2018 Conference USA Football Championship Game

Last updated

2018 Globe Life Conference USA Football Championship Game
14th Conference USA Championship Game
2018 Conference USA Football Championship Game logo.png
1234Total
UAB3210327
Middle Tennessee1336325
DateDecember 1, 2018
Season 2018
Stadium Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
Location Murfreesboro, Tennessee
MVP Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
Favorite Middle Tennessee by 1.5
Attendance15,806
United States TV coverage
Network CBSSN
Announcers Carter Blackburn (Play-By-Play)
Aaron Taylor (Analyst)
John Schriffen (Sidelines)
Conference USA Football Championship Game
 < 2017   2019 > 
2018 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Middle Tennessee x  7 1   8 6  
Marshall  6 2   9 4  
FIU  6 2   9 4  
Charlotte  4 4   5 7  
Florida Atlantic  3 5   5 7  
Old Dominion  2 6   4 8  
Western Kentucky  2 6   3 9  
West Division
UAB x$  7 1   11 3  
North Texas  5 3   9 4  
Louisiana Tech  5 3   8 5  
Southern Miss  5 3   6 5  
UTSA  2 6   3 9  
UTEP  1 7   1 11  
Rice  1 7   2 11  
Championship: UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions

The 2018 Conference USA Football Championship Game was played on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and determined the 2018 football champion of Conference USA (CUSA). The game featured the East Division champion Middle Tennessee against the West Division champion UAB. The game was televised by CBS Sports Network for the first time in the 13 years of the game. With sponsorship from Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company, the game was formally named the 2018 Globe Life Conference USA Championship Game. [1]

Contents

Teams

UAB

The Blazers, in their second season after returning from a two-year hiatus, clinched at least a share of the West Division title, plus a spot in the championship game, with a 26–23 overtime win over Southern Miss on November 10. A Louisiana Tech loss to Southern Miss the following week gave UAB the outright division title. The Blazers lost 27–3 to Middle Tennessee in the final regularly-scheduled game for both teams.

Middle Tennessee

At the final week of the regular season, only two teams were in contention to clinch the East Division title, FIU and Middle Tennessee. The Panthers defeated the Blue Raiders on October 13, by three points. That would become the Blue Raiders first loss in conference play. FIU lead the division until their first conference loss against Florida Atlantic, which lead to them and Middle Tennessee to become tie for first place in the East. Both teams continued to win in conference play. For FIU to be crown winners of the division, they would have to win against Marshall, the last game of the Panthers season. The Thundering Herd upset the Panthers 28–25, which clinched Middle Tennessee the winners of the East.

Middle Tennessee vs. UAB series history

This match up will be the 7th all time meeting against the Blazers and Blue Raiders. They last played each other the week before the game on November 24. Middle Tennessee defeated UAB, the winner of the West Division, 27–3. The win secured the Blue Raiders spot to host the 2018 conference title game. After the November 24 match up, Middle Tennessee broke the tie against UAB, and now leads the all-time series 4–3.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
QuarterTime Drive TeamScoring informationScore
Plays Yards TOP UABMTSU
111:567553:04MTSU37-yard field goal by Crews Holt03
17:3710564:19UAB29-yard field goal by Nick Vogel33
12:5911724:38MTSU20-yard field goal by Crews Holt36
10:005801:27MTSUTavares Thomas 19-yard touchdown reception from Brent Stockstill, Crews Holt kick good313
27:0816757:52UABSpencer Brown 2-yard touchdown run, Nick Vogel kick good1013
24:154681:29UABAndre Wilson 40-yard touchdown reception from Tyler Johnston III, Nick Vogel kick good1713
23:203350:35UABTyler Johnston III 3-yard touchdown run, Nick Vogel kick good2413
20:0013803:20MTSU20-yard field goal by Crews Holt2416
33:525572:36MTSUZach Dobson 46-yard touchdown reception from Brent Stockstill, 2-point pass failed2422
410:086642:54MTSU33-yard field goal by Crews Holt2425
43:235392:32UAB28-yard field goal by Nick Vogel2725
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.2725

Statistics

1234Total
Blazers3210327
Blue Raiders1336325
StatisticsUABMTSU
First downs2118
Plays–yards69–36569–456
Rushes–yards54–22524–94
Passing yards140362
Passing: Comp–Att–Int9–15–129–45–2
Time of possession31:4528:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UABPassingTyler Johnston III9/15, 140 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingSpencer Brown31 car, 156 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingKailon Carter1 rec, 43 yds
Middle TennesseePassingBrent Stockstill29/45, 362 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingZack Dobson3 car, 52 yds
ReceivingTerelle West3 rec, 81 yds

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UAB Blazers football</span> Football team representing the University of Alabama Birmingham in the sport of collegiate football

The UAB Blazers football team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the sport of American football. The Blazers compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Athletic Conference. The team is led by head coach Trent Dilfer, who was named the program’s 7th head coach on November 30, 2022. Home games were previously held at Legion Field in Birmingham from the 1991 season to the 2020 season. A new stadium, Protective Stadium, has been the home of the Blazers starting from the 2021 season. The new stadium's capacity is over 47,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conference USA Football Championship Game</span> American football game

