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Conference USA Football: Power rankings, top players and key games for 2022

By Kathryn Rose

Dec 3, 2021; San Antonio, TX, USA; UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor carries UTSA Roadrunners running back Sincere McCormick (3) after defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 49-41 in the Conference USA championship game the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2021; San Antonio, TX, USA; UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor carries UTSA Roadrunners running back Sincere McCormick (3) after defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 49-41 in the Conference USA championship game the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /
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New FIU head coach Mike McIntyre back in 2016
BOULDER, CO – NOVEMBER 3: Head coach Mike McIntyre of the Colorado Buffaloes talks to head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins after the Buffaloes’ 20-10 win over the Bruins at Folsom Field on November 3, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

At FIU, Mike McIntyre replaces Butch Davis

Butch Davis wasn’t fired, technically. In practice, though, it was clear; that he wasn’t welcome back next year. He then went on to accuse FIU of sabotaging the program, bringing an ugly end to a much-distinguished coaching career.

If the program truly doesn’t have the resources, then McIntyre will fare no better than Davis did. Although he took Colorado to a conference title game in 2016, he was canned soon afterward. McIntyre had been bouncing around at Ole Miss and Memphis as defensive coordinator the past couple of years.

Overall, it’s not an inspired hire. For FIU, though, it’s about as good as they’re going to get right now.

Former Texas Tech and TCU offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie replaces Skip Holtz at Louisiana Tech

Skip Holtz is a perfectly good head coach, but his time was up at Louisiana Tech, as he went 3-9 in 2021. In comes Sonny Cumbie, who is a perfectly fine offensive mind who should match Louisiana Tech’s program DNA well.

He made his name at TCU, revitalizing Gary Patterson’s late-career with a run to the inaugural New Year’s Six games back in 2014.

Since then, though, his resume has been a big bag of average. During his time as sole offensive coordinator for TCU, his offenses have finished no higher than fourth in the conference in points per game.

It’s a wait-and-see hire for Tech, for sure.

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