2018 Conference USA Football Championship Game

The 2018 Conference USA Football Championship Game was played on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and determined the 2018 football champion of Conference USA (CUSA). The game featured the East Division champion Middle Tennessee against the West Division champion UAB. The game was televised by CBS Sports Network for the first time in the 13 years of the game. With sponsorship from Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company, the game was formally named the 2018 Globe Life Conference USA Championship Game.[1]

2018 Globe Life Conference USA Football Championship Game
14th Conference USA Championship Game
UAB Blazers Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
(9–3) (8–4)
27 25
Head coach: 
Bill Clark		 Head coach: 
Rick Stockstill
1234 Total
UAB 32103 27
Middle Tennessee 13363 25
DateDecember 1, 2018
Season2018
StadiumJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
LocationMurfreesboro, Tennessee
MVPSpencer Brown, RB, UAB
FavoriteMiddle Tennessee by 1.5
Attendance15,806
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBSSN
AnnouncersCarter Blackburn (Play-By-Play)
Aaron Taylor (Analyst)
John Schriffen (Sidelines)
2018 Conference USA football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
Middle Tennessee x  7 –1     8 –6  
Marshall  6 –2     9 –4  
FIU  6 –2     9 –4  
Charlotte  4 –4     5 –7  
Florida Atlantic  3 –5     5 –7  
Old Dominion  2 –6     4 –8  
Western Kentucky  2 –6     3 –9  
West Division
UAB x$  7 –1     11 –3  
North Texas  5 –3     9 –4  
Louisiana Tech  5 –3     8 –5  
Southern Miss  5 –3     6 –5  
UTSA  2 –6     3 –9  
UTEP  1 –7     1 –11  
Rice  1 –7     2 –11  
Championship: UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions

Teams

UAB
Main article: 2018 UAB Blazers football team

The Blazers, in their second season after returning from a two-year hiatus, clinched at least a share of the West Division title, plus a spot in the championship game, with a 26–23 overtime win over Southern Miss on November 10. A Louisiana Tech loss to Southern Miss the following week gave UAB the outright division title. The Blazers lost 27–3 to Middle Tennessee in the final regularly-scheduled game for both teams.

Middle Tennessee
Main article: 2018 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

At the final week of the regular season, only two teams were in contention to clinch the East Division title, FIU and Middle Tennessee. The Panthers defeated the Blue Raiders on October 13, by three points. That would become the Blue Raiders first loss in conference play. FIU lead the division until their first conference loss against Florida Atlantic, which lead to them and Middle Tennessee to become tie for first place in the East. Both teams continued to win in conference play. For FIU to be crown winners of the division, they would have to win against Marshall, the last game of the Panthers season. The Thundering Herd upset the Panthers 28–25, which clinched Middle Tennessee the winners of the East.

Middle Tennessee vs. UAB series history

This match up will be the 7th all time meeting against the Blazers and Blue Raiders. They last played each other the week before the game on November 24. Middle Tennessee defeated UAB, the winner of the West Division, 27–3. The win secured the Blue Raiders spot to host the 2018 conference title game. After the November 24 match up, Middle Tennessee broke the tie against UAB, and now leads the all-time series 4–3.

Game summary

Scoring summary
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP UAB MTSU
1 11:56 7 55 3:04 MTSU 37-yard field goal by Crews Holt 0 3
1 7:37 10 56 4:19 UAB 29-yard field goal by Nick Vogel 3 3
1 2:59 11 72 4:38 MTSU 20-yard field goal by Crews Holt 3 6
1 0:00 5 80 1:27 MTSU Tavares Thomas 19-yard touchdown reception from Brent Stockstill, Crews Holt kick good 3 13
2 7:08 16 75 7:52 UAB Spencer Brown 2-yard touchdown run, Nick Vogel kick good 10 13
2 4:15 4 68 1:29 UAB Andre Wilson 40-yard touchdown reception from Tyler Johnston III, Nick Vogel kick good 17 13
2 3:20 3 35 0:35 UAB Tyler Johnston III 3-yard touchdown run, Nick Vogel kick good 24 13
2 0:00 13 80 3:20 MTSU 20-yard field goal by Crews Holt 24 16
3 3:52 5 57 2:36 MTSU Zach Dobson 46-yard touchdown reception from Brent Stockstill, 2-point pass failed 24 22
4 10:08 6 64 2:54 MTSU 33-yard field goal by Crews Holt 24 25
4 3:23 5 39 2:32 UAB 28-yard field goal by Nick Vogel 27 25
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 27 25

Statistics
1 2 3 4 Total
Blazers 3 21 0 3 27
Blue Raiders 13 3 6 3 25
StatisticsUABMTSU
First downs2118
Plays–yards69–36569–456
Rushes–yards54–22524–94
Passing yards140362
Passing: Comp–Att–Int9–15–129–45–2
Time of possession31:4528:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UABPassingTyler Johnston III9/15, 140 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingSpencer Brown31 car, 156 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingKailon Carter1 rec, 43 yds
Middle TennesseePassingBrent Stockstill29/45, 362 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingZack Dobson3 car, 52 yds
ReceivingTerelle West3 rec, 81 yds
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References
  1. http://conferenceusa.com/documents/2018/8/22/2018PreseasonFootballRelease.pdf
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