IRVING, Texas (July 17, 2018) – In a preseason vote conducted by a panel of media members that cover Conference USA schools, FIU was picked to finish fourth in the eastern division, the league office announced on Tuesday.
 
Florida Atlantic and North Texas each made their first Conference USA Championship Game appearance last season and the league's media are forecasting a rematch this December, as the defending champion Owls were picked to win their second straight East Division title, while North Texas was selected to repeat as West Division champions.
 
Last season, the Panthers matched the program record for wins (8) and earned the school's third bowl berth - the first since 2011 - with an appearance in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl. FIU also finished 5-3 in the C-USA East Division, which was good enough for second place.
 
The league's 23rd football season begins on Thursday, August 30.  The 14th annual Conference USA Football Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, will be held Saturday, Dec. 1. 
 
The C-USA 2018 Football Media Kickoff is set for Wednesday-Thursday, July 18-19, in Frisco, Texas. Napoleon Maxwell and Anthony Johnson will be FIU's representatives, along with second-year head coach Butch Davis.
 
For the full C-USA release, visit here.
 
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C-USA MEDIA MEMBERS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
  
EAST DIVISION   
1.  Florida Atlantic (22)
2.  Marshall (4)
3.  Middle Tennessee
4.  FIU
5.  WKU
6.  Old Dominion
7.  Charlotte
 
WEST DIVISION  
1.  North Texas (18)
2.  Louisiana Tech (4)
3.  UAB (3)
4.  Southern Miss (1)
5.  UTSA
6.  Rice
     UTEP
 
(first place votes in parentheses)