<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie talks quarterbacks"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce and the News Star's Emely Hernandez broke down the outlook for Conference USA football in 2022.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Below are predicted order of finish, who will win the conference title game and why:</p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Joyce's predicted order of finish</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">1. USTA</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">2. UAB</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">3. Western Kentucky</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">4. MTSU</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">5. UTEP</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">6. Florida Atlantic</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">7. North Texas</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">8. Charlotte</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">9. Rice</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">10. Louisiana Tech</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">11. Florida International</p><a target="_blank" class="gnt_em gnt_em_gl gnt_em__el" href="/picture-gallery/sports/college/mtsu/2022/08/04/photos-mtsu-football-holds-first-preseason-practice/10232619002/" data-t-l=":l|l|c|view gallery:inline promo" aria-label="View Gallery - PHOTOS: MTSU football holds first preseason practice" data-g-r="nav_mo" data-g-tn="pgcss" data-g-mtn="pg10232619002" data-g-moh="hpgm" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false" onmousedown="event.stopPropagation()" onmouseup="event.stopPropagation()" data-c-id="10232619002" rel="noopener"><img class="gnt_em_gl_i" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/08/04/PMUR/9dd39d4d-db35-4bca-8293-5dbdc10fde0c-_P9A0029.jpg?crop=4026,2265,x0,y300&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/08/04/PMUR/9dd39d4d-db35-4bca-8293-5dbdc10fde0c-_P9A0029.jpg?crop=4026,2265,x0,y300&width=1320&height=744&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="" width="660" height="372"/></a><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Hernandez's predicted order of finish</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">1. UTSA</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">2. UAB</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">3. Western Kentucky</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">4. North Texas</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">5. Florida Atlantic</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">6. UTEP</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">7. Charlotte</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">8. MTSU</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">9. Louisiana Tech</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">10. Rice</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">11. Florida International</p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:440px" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/2021/12/05/USATODAY/usatsports/1b07693d6a14475d80918f713c8b3f8f.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/2021/12/05/USATODAY/usatsports/1b07693d6a14475d80918f713c8b3f8f.jpg?width=1320&height=880&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, center, holds the team's conference trophy as he and his team celebrate their win over UAB in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)"/></figure><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Championship prediction</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Joyce:</strong> UTSA 31, UAB 26</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Hernandez:</strong> UTSA 35, UAB 28</p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Why USTA?</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Hernandez:</strong> Behind sixth-year quarterback Frank Harris and third-year head coach Jeff Taylor, the Roadrunners have a well-established culture. Last season, Harris was responsible for 566 rushing yards for six TDs and 3,177 passing yards for 27 TDs to establish eight new UTSA single-season records. Returning to the offensive alongside Harris are handful of wide receivers to facilitate a strong passing core.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Joyce:</strong> The Roadrunners lost the league's top running back in Sincere McCormick but have plenty of weapons back from last year's 12-2 squad, including all-conference quarterback Frank Harris and his top three receivers in Joshua Cephus, Zakhari Franklin and De'Corian Clark). If UTSA can effectively reboot the defense, another title is well within grasp. With that said, UTSA and UAB are both very good, and you could almost flip a coin...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.dnj.com/story/sports/college/mtsu/2022/08/26/conference-usa-football-predictions-utsa-expected-win-another-league-title/7846095001/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
