2017 Conference USA Football Championship Game

2017 Dynacraft Conference USA Football Championship Game
Conference Championship
North Texas Mean Green Florida Atlantic Owls
(9–3) (9–3)
17 41
Head coach: 
Seth Littrell		 Head coach: 
Lane Kiffin
1234 Total
North Texas 0098 17
Florida Atlantic 101777 41
Date December 2, 2017
Season 2017
Stadium FAU Stadium
Location Boca Raton, Florida
Favorite FAU by 10.5[1]
Referee Dan Gautreaux[2]
Attendance 14,258[2]
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN2 & TuneIn
Announcers Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer and Kris Budden (ESPN2)
TJ Rives, Jay Mize (Tag Sports Group on TuneIn)
2017 Conference USA football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
Florida Atlantic xy$  8 –0     11 –3  
FIU  5 –3     8 –5  
Marshall  4 –4     8 –5  
Western Kentucky  4 –4     6 –7  
Middle Tennessee  4 –4     7 –6  
Old Dominion  3 –5     5 –7  
Charlotte  1 –7     1 –11  
West Division
North Texas xy  7 –1     9 –5  
UAB  6 –2     8 –5  
Southern Miss  6 –2     8 –5  
Louisiana Tech  4 –4     7 –6  
UTSA  3 –5     6 –5  
Rice  1 –7     1 –11  
UTEP  0 –8     0 –12  
Championship: Florida Atlantic 41, North Texas 17
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
As of October 15, 2018; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2017 Conference USA Championship Game was played on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, and determined the 2017 football champion of Conference USA (C-USA). The game was played between Florida Atlantic, the East Division champion, and North Texas, the West Division champion.

If the winner of the C-USA Championship Game is one of the highest ranked in the rankings of the "Group of Five" conferences, the team could be placed in the playoffs. If not, then a New Year's six bowl which consist of the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, and Peach for this season. The conference champion, if not selected, would supposedly pick a bowl game of their choosing to attend that has ties to the conference, but FAU athletic director Pat Chun said FAU did NOT choose the Boca Raton Bowl. Instead, FAU was told where to go by the conference.[3]

The 2017 championship game will be the 13th game in the championship series. In the 2016 championship game, hosted by WKU, the Hilltoppers defeated Louisiana Tech 58–44.[4]

North Texas claimed its place in the title game on November 11 with a 45–10 win over UTEP.[5]

Florida Atlantic clinched the East division on November 18 after defeating rivals FIU 52-24 in the Shula Bowl. The win also ensured that the Owls would host the championship game. At the time, FAU was 7–0 in C-USA play to North Texas' 6–1, with each team having one conference game to play. Although an FAU loss and North Texas win would have left the teams tied, the Owls held the tiebreaker with a head-to-head win over the Mean Green during the season.

Game summary


Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP UNT FAU
1 12:19 9 65 2:41 FAU 24-yard field goal by Greg Joseph 0 3
1 10:11 2 71 0:32 FAU John Franklin 22-yard touchdown reception from Kamrin Solomon, Greg Joseph kick good 0 10
2 14:55 6 64 1:55 FAU Devin Singletary 3-yard touchdown run, Greg Joseph kick good 0 17
2 9:56 11 80 3:36 FAU 21-yard field goal by Greg Joseph 0 20
2 4:43 9 50 2:54 FAU Devin Singletary 5-yard touchdown run, Greg Joseph kick good 0 27
3 12:21 3 74 1:10 FAU Kalib Woods 54-yard touchdown reception from Jason Driskel, Greg Joseph kick good 0 34
3 5:50 16 73 6:31 UNT 26-yard field goal by Trevor Moore 3 34
3 4:47 1 77 0:33 UNT Turner Smiley 77-yard touchdown reception from Mason Fine, 2-point pass by Mason Fine failed 9 34
4 10:32 7 62 2:27 UNT Evan Johnson 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass from Rico Bussey good 17 34
4 5:27 10 71 5:05 FAU Devin Singletary 5-yard touchdown run, Greg Joseph kick good 17 41
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 17 41

Source: [2]

Statistics

Statistics[2]UNTFAU
First downs2622
Plays–yards80-43772-633
Rushes–yards35-8142-281
Passing yards356352
Passing: Comp–Att–Int28-45-218-30-0
Time of possession31:3228:09

References

  1. ↑ "North Texas Mean Green vs Florida Atlantic Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "C-USA Championship: North Texas vs. FAU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  3. ↑ "Lukewarm Embrace". FAU Owl Access. December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ "C-USA Championship: Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  5. ↑ "Fine tosses 4 TDs, North Texas cruises past UTEP 45-10". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
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