Tag: C-USA

Sep 10, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Kennesaw State Owls running back Yesiah Clemons (37) reacts after a play in the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Kennesaw State to move up to FBS football, join C-USA in 2024

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kennesaw State, a large public university in the Atlanta area, will move up from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision and join Conference USA in 2024.

Kennesaw State has only played football since 2015. But it’s quickly become a power at the FCS level, with an all-time record of 63-18 entering this season and top-10 rankings at the end of four of the past five seasons.

After starting out in the Big South Conference, the Owls currently compete in the ASUN (formerly the Atlantic Sun).

Conference USA has undergone major realignment as a ripple effect of Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC and four teams being added to the Big 12 in their stead.

C-USA lost Old Dominion, Marshall and Southern Miss this academic year and are set to lose six more programs in 2023. Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State and Sam Houston are joining as full members next year.

Kennesaw State will bring the league up to 10 football programs. The Owls will also be the 134th team in FBS, following Jacksonville State’s and Sam Houston’s pending move from FCS to FBS next year.

“Today is an important day as we formally welcome Kennesaw State University to Conference USA,” C-USA commissioner Judy MacLeod said in a news release. “The addition of this growing university continues to build upon our strong foundation, and we are excited to partner with President (Kathy) Schwaig and KSU’s leadership team to transform our membership and strategically position the conference for long-term success.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2021; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Sheldon Evans (5) runs the ball and shakes a tackle from Old Dominion Monarchs safety R'Tarriun Johnson (21) during the second quarter at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

C-USA threatens legal action to keep 3 members from leaving early

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Conference USA released its 2022 football schedule on Monday, a matrix that included Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion even though the three institutions announced Friday their intention of leaving the conference this summer.

The trio reached an agreement to join the Sun Belt Conference before July 1, 2023. They issued nearly identical statements Friday claiming that C-USA had shown an “unwillingness” to negotiate an earlier exit.

The conference fired back Monday.

“Conference USA intends to conduct the 2022-23 athletic year with the full 14 institution membership intact,” the conference said in a statement. “The C-USA Board of Directors will exhaust all necessary legal actions to ensure all members meet their contractual obligations as defined by and agreed to in the Conference USA Bylaws.”

Marshall interim athletic director Jeff O’Malley tweeted Monday that his department stood by its previous statement despite C-USA including the Thundering Herd on its football schedule.

C-USA’s football schedule includes 14 schools split into divisions of seven. It would be down to 11 teams should the trio depart early, with the West Division losing Marshall and Old Dominion and the East losing Southern Miss.

Six other current member institutions — Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA — will eventually join the American Athletic Conference, but have not expressed intention to make the move in 2022. Liberty, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston will eventually join C-USA.

Sports Illustrated reported that the Sun Belt also had crafted its yet-to-be-released 2022 football schedule with Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion included.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) raises the championship trophy following the American Athletic Conference championship football game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won, 27-24. Aac Championship Tulsa Golden Hurricane At Cincinnati Bearcats Football Dec 19

Six C-USA schools accept invitations to join AAC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The American Athletic Conference announced Thursday that six schools from Conference USA have accepted invitations to join the AAC.

No timetable has been set Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA to move to the AAC, but ESPN reported that the 2023-24 season would be the earliest date.

The realignment will boost the AAC membership to 14 teams in football and basketball, while leaving C-USA with eight members.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome these six outstanding universities to the American Athletic Conference,” AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said in a statement. “This is a strategic expansion that accomplishes a number of goals as we take the conference into its second decade. We are adding excellent institutions that are established in major cities and have invested in competing at the highest level. We have enhanced geographical concentration which will especially help the conference’s men’s and women’s basketball and Olympic sports teams.”

The AAC is replacing Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, which were all accepted to join the Big 12 last month.

Conference USA rules call for a departure fee of around $3 million per school, according to Yahoo Sports.

–Field Level Media