2017 Conference USA Football Championship Game

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. The title sponsor was Dynacraft BSC.

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
DateDecember 2, 2017
Season2017
StadiumFAU Stadium
LocationBoca Raton, Florida
MVPKalib Woods (WR, FAU)
FavoriteFAU by 10.5[1]
RefereeDan Gautreaux[2]
Attendance14,258[2]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2 & TuneIn
AnnouncersJason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer and Kris Budden (ESPN2)
TJ Rives, Jay Mize (Tag Sports Group on TuneIn)
2017 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Florida Atlantic x$  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 x  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
Rankings from AP Poll

In the 2016 championship game, hosted by WKU, the Hilltoppers had defeated Louisiana Tech 58–44.[3] The 2017 championship game was the 13th game in the championship series and was won by Florida Atlantic, 41–17.

Teams

North Texas Mean Green
Main article: 2017 North Texas Mean Green football team

North Texas claimed its place in the title game on November 11 with a 45–10 win over UTEP.[4]

Florida Atlantic Owls
Main article: 2017 Florida Atlantic Owls football team

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.

Aftermath

North Texas went on to play in the 2017 New Orleans Bowl, losing to Troy. Florida Atlantic went on to play in the 2017 Boca Raton Bowl, defeating Akron.

If the winner of the C-USA Championship Game was one of the highest in the rankings of the "Group of Five" conferences, the team could have been placed in the College Football Playoff or a "New Year's Six" bowl. Otherwise, the conference champion would supposedly choose which game to attend, from those with ties to the conference. However, FAU athletic director Pat Chun said that FAU did not choose the Boca Raton Bowl, but that FAU was told where to go by the conference.[5]

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 III 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. "C-USA Championship: North Texas vs. FAU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  3. "C-USA Championship: Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  4. "Fine tosses 4 TDs, North Texas cruises past UTEP 45-10". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  5. "Lukewarm Embrace". FAU Owl Access. December 4, 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
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