2026-27 Conference USA Preview

2026-10-08

Conference USA enters 2026–27 with a new look and a compelling disagreement at the top. Liberty is MMH’s favorite, but Blue Ribbon backs Kennesaw State and Bart Torvik favors Western Kentucky.

MMH is picking Liberty to win Conference USA.

MMH’s sleeper is Delaware.

CUSA enters 2026–27 as a 10-team league. With Louisiana Tech and UTEP departing, each remaining program plays an 18-game home-and-home conference schedule. Liberty enters as the defending regular-season champion, while Kennesaw State won the 2026 CUSA tournament. The race could hinge on guard continuity, transfer integration and late-game execution.

MMH Projected Order

These illustrative MMH editorial projections sum to 90 wins and 90 losses across the conference. They are not computed outputs from MMH Model V1.

Other preseason picks

The disagreement starts at the top. Bart Torvik projects Western Kentucky first, while Blue Ribbon favors Kennesaw State. MMH puts Liberty first, reflecting more confidence in its overall roster fit than either outside ranking. Torvik is noticeably higher on FIU and New Mexico State; MMH is higher on Jacksonville State.

Blue Ribbon also selected Teagan Moore as its preseason CUSA Player of the Year. The MMH, Torvik, and Blue Ribbon columns are distinct preseason viewpoints, not results of the same forecasting model.

1. Liberty

The favorite has new guards and several ways to score

Liberty enters as the defending regular-season champion, but its backcourt will look different. Troy transfers Cooper Campbell (12.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.5 RPG in 2025–26) and Cobi Campbell (9.0 PPG, 1.5 APG) bring experience handling the ball against Division I competition. Cooper projects as a primary creator; Cobi supplies another scoring option, giving the Flames more than one guard capable of initiating offense.

Zander Carter is a returner with room to grow after averaging 3.3 points in 13.1 minutes. Up front, Dillon Claussen arrives from Division II Washburn after producing 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. That production is useful evidence of skill, although a larger CUSA role would be a step up in competition. Ryan Jones Jr. gives Liberty another 6-foot-9 rotation option.

Projected core: Cooper Campbell, Cobi Campbell, Zander Carter, Ryan Jones Jr., Dillon Claussen.

Why they can win it: Two experienced guards, multiple frontcourt options and a program with a proven winning baseline.

Biggest question: How quickly do the new primary ballhandlers and Claussen settle into defined roles against CUSA competition?

MMH view: Liberty remains No. 1 because of its balance, but the margin over the challengers is not overwhelming.

2. Western Kentucky

Teagan Moore gives the Hilltoppers a star-level starting point

Teagan Moore has the most compelling returning scoring profile in the conference: 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, with 42.9% shooting from three in 2025–26. His ability to score efficiently without needing every possession makes him an ideal anchor for a group that could surround him with considerable guard depth.

Sharron Young averaged 7.2 points and 1.6 assists at Akron, while returner Armelo Boone supplied 10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for WKU. LJ Hackman also returns after averaging 8.5 points and 1.6 assists. In the frontcourt, Emondrek Erkins-Ford scored 8.3 points and grabbed 3.9 rebounds at Jacksonville State. Trevion LaBeaux did not play in 2025–26 because of injury, so his availability and role warrant caution.

Projected core: Sharron Young, Teagan Moore, Trevion LaBeaux, EJ Walker, Emondrek Erkins-Ford.

Why they can win it: Proven top-end shotmaking, several capable perimeter players and enough size to vary lineups.

Biggest question: Will the roster defend and create efficient half-court possessions consistently, especially when Moore is pressured?

MMH view: Second is a strong projection; Torvik's first-place pick is understandable if the supporting pieces click.

3. Middle Tennessee

A seasoned lead guard and an intriguing mix of transfers

Jahvin Carter gives Middle Tennessee an established offensive organizer after averaging 10.8 points and 3.6 assists, with 114 total assists in 32 games. He should not have to create every opportunity himself. Ofri Naveh brings 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game from Oral Roberts, while Kevin de Kovachich averaged 11.8 points and started 30 games at North Alabama.

Quintero Barnett scored 14.6 points per game and shot 41.4% from three at Division II Walsh. Eli Rice arrives with Big Ten experience from Penn State, where he averaged 6.7 points. Together, those additions offer perimeter scoring and size; the uncertainty is how smoothly their usage and shot profiles translate into one coherent CUSA offense.

