Conference title games are set:
C-USA is Marshall and UAB Friday at 7 p.m.;
MAC is Buffalo and Ball State Friday at 7:30 p.m.;
Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Championship is Air Force and Army Saturday at 3 p.m.;
Sun Belt is Louisiana and Coastal Carolina Saturday at 3:30 p.m.;
Mountain West is San Jose State and Boise State Saturday at 4:15 p.m.;
American is Tulsa and Cincinnati Saturday at 8 p.m.;
With Florida losing its second game this week, maybe there’s a chance for Cincinnati to throw its shoe in the ring for the playoff.
Games That Happened
Thursday
Southern Miss 45, Florida Atlantic 31
That’s what I’m talking about, Eagles. Southern Miss caps a 3-7 season with a solid win over a good team, lighting up FAU’s tremendous defense for 45. Frank Gore Jr. had 111 rushing yards on just nine carriers, with a touchdown. Quarterback Trey Lowe passed for two scores and ran for another, leading the team in carries. It isn’t the season they hoped for in Hattiesburg, but this is one of those wins you can build on for next year.
Friday
San Jose State 30, Nevada 20
A big third quarter and a shutout defense in the second half powered the Spartans to a spot in the Mountain West title game. SJSU goes to 6-0 in part thanks to Shamar Garrett running back the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Nick Starkel had two touchdown passes and Tyler Nevens had 184 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries. That’ll do. Nevada’s Carson Strong had 260 passing yards and a touchdown. That won’t.
Oh, this game between schools in San Jose, California, and Reno, Nevada, was played at the home field of the University of New Mexico, which is in Las Vegas, Nevada. 2020!
North Texas 45, UTEP 43
Throwing four interceptions isn’t exactly the best way to try to win a game, but Calvin Brownholtz also threw two touchdowns and rushed for two, picking up 114 yards on the ground. Still wasn’t enough for the Miners, whose comeback attempt in the fourth quarter fell two points short. While a loss, it’s something UTEP can also build on for next year. For North Texas, Austin Aune totaled five touchdowns. He’s a sophomore. Look for them to keep scoring points next year.
Saturday
Coastal Carolina 42, Troy 38
Was it pretty? No. It was not. But Coastal Carolina remains unbeaten. Grayson McCall threw a touchdown pass to Jaivon Heiligh with 35 seconds left to carry the highfalutin roosters over the Trojans, who played a hell of a game. Coastal went up 14-0 early but Troy stormed back and took a 38-35 lead with 80 seconds left. But the Chants can move fast, too. McCall, I will remind you, is a redshirt freshman.
I’ll also note that I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who would say winning a game like this is less impressive than, say, losing by four touchdowns to a division rival.
BYU 28, San Diego State 14
Zach Wilson threw three touchdown passes. SDSU should consider changing its mascot to a rooster.
Army 15, Navy 0
It’s not like they’re part of the Department of Offense.
Memphis 30, Houston 27
I feel like Houston has done this all year, but, guys, the Fightin’ Dana Holgorsens, you know you can score points early in the game, right? You don’t have to wait to drop 21 in the fourth quarter when you’re already down a lot? Brady White, who is old enough to know that you need to get stuff done early before you fall asleep in a recliner at 7:30, threw two touchdown passes before the fourth quarter started, and the Tigers added a score on defense.
Boise State 17, Wyoming 9
The Broncos leaned on Andrew Van Buren on the ground and got a solid performance from Hank Bachmeier despite, well, a snowstorm. Broncos are in the Mountain West title game.
Appalachian State 34, Georgia Southern 26
The Mountaineers outscored the Eagles 27-9 in the second half, including a kickoff return for a score by Jalen Virgil, who also had a touchdown catch. That’ll do.
Ball State 30, Western Michigan 27
There was a play at the end of the game that kept going, and Western Michigan did all the laterals and whatnot, and then the Ball State team was on the field (THE TEAM IS OUT ON THE FIELD!) and there was crazy madness and a Western Michigan player carried the ball into the endzone, but it turns out there was an illegal forward pass so the whole thing didn’t happen and the Ball State bench was correct all along. Cardinals to the MAC title game.
Buffalo 56, Akron 7
Ball State will face Buffalo, who is 5-0 after taking care of business against the Zips. Jaret Patterson had a light day, 105 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns. Kevin Marks Jr. had 182 and two scores for the Bulls.
Toledo 24, Central Michigan 23
The Rockets took the lead with a minute and a half left on a Jerjuan Newton touchdown catch from Carter Bradley, and the extra point -- those are important! -- provided the margin of victory. Central Michigan finishes a perfectly middling 3-3.
New Mexico 49, Fresno State 39
The Lobos scored 21 in the final frame. They scored six touchdowns on the ground, including three from Bobby Cole. New Mexico started out poorly but looked pretty good in the second half of the season, finishing 2-5.
UAB 21, Rice 16
Like the Blazers, I too spent some years on the Southside of Birmingham and know how to finish off rice.
Eastern Michigan 41, Northern Illinois 33
The Huskies finish 0-6. It could be worse. Not by much, but it could.
Hawaii 38, UNLV 21
Rebels finish 0-6.
TCU 52, Louisiana Tech 10
For once, a Big XII team takes care of business.
News and Notes
Polls: Here are our teams in the Coaches Poll:
No. 6, Cincinnati;
No. 12, Coastal Carolina;
No. 16, BYU;
No. 18, Louisiana;
No. 20, Tulsa;
No. 21, Liberty;
No. 25, San Jose State.
And the AP Poll:
No. 6, Cincinnati;
No. 9, Coastal Carolina;
No. 14, BYU;
No. 17, Louisiana;
No. 20, Tulsa;
No. 22, Liberty
No. 23, Buffalo;
No. 25, San Jose State.