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Conference USA prepares for 2026 football season with major changes

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 18, 2026, 12:00 PM

Last updated Aug 18, 2026

Conference USA prepares for 2026 football season with major changes

Summary

The 2026 Conference USA football season is set to begin with significant turnover among its teams. The conference, reduced to 10 members, has seen recent additions from the FCS, including Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State, both of which have achieved early success in the FBS. Notable players like Delaware's Nick Minicucci and FIU's Willie Simmons will be central to their teams' strategies this season. While Delaware looks to build on its 7-6 record from 2025 with returning stars, FIU aims to bounce back after a challenging postseason defeat. The season kicks off with heightened expectations as previously FCS schools seek to solidify their positions in the conference.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•C-USA loses Louisiana Tech and UTEP but retains 10 teams for 2026.
•Delaware posted a 7-6 record in 2025 and won the 68 Ventures Bowl.
•FIU finished 2025 with a 7-6 record, losing in the First Responder Bowl.
•Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State both have recent championship experience.
•Key players like Nick Minicucci and Willie Simmons will lead their respective teams.

Latest Updates

12:00 PMYahoo Sports — 2026 Conference USA Football Season Preview

What they're saying

"
No conference has turned over more than Conference USA. Fourteen years ago, the league featured the likes of Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulane, and UCF. Now, the conference’s longest tenured members are FIU and Middle Tennessee, which joined in 2013. Exactly half of the 10 members were added from the FCS since 2022, but those additions […]
— Yahoo Sports

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