2025 Week 8 Coaches Inc. Highlights

Three more D1 teams; Colorado State, Florida, and Southern (FCS); fired their HCs over the last two days in what appears to be the new normal this season. Arkansas, Colorado State, Florida, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Southern, Virginia Tech, UAB, and UCLA are all without permanent head coaches right now. Stay tuned for the next teams to follow suit.

Alabama moved up to #4 and Oregon jumped to #6 in the latest AP Poll, while our guys at BYU beat Utah to remain undefeated and improved to 7-0 (#11). At the FCS level, Tennessee Tech scored 52 points in a win over Lindenwood to go to 7-0. The Golden Eagles are averaging an FCS-best 51.7 ppg under Associate HC/OC/QBs Coach Brian Scott’s and Assistant HC/WRs Coach John Allen’s guidance. The Presbyterian Blue Hose won 42-7 to improve to 7-0, extending their current win streak.

Finally, congrats to FIU HC Willie Simmons and Assistant HC/DC Jovan Dewitt for bringing home CBS Sports’ C-USA Head Coach and Coordinator of the Week awards, respectively.

Liberty rushes to last minute win

The Liberty Flames are used to winning. They joined Conference USA in 2023 under HC Jamey Chadwell and proceeded to go undefeated during the regular season, reaching the Fiesta Bowl. Co-Offensive Coordinator/RBs Coach Newland Isaac, who followed Coach Chadwell from Coastal Carolina, and the Flames followed that incredible year with an impressive 8-4 campaign in 2024. However, after being raided in the transfer portal, the 2025 season hasn’t gone quite as planned - yet.

On Tuesday night, Liberty’s offense came through at the right time to secure the team’s second straight win in #WeekdayCUSA action. Down four, the Flames got the ball back on their own eight-yard line with just 3:46 left on the clock. The team proceeded to march down the field on a 13-play drive that culminated in RB Evan Dickens’ eight-yard rushing TD with just :36 left in regulation - his second TD of the night. New Mexico State battled back to get into FG range but missed a 47-yard attempt as time ran out and Liberty held on to win 30-27. The Flames improved their C-USA overall record to 16-4 and sit just one game out of first place this season.

UAB pulls off huge upset one week after firing head coach

UAB Assistant OL Coach Charles Eger is halfway through his second football season of 2025. He spent the summer months in Europe as the Offensive Coordinator of the Raiders Tirol (Austria) in the European League of Football. As soon as he got back to the states at the conclusion of his ELF season, he joined the UAB Blazers as an Assistant OL Coach.

As we mentioned in last week’s Highlights, UAB fired HC Trent Dilfer after the team’s 2-4 start just in time for the Blazers to host #22 Memphis. UAB posted a heroic goal line stand to seal the win but it was the offense’s impressive performance that paved the way for the 21.5 point underdogs. The Blazers posted 470 yards of offense and RB Solomon Beebe became the first back to rush for 100 or more yards against Memphis this year. His 81-yard TD run is now the longest in UAB program history and the UAB offensive line helped the Blazers control the ball for 35:05. The win was a promising start for Coach Eger’s first game under his third HC in his second season of 2025.

UTEP ends four-game skid

The UTEP Miners had lost four straight games before Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL Coach Ryan Stanchek helped orchestrate a 411-yard, 35-point performance on Wednesday night in more #WeekdayCUSA action. The Miners’ balanced offensive attack produced five TDs on 175 yards rushing and 211 passing yards. QB Skylar Locklear had two passing and two rushing TDs himself, and RB Ashten Emory contributed 96 yards and a TD on the ground. The Miners are idle this week and will travel to Kennesaw State next Tuesday as they look to build off this win.

Samford wins thriller for first W of season

Samford RBs/Run Game Coordinator K.D. Humphries  and LBs Coach Cal King have had some tough losses this season but things are looking up after a hard-fought 24-22 road win at VMI on Saturday. Down 22-21 in the fourth quarter, Samford’s defense came up with an INT to give the offense the ball with 5:11 to play. The Bulldogs methodically advanced down the field and converted a go-ahead FG but VMI came right back with a game-winning FG attempt of their own. Fortunately for K.D. and Cal, the VMI kicker missed and Samford went home with the win. Samford LB Jaden Mosley led the team with 12 tackles and LB Carson Sloan added seven as the Bulldogs were able to tally nine TFLs with six sacks on the day.

Weber State dominates Portland State

Weber State DEs Coach/Pro Liaison James Cowser might be the only D1 football coach who is fluent in Mandarin. The former Oakland Raiders OLB spent time promoting American football as an intern at the NFL’s Shanghai office in the offseason during his playing days. Now, he is a full-time coach and his Wildcats’ defense had a banner day in their dominant 43-27 win over Big Sky foe Portland State. Overall, the Wildcats forced five turnovers, had three sacks, and held PSU to just 65 rushing yards on 33 attempts for the game - a great defensive performance in any language.