-USA finale is also a rematch, with UTSA taking the earlier meeting with the Mean Green 31-27 on Oct. 22 on the same field. The Roadrunners enter on a nine-game winning streak, though with a spot here already secured they nearly let Texas-El Paso hang around too long in their most recent outing. North Texas dropped a Nov. 12 game at UAB but got the win against Rice it needed last week to earn another crack at UTSA. The driving force for the Roadrunners is QB Frank Harris, who has thrown for 27 TDs this season and run for eight. The Mean Green will counter with QB Austin Aune, who has slung 31 scoring passes but has also been intercepted 11 times.
Mid-American in Detroit Ohio (9-3, 7-1) vs. Toledo (7-5, 5-3)
Saturday, noon ET, ESPN Tipico Sportsbook line: Toledo by 1 1⁄2
Toledo had its spot in this game clinched several weeks ago but enters on a two-game skid. The Bobcats come in riding a seven-game winning streak including last week’s triumph against Bowling Green that locked up the East. Unfortunately for Ohio, QB Kurtis Rourke suffered a season-ending knee injury in the win against Ball State two weeks ago. C.J. Harris will be making his second career start against the Rockets defense that leads the MAC. Toledo QB Dequan Finn might not be 100% as he has been playing through a bad ankle.
Sun Belt
Coastal Carolina (9-2, 6-2) at Troy (10-2, 7-1)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Tipico Sportsbook line: Troy by 7 1⁄2 Coastal Carolina has been the toast of the Sun Belt since leading fans on a magical ride during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic season. The Chanticleers followed with another double-digit win campaign last year and appeared headed for another, but they ran into a buzzsaw at upstart James Madison last week that cost them a chance to host this contest. Instead the home-field advantage went to the Trojans, whose fortunes reversed this season under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. Only a miracle lastsecond touchdown pass at Appalachian State in September kept Troy from posting
a clean conference slate. Unfortunately for the Chanticleers, the absence of dynamic QB Grayson McCall to a season-ending injury was too much to overcome last week. Jarrett Guest, who managed just 99 passing yards in that game, must hit throws early to gain confidence. Troy QB Gunnar Watson can be pick-prone himself at times, but having RB Kimani Vidal in the backfield with him is a huge help.
Mountain West Fresno State (8-4, 7-1) at Boise State (9-3, 8-0)
Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Boise State by 3
Both these programs are accustomed to competing for Mountain West crowns, though neither had a smooth and easy path to this title game. The Broncos’ lackluster start that included an ugly loss at Texas-El Paso prompted coach Andy Avalos to shake up his offensive staff, while the Bulldogs began the campaign 1-4 but have rattled off seven consecutive wins since a 40-20 setback to Boise State. The installation of freshman QB Taylan Green revitalized the Boise State attack, bringing more mobility to the position and helping workhorse RB George Holani find room to operate. The Bulldogs’ jolt came when QB Jake Haener, injured in the loss at Southern Cal, returned to lead a comeback victory against San Diego State. He also has reliable ground support from RB Jordan Mims, who has 1,078 rushing yards and 14 TDs.