The Conference USA Football Championship Game is an annual American football game that has determined the season champion of Conference USA (CUSA) since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football</span> Football team of Middle Tennessee State University

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football is the intercollegiate football program representing Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Blue Raiders compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are a member of Conference USA. They are coached by Derek Mason, who was hired as the 15th head coach in program history on December 6, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 FIU Panthers football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 FIU Panthers football team represented Florida International University during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mario Cristobal and played their homes games at the on-campus FIU Stadium in Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FIU Panthers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Florida International University

The FIU Panthers are the athletic teams representing Florida International University, an American public university located in Miami, Florida. The Panthers currently compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletics as members of Conference USA. The men's soccer and swimming & diving teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Until 2011, they were known as the FIU Golden Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FIU Panthers football</span> Football team representing Florida International University

FIU Panthers football program represents Florida International University (FIU) in the sport of American football. The Panthers compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the East Division of Conference USA (CUSA). The Panthers' head coach is Mike MacIntyre. FIU has produced a Sun Belt Conference co-championship team in 2010, along with 3 postseason bowl appearances. The Panthers play their home games at Riccardo Silva Stadium which has a seating capacity of 20,000.

The 2014 Conference USA football season was a part of the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was played from August 2014 through January 2015. The 2014 football season marks the 20th season of the Conference USA's existence and 19th of football competition; although C-USA was established in 1995, it did not begin football competition until 1996.

The 2016 Conference USA football season was the 21st season of Conference USA football and part of the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on September 1 with Charlotte facing Louisville. This season was the second season for the C-USA under realignment that took place in 2014, which added the 14th member Charlotte from the Atlantic 10 Conference. The C-USA is a "Group of Five" conference under the College Football Playoff format along with the American Athletic Conference, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Conference USA Football Championship Game</span> College football game

The 2016 Conference USA Championship Game was played on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and determined the 2016 football champion of Conference USA (C-USA). The game featured the West Division champion Louisiana Tech visiting the East Division champion Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (WKU), with the Hilltoppers winning 58–44. The game was broadcast nationally by ESPN for the 5th consecutive year. The title sponsor was Dynacraft BSC.

The 2017 Conference USA football season was the 22nd season of Conference USA football and part of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on August 26 with Rice facing Stanford in Sydney, Australia. This season was the third season for C-USA under realignment that took place in 2014, which added the 14th member Charlotte from the Atlantic 10 Conference. C-USA is a "Group of Five" conference under the College Football Playoff format along with the American Athletic Conference, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University as a member of the East Division of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders compiled an overall record of 8–6 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the C-USA's East Division title. Middle Tennessee represented the East Division in the Conference USA Football Championship Game, falling to West Division champion, UAB. The Blue Raiders were invited to the New Orleans Bowl, where they lost to Appalachian State. The team played home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Charlotte 49ers football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Charlotte 49ers football team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 49ers played their home games at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, NC, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by sixth-year head coach Brad Lambert. They finished the season 5–7, 4–4 in C-USA play to finish in fourth place in the East Division.

The 2018 UAB Blazers football team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by third-year head coach Bill Clark and played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season 11–3, 7–1 in C-USA play to be champions of the West Division. They represented the West Division in the C-USA Championship Game where they defeated Middle Tennessee to win their first ever C-USA championship. They were invited to the Boca Raton Bowl where they defeated Northern Illinois to claim their first bowl win in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Conference USA Football Championship Game</span> College football game

The 2019 Conference USA Football Championship Game was a college football game played on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, to determine the 2019 champion of Conference USA (C–USA). The game featured the East division champions Florida Atlantic and the West division champions UAB and was the conference's 15th championship game. With sponsorship from Ryan LLC, a global tax services and software provider, the game was officially the 2019 Ryan Conference USA Football Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 FIU Panthers football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 FIU Panthers football team represented Florida International University (FIU) in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers played their home games at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, Florida, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by fourth-year head coach Butch Davis. The season was notably truncated due to several cancellations stemming from the effects of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University as a member of the East Division of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders compiled an overall record of 3–6 with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the C-USA's East Division. The team played home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team (WKU) represented Western Kentucky University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by second-year head coach Tyson Helton.

The 2020 Conference USA Football Championship Game was a college football game played on Friday, December 18, 2020, to determine the 2020 champion of Conference USA (C–USA). The game featured the East division champions Marshall Thundering Herd and the West division champions UAB Blazers in the conference's 16th championship game. Sponsored by tax services and consulting firm Ryan LLC, the game was officially known as the Ryan Conference USA Football Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Conference USA Football Championship Game</span> College football game

The 2021 Conference USA Football Championship Game was a college football game played on December 3, 2021, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It was the 17th edition of the Conference USA Football Championship Game and determined the champion of Conference USA (C–USA) for the 2021 season. The game began at 6:00 p.m. CST and aired on CBS Sports Network. The contest featured the hosts and West Division champion UTSA and the East Division champion Western Kentucky. Sponsored by tax services and consulting firm Ryan LLC, the game was officially known as the Ryan Conference USA Football Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 UTSA Roadrunners football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 UTSA Roadrunners football team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by head coach Jeff Traylor, who was coaching his third season with the team. The Roadrunners played their home games at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

References