Projected core: Jahvin Carter, Quintero Barnett, Eli Rice, Ofri Naveh, Kaleb Siler.

Why they can move up: Carter can set the table for several players with demonstrated scoring ability, and Naveh adds frontcourt production.

Biggest question: Who becomes the reliable second creator against tougher conference defenses?

MMH view: A top-three finish is realistic, but the team's ceiling depends on offensive chemistry more than any one transfer's past scoring average.

4. Kennesaw State

Blue Ribbon's favorite has a formidable interior foundation

Kennesaw State enters as the defending CUSA tournament champion and Blue Ribbon's preseason choice to win the league. Trey Simpson is a major reason: 315 points, 173 rebounds and 44 blocks in 35 games last season, roughly 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Avery Thomas II adds 9.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game from Louisiana Tech, giving the Owls another proven presence on the glass.

The backcourt is changing. Jacoby Hill averaged 10.0 points and 1.7 assists at Jacksonville State, and CJ Beaumont shot 46.8% from three in a lower-usage role at Sam Houston. Returner Amir Taylor made 55.8% of his field-goal attempts while averaging 7.5 points. Kennesaw can build a physical identity around its frontcourt if the new guards take care of the ball.

Projected core: Jacoby Hill, CJ Beaumont, Kris Parker, Avery Thomas II, Anthony Enoh.

Why they can win it: Defensive size, rebounding and multiple options to score inside.

Biggest question: Can the guards supply enough creation and perimeter efficiency when teams pack the paint?

MMH view: Fourth is more conservative than Blue Ribbon's first-place pick; the frontcourt makes Kennesaw a legitimate title threat.

5. Jacksonville State

The Gamecocks have new perimeter scoring and frontcourt length

Chris Lockett Jr. brings 9.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game from Jacksonville, while Jordan Stiemke averaged 9.9 points and 1.4 assists at Loyola Maryland. Naas Cunningham arrives from UNLV after averaging 5.0 points in 21 games, although his 23.4% three-point shooting illustrates why projection is not the same as established production.

Up front, Brandon Walker is listed as a 6-foot-8 fifth-year forward. Ma'Shy Hill offers another frontcourt option after appearing in 33 games for Abilene Christian. Jacksonville State has viable size and a range of offensive roles, but several of the projected combinations are new and some reserve players have limited recent verified statistics.

Projected core: Chris Lockett Jr., Jordan Stiemke, Naas Cunningham, Brandon Walker, Ma'Shy Hill.

Why they can move up: The roster has enough transfer experience and positional size to match up with the top teams.

Biggest question: Is there a dependable lead creator, and will the group shoot well enough to keep the floor spaced?

MMH view: Fifth is a middle-ground forecast with room to rise if Lockett and Stiemke establish a stable perimeter attack.

6. Delaware

The MMH sleeper combines guard upside with improved size

Delaware's roster may have more upside than a sixth-place projection suggests. Devin Dinkins averaged 12.1 points and 2.6 assists at Manhattan, but shot 36.5% overall; improving efficiency is central to the sleeper case. Chuck Bailey III averaged 6.3 points at Nevada while hitting 39.4% from three. DeShawn Harris-Smith supplies wing size and major-conference experience, although he appeared in only six games at Georgetown last season.

The frontcourt changes the profile. Kachi Nzeh averaged 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds at Little Rock while shooting 41.5% from three, providing a different offensive dimension from a conventional interior big. Steven Solano gives the Blue Hens a 7-foot option but played only eight games at Saint Joseph's. Jameel Brown is another perimeter possibility, though his 2025–26 sample was only four games.

Projected core: Devin Dinkins, Chuck Bailey III, DeShawn Harris-Smith, Kachi Nzeh, Steven Solano.

Why they can beat the projection: Shooting from multiple positions, perimeter creation and greater lineup flexibility than the low external rankings imply.

Biggest question: Can the new guards become efficient together, and how much can Delaware rely on its less-proven frontcourt depth?

MMH view: Sixth is the baseline, not the ceiling. Delaware is our CUSA sleeper precisely because the roster has a plausible route into the top four.

