Our weekly trip around Conference USA, summarizing the games with stories from hometown papers. As always, click on the links to go to the actual stories:

MEMPHIS 28, TULANE 27: Facing perhaps the best running back in the nation — and the best in Conference USA since that DeAngelo fella was breaking every other run — the Tigers gave up a lot of yards, but pulled out a victory. That puts the Tigers at 3-1 in the conference with a big showdown this week with East Carolina. Forte busted through the Tiger defense for 278 yards, sending him over 1,000 FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER!

How good is this guy? I asked Phil Stukenborg, who saw every single DeAngelo run in his job of reporting on Tiger football for The Commercial Appeal. Here’s what he said: “It’s easy to see why Forte leads the nation in rushing. He possesses great vision, patience and footwork and is difficult for one man — or in Memphis’s case Saturday, two or three men — to bring down. All those qualities make up for his lack of outstanding speed. Think DeAngelo Williams without DeAngelo’s ability to beat people on the outside.” Some are noticing in New Orleans, as well.

HOUSTON 34, UTEP 31: On a night of great offense, the Houston defense made the big play. And the defending conference champion Cougars never lost their cool.

EAST CAROLINA 41, UAB 6: The Pirates have won their share of close games. Against UAB, ECU had a chance to breathe easy. For Neil Callaway’s Blazers, the season is rapidly deteriorating.

TULSA 29, SMU 23: The Mustangs were poised at the 1 to score the game-breaking touchdown with 2 minutes left. Instead, the Golden Hurricane held, then drove 99 yards to win. Apparently, that was the last straw for SMU administration, which reportedly fired Phil Bennett.

MARSHALL 34, RICE 21: The Thundering Herd is in pure celebration mode after beating Rice for victory No. 1. Not so much in Houston for the Owls.