University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
C-USA Announces 2018 Preseason Media Football Poll
7/17/2018 6:52:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -Â Southern Miss, which finished third in the C-USA West Division last season with an 8-5 overall record and a 6-2 league mark, was picked to finish fourth this season champions in a preseason vote conducted by a panel of media members that cover C-USA schools.
Florida Atlantic and North Texas each made their first Conference USA Championship Game appearance last season and the league's media are forecasting a rematch this December, as the defending champion Owls were picked to win their second straight East Division title, while North Texas was selected to repeat as West Division.
Following North Texas in the West, Louisiana Tech and UAB were picked to finish in front of the Golden Eagles, who collected one first-place vote. UTSA was picked to finish fifth, while Rice and UTEP tied to finish for sixth in the division.
The Owls were followed in the East by Marshall, Middle Tennessee, FIU, WKU, Old Dominion and Charlotte.
The 14th annual Conference USA Football Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, will be held Saturday, Dec. 1. The 2018 C-USA Football season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 30. Southern Miss opens its schedule Saturday, Sept. 1, when they entertain Jackson State at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Game time is 6 p.m.
Southern Miss season tickets can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK or by stopping by the Pat Ferlise Athletic Ticket Office, weekdays from 8 a.m., until 5 p.m.
C-USA MEDIA MEMBERS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
EAST DIVISIONÂ
- Florida Atlantic (22)
- Marshall (4)
- Middle Tennessee
- FIU
- WKU
- Old Dominion
- Charlotte
WEST DIVISION
- North Texas (18)
- Louisiana Tech (4)
- UAB (3)
- Southern Miss (1)
- UTSA
- Rice
 UTEP
(first place votes in parentheses)
