Every 2025 Conference USA Championship scenario

Entering the final week of the regular season, not a single conference championship race is settled. Conference USA is one of the more simpler races to follow. Heading into Week 14, there are still three contenders alive in the 12-team league — Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, and Kennesaw State — and only two games are pertinent to the title race.

• Saturday, Nov. 29 at 2:00 p.m. ET — Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State (ESPN+)

• Saturday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. ET — Kennesaw State at Liberty (CBS Sports Network)

At the moment, all three boast 6-1 records in the conference standings, but at least one must finish 6-2 since WKU and Jax State play each other Saturday. Before we delve into the scenarios, there are two important things to note. One, Jax State defeated Kennesaw State 35-26 on Nov. 15, earning the head-to-head tiebreaker. Two, Kennesaw State and WKU do not play each other this season.

Now, let’s look at the four potential scenarios for the Conference USA Championship Game, which is hosted at the campus of the team with the best conference record.

Scenario 1

• Jacksonville State (7-1) defeats WKU (6-2)

• Kennesaw State (7-1) defeats Liberty

Championship: Jacksonville State hosts Kennesaw State

Rationale: Jacksonville State hosts at 7-1, receiving the head-to-head tiebreaker over 7-1 Kennesaw State.

Scenario 2

• Jacksonville State (7-1) defeats WKU (6-2)

• Liberty defeats Kennesaw State (6-2)

Championship: Jacksonville State hosts Kennesaw State

Rationale: Jacksonville State hosts as only 7-1 team. Kennesaw State defeats WKU in tiebreaker at 6-2 due to better win percentage against common opponents — FIU, Jacksonville State, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, and New Mexico State. Kennesaw State would finish 5-1 against that group with a loss to Jacksonville State. WKU would finish 4-2 against that same group with losses to FIU and Jacksonville State.

Scenario 3

• WKU (7-1) defeats Jacksonville State (6-2)

• Kennesaw State (7-1) defeats Liberty

Championship: WKU hosts Kennesaw State

Rationale: WKU and Kennesaw State are both 7-1, did not face head-to-head, and would share an identical 5-1 record against common opponents. WKU wins hosting duties because the next tiebreaker is record against teams with the best conference record, proceeding downward through the standings. WKU would have a win over 6-2 Jacksonville State, which Kennesaw State lost to, thus settling the tiebreaker. Kennesaw State still makes it at 7-1.

Scenario 4

• WKU (7-1) defeats Jacksonville State (6-2)

• Liberty defeats Kennesaw State (6-2)

Championship: WKU hosts Jacksonville State

Rationale: WKU hosts as only 7-1 team. Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State are both 6-2, but Jacksonville State wins the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Summary

• All three teams are win-and-in. Jacksonville State, WKU, and Kennesaw State all control their own detsiny.

• WKU can host or it can miss the championship entirely. The Hilltoppers cannot qualify as the road team for the title game.

• Kennesaw State cannot host the title game, even with a win.

• All three combinations of Jacksonville State, WKU, and Kennesaw State are possible title game matchups.

• Jacksonville State qualifies in three of the four scenarios. WKU and Kennesaw State qualifies in three of the four scenarios. WKU qualifies in two of the four scenarios.

• Missouri State can finish 6-2 but completely out of the running due to its status as a transitioning FBS program. It also finished 0-2 against the three contenders (WKU, Kennesaw State).

The CUSA Championship Game kicks off from either Jacksonville, AL or Bowling Green, KY on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.