WKU and Louisiana Tech played a record-breaking Conference USA Championship Game last December and the league’s media are forecasting a rematch, as the Hilltoppers were picked to win their third straight East Division title, while Louisiana Tech was selected to repeat as West Division champions in a preseason vote conducted by a panel of media members that cover C-USA schools.

2017 Preseason Media Poll Release
 
WKU will enter this season seeking to become the first program in Conference USA history to win three straight outright league titles.  The Hilltoppers have hosted and won the last two C-USA Championship Games and this year’s squad will be led by senior QB Mike White, the preseason Offensive Player of the Year.  He completed 67 percent of his passes (280-of-416) for 4,383 yards (fifth in the FBS) and 37 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.  Under first-year head coach Mike Sanford, WKU will welcome back six starters on defense, including LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe (64 tackles) and preseason All-Conference DB Joe Brown (team-best 10 pass breakups).  The Hilltoppers special teams unit had three preseason all-league selections, including KR Kylen Towner, who set an FBS record for kickoff return yardage last year at 40.6 yards per return.
 
Louisiana Tech has won two of the last three West Division titles and returns a number of key performers to help Skip Holtz’s club make another run at a C-USA Championship Game appearance.  Senior RB Jarred Craft (1,074 yards, nine rushing TDs) will run behind an offensive line that returns three starters, including preseason All-C-USA guard O’Shea Dugas.  Defensive end Jaylon Ferguson led Conference USA in sacks with 14.5 for a loss of 89 yards on the season, while also registering 49 total tackles, including 16 tackles for loss.  Ferguson also forced four fumbles in 2016 and recovered two.
 
Middle Tennessee, armed with one of the nation’s most productive pitch-and-catch combos in junior QB Brent Stockstill (3,23 passing yards, 31 passing TDs) and junior WR Richie James (105 receptions, 1,625 yards, 16 total TDs), was picked second in the East, followed by Old Dominion and senior RB Ray Lawry, who ran for 1,255 yards and 11 touchdowns.  Rounding out the media picks in the East are Marshall, Florida Atlantic, FIU, and Charlotte.
 
UTSA, coming off the program’s first bowl appearance and featuring 2016 Conference USA Freshman of the Year LB Josiah Tauaefa (school-record 115 tackles, nine TFL’s and six sacks), was selected second, followed by Southern Miss and senior RB Ito Smith (1,459 yards, 19 total TDs), picked third.  Closing out the media picks in the West Division are North Texas, Rice, UTEP and UAB, respectively.
 
The 13th annual Conference USA Football Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, will be held Saturday, Dec. 2.  The 2017 C-USA Football season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 31.
 

C-USA MEDIA MEMBERS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

 
EAST DIVISION    
1.  WKU (20)
2.  Middle Tennessee (4)
3.  Old Dominion (3)
4.  Marshall (1)
5.  Florida Atlantic
6.  FIU
7.  Charlotte
 
WEST DIVISION   
1.  Louisiana Tech (20)
2.  UTSA (7)
3.  Southern Miss (1)
4.  North Texas
5.  Rice
6.  UTEP
7.  UAB
 
(first place votes in parentheses)