7. Sam Houston

An experienced guard group needs reliable interior support

Justin Begg averaged 9.5 points with 80 assists in 22 games last year, giving Sam Houston a known ballhandling option. Jacobe Coleman contributed 8.7 points and shot 37.8% from three in 33 games. With both available, the Bearkats can start possessions with guards who have shown they can create and finish at this level.

Enel St. Bernard offers an interior counterweight after averaging 5.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and recording 32 blocks at Indiana State. Matt Dann added 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds for Sam Houston last season, though the wider rotation contains several players whose recent statistical records remain incomplete. Defensive rebounding and finishing near the rim may determine whether the guards' work translates into wins.

Projected core: Justin Begg, Jacobe Coleman, Yoda Oke, Enel St. Bernard, Matt Dann.

Why they can move up: Begg and Coleman give the Bearkats a credible foundation in the backcourt.

Biggest question: Can the frontcourt generate enough second chances, stops and interior scoring against bigger teams?

MMH view: Sam Houston can outperform seventh if its defense complements an experienced perimeter rotation.

8. New Mexico State

Real scoring talent, but major questions about continuity

DJ Dudley averaged 13.8 points and 2.0 assists at Louisiana Tech, while Jermaine Washington supplied 11.5 points and 2.9 assists at San José State. Gabe Warren scored 12.5 points and grabbed 4.5 rebounds at Holy Cross. That is a meaningful base of perimeter production for a team MMH has placed eighth.

There is also size. Stephon Payne averaged 5.9 points and 6.5 rebounds at Seton Hall, and Leopold Levillain supplied 4.8 points and 5.0 rebounds at Long Beach State. The biggest wildcard is KK Robinson, who did not play in 2025–26 because of injury; his 15.6 points and 4.2 assists per game came in 2023–24 and should not be treated as current-season form. Availability and chemistry are genuine swing factors.

Projected core: KK Robinson, DJ Dudley, Gabe Warren, Stephon Payne, Adrame Diongue.

Why they can move up: Dudley, Washington and Warren offer more established shot creation than a typical eighth-place team.

Biggest question: Which guards will be healthy and available, and can a rebuilt lineup defend consistently?

MMH view: Torvik and Blue Ribbon are considerably more optimistic. The offensive ceiling is there, but MMH discounts the uncertainty.

9. Missouri State

Plenty of scoring arrives from outside Division I

Trey Williams Jr. gives Missouri State some returning stability after averaging 9.4 points and 3.2 assists while starting 34 games. The newcomers add production from several levels: Kevin Stubblefield Jr. averaged 19.1 points at junior-college Connors State, Dylan Rowe produced 16.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists at Jones College, and Matt Gray scored 16.6 points per game at Division II Davis & Elkins.

That is a substantial amount of past scoring, but translating JUCO and Division II production into a CUSA rotation is not automatic. Ngundeng Ruey adds rebounding and rim protection after averaging 6.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks at Mineral Area College. Isaiah Medina and Andrej Acimovic did not play in 2025–26, further complicating assumptions about immediate contributions.

Projected core: Trey Williams Jr., Kevin Stubblefield Jr., Melakih Cunningham, Matt Gray, Isaiah Medina.

Why they can move up: Williams has experience running the offense and the newcomers could create a more dynamic scoring attack than expected.

Biggest question: How quickly will the transfers adjust to CUSA speed, physicality and defensive responsibilities?

MMH view: Ninth reflects translation risk, not a lack of individual scoring credentials.

10. FIU

The Panthers have more offensive punch than a last-place pick suggests

FIU's roster has intriguing scoring additions. Tijan Saine Jr. averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 assists at Weber State, giving the Panthers a potential lead guard with real Division I production. Corey Caulker averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 assists at East Carolina. Those two could form an experienced offensive partnership if their responsibilities mesh.

Noah Mendy adds 17.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game from junior-college Daytona State, while Ramone Seals averaged 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds at Kennesaw State. FIU has possible rim protection from Chiang Ring (60 blocks at Indian Hills CC) and Seydina N'Diaye (84 blocks at Daytona State), but junior-college production does not guarantee the same impact against Division I opponents.

Projected core: Tijan Saine Jr., Corey Caulker, Noah Mendy, Ramone Seals, Seydina N'Diaye.

Why they can move up: Saine offers a credible first offensive option, with other transfers adding scoring and defensive length.

Biggest question: Can FIU establish continuity, perimeter defense and rebounding quickly enough to finish above the bottom tier?

