Taking a tour around Conference USA hometown newspapers. Click on the links to go to the entire stories:

TULANE at UAB: Blazers quarterback Sam Hunt has a shoulder injury, so UAB has simplified its offense. But it’s not the way you think. He’s passing as much as always, but he’s avoiding the quarterback runs. At Tulane, the inability to convert on third-and-short has plagued the Green Wave.

UCF at SOUTH FLORIDA: Knights’ defensive end Lezer Douzable is excited about his team playing a top-5 program, and about going home.

RICE at HOUSTON: Unhappy as a pro baseball player, Rice reserve QB James Casey is ecstatic on the Owls’ football team.

MARSHALL at TULSA: Having been outscored 48-5 in the first quarter this season, the Thundering Herd know they need to change that to find that elusive first victory. At Tulsa, the speed of wideout Trae Johnson is starting to make an impact.

SMU at SOUTHERN MISS: The clock is ticking. The Mustangs need to turn things around, and fast. In Hattiesburg, the news that defensive coordinator Jay Hopson is undergoing tests to determine if he has testicular cancer has everyone concerned.

EAST CAROLINA at UTEP: East Carolina, meet UTEP. UTEP, meet East Carolina. It will be the first meeting between the teams.