WKU cruised to the Conference USA title last season behind quarterback Brandon Doughty and a dynamic offense. However, with Doughty off to the NFL, the gap between the Hilltoppers and the rest of the league should close in 2016. Marshall and MTSU are threats to WKU’s division crown, and Southern Miss returns 12 starters from a team that won the West Division last season.

Only five Conference USA teams finished with a winning record and qualified for a bowl trip last year. That number should grow in 2016, as WKU, Marshall, MTSU, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech are safe bets for bowls, with FAU, Old Dominion and UTEP expected to take a step forward this fall. New coaches Seth Littrell (North Texas) and Frank Wilson (UTSA) should provide a spark, but both programs have a ways to go before contending for a winning record.

5 Key Questions That Will Shape C-USA in 2016

1. Replacing Brandon Doughty at WKU

Brandon Doughty leaves big shoes to fill at quarterback after guiding WKU to a 12-2 record and a Conference USA title last season. Finding the right answer under center is likely the difference between the Hilltoppers winning the league once again or falling just short of the division title. Coach Jeff Brohm is one of the nation’s top offensive minds, and there’s a strong supporting cast in place to alleviate some of the concern at quarterback. USF transfer Mike White is the frontrunner to replace Doughty, and the Florida native showed promise in his limited action with the Bulls. Nelson Fishback was expected to push White for the starting job, but he is out 4-6 months due to a pectoral injury. Louisville transfer Tyler Ferguson and sophomore Drew Eckels are the next in line behind White. It’s unrealistic to expect White to match Doughty’s 2015 totals, but the USF transfer has the talent to be one of Conference USA’s top quarterbacks.

2. Marshall, WKU or MTSU in the East?

Most of the discussion in Athlon’s Conference USA prediction meeting was spent sorting out the top of the East Division. Not much separates WKU, Marshall and MTSU, and all three teams have key question marks to address. For WKU, how quickly will Mike White settle into the quarterback role and replace Brandon Doughty? Additionally, the Hilltoppers return only four starters on defense, and the schedule features road trips to MTSU, Marshall and Louisiana Tech. MTSU returns the league’s top pass-catch combination in quarterback Brent Stockstill and receiver Richie James, but Rick Stockstill’s team has a few voids to patch on both sides of the ball. Additionally, there’s a road trip to Marshall in mid-November that could decide the division title. The Thundering Herd have the best collection of talent in Conference USA and return promising sophomore quarterback Chase Litton. A crossover game against Southern Miss is challenging, but Marshall hosts WKU and MTSU. Litton needs a few weapons to emerge in the supporting cast, while the defense suffered key losses at each level. There’s no clear favorite in the East, but Athlon eventually picked MTSU thanks to its edge at quarterback.

3. Impact of Coaching Change at Southern Miss?

Coaching changes are never easy, especially ones that take place late in the offseason. Todd Monken’s departure to Tampa Bay came as a surprise, but Southern Miss landed a quality replacement in Jay Hopson. The Mississippi native has a wealth of experience as an assistant (including two previous stints at Southern Miss) and guided Alcorn State to a 32-17 record over the last four seasons as the program’s head coach. Hopson has to put his own stamp on the program, but it’s hard to envision many major changes for 2016. The Golden Eagles return 12 starters from a team that won Conference USA’s West Division last year and own one of the top offenses from the Group of 5 ranks. While the transition may have a few bumps in the road, Southern Miss still has quarterback Nick Mullens to lean on. That should be more than enough to win the West Division and push for the overall league title.

4. FAU and Old Dominion Poised for a Breakout Year?

MTSU, Marshall and WKU are the clear favorites at the top of Conference USA’s East Division, but FAU and Old Dominion are two teams to keep an eye on. The Owls have recruited well under Charlie Partridge, and the pieces are starting to fall into place for the third-year coach. After losing four games by seven points or less in 2015, the development of FAU’s young talent this offseason could translate into a bowl for 2016. The Monarchs played better over the second half of last year and just missed on a six-win season after a two-point defeat to FAU in the finale. Coach Bobby Wilder is a sharp offensive mind, and the Old Dominion attack should get back on track in 2016. Quarterback David Washington is expected to recover from a knee injury by the opener, and sophomore Shuler Bentley had a promising close to 2015. The defense surrendered 35.8 points a game last year, but there’s hope for improvement with seven returning starters. FAU and Old Dominion are longshots to win the division. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both teams make a trip to a bowl in 2016.

5. Which Team Can Challenge Southern Miss in the West?

Even though the coaching change has added some uncertainty at Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles are a heavy favorite to win the West Division. But if Jay Hopson’s team slips, Louisiana Tech and UTEP should have the best shot at the top spot. The Bulldogs must replace quarterback Jeff Driskel and running back Kenneth Dixon and return only three starters on defense. However, Louisiana Tech has a good foundation in terms of talent and coaching in place, which should prevent a major drop in wins. Injuries hit UTEP hard last season, including a season-ending knee injury to standout running back Aaron Jones early in the 2015 campaign. With Jones back to full strength and a favorable schedule in place for coach Sean Kugler’s team, the Miners should easily rebound back into the postseason. With Southern Miss visiting El Paso on Sept. 24, UTEP has a chance early in the year to stake its claim for the division title.

Conference USA 2016 Team Previews

East Division National Rank: 125 103 105 73 70 104 76 West Division National Rank: 85 128 109 68 92 123

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Conference USA Predictions for 2016