MMH view: Torvik ranks FIU sixth; MMH is much more cautious because of the amount of new-role and cross-level translation required.

MMH Sleeper: Delaware

Read the full Delaware sleeper analysis →

Delaware has an intriguing roster-construction case despite a conservative sixth-place preliminary projection. Devin Dinkins averaged 12.1 PPG and 2.6 APG at Manhattan in 2025–26, albeit on 36.5% shooting. Chuck Bailey III averaged 6.3 PPG and 2.4 RPG in 33 games at Nevada, making 39.4% of his threes. DeShawn Harris-Smith played only six games at Georgetown (5.2 PPG), so extrapolating a large production jump would be speculative. Kachi Nzeh and Steven Solano supply possible frontcourt size. The upside depends on guards’ efficiency and how the new pieces complement one another.

Upside path: If the guards protect the ball and the frontcourt holds up defensively, Delaware can outperform its mid-table projection.

MMH Top 10 Players

Full analysis: Conference USA Top 10 Players →

Impact Newcomers

Cooper Campbell — Liberty

The Troy transfer adds a proven ballhandler and distributor to the league's preseason favorite.

Devin Dinkins — Delaware

The Manhattan transfer gives Delaware a scoring guard who can create late-clock offense; improved efficiency will be important.

Gabe Warren — New Mexico State

His Holy Cross production offers the Aggies a substantial wing-scoring option.

Chris Lockett Jr. — Jacksonville State

The Jacksonville University transfer adds perimeter experience, though his outside shooting will need to improve.

Cobi Campbell — Liberty

Another Troy import gives Liberty a veteran backcourt partner for Cooper Campbell.

Best Backcourts

1. Liberty — Cooper Campbell and Cobi Campbell bring proven experience and complementary creation, with Zander Carter another option.
2. Western Kentucky — Teagan Moore is the league's top individual guard candidate; Sharron Young and Armelo Boone contribute perimeter depth.
3. Delaware — Devin Dinkins and Chuck Bailey III combine ballhandling and shooting, with DeShawn Harris-Smith an upside variable.
4. Middle Tennessee — Jahvin Carter organizes the offense, while Quintero Barnett and Eli Rice add scoring possibilities.
5. New Mexico State — DJ Dudley and Jermaine Washington offer options, with KK Robinson's availability a major swing factor.

Best Frontcourts

1. Kennesaw State — Trey Simpson brings rim protection and rebounding; Avery Thomas II provides additional physicality.
2. Delaware — Kachi Nzeh and Steven Solano give the Blue Hens size and an interior presence.
3. Middle Tennessee — Ofri Naveh and Kaleb Siler offer useful length and production.
4. Western Kentucky — Emondrek Erkins-Ford and the supporting forwards give WKU athletic options.
5. New Mexico State — Gabe Warren can play alongside a lengthy group of Aggies forwards.

MMH Preseason Awards

• Projected Champion: Liberty
• Player of the Year: Teagan Moore, Western Kentucky
• Newcomer of the Year: Cooper Campbell, Liberty
• Sleeper: Delaware
• Most Dangerous Challenger: Western Kentucky
• Breakout Team: Kennesaw State
• Best Backcourt: Liberty
• Best Frontcourt: Kennesaw State

What Will Decide the Race?

Liberty's new backcourt fit. Cooper and Cobi Campbell bring established roles, but the Flames will need a coherent scoring hierarchy.

Whether Western Kentucky's guard talent converts into wins. Moore gives WKU a reliable first option; supporting production and defense determine its title ceiling.

Kennesaw State's interior advantage. Simpson and a physical frontcourt offer a path to exceeding MMH's fourth-place pick and validating Blue Ribbon's first-place call.

Delaware's integration. The Blue Hens can beat a sixth-place projection if their perimeter additions create efficient offense and their frontcourt holds up.

March Outlook

The title race has three distinct arguments: MMH's Liberty pick, Bart Torvik's Western Kentucky forecast, and Blue Ribbon's Kennesaw State selection. Middle Tennessee has a viable path into that conversation, while Delaware is the team MMH expects to challenge its consensus reputation.

Methodology: MMH standings, roles and awards are editorial preseason projections, not official CUSA selections or outputs from MMH Model V1. Outside rankings are from the user's 2027 Bart Torvik CUSA screenshot and the 2026–27 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.