This is actually a really interesting topic that i was looking at yesterday. I don't know if CUSA is in a down year, or just being perceived as a down year.
One of the problems CUSA has is that it doesn't have consistent leaders atop the conference FIU and UAB are the two division leaders and have a combined 3 losses.
FIU - to Indiana by 10 and Miami by 14
UAB - to Coastal Carolina by 23 (I honestly do not understand this at all.
I think the perception of a down year comes from 2 games and one team.
IF UAB had beaten CC, they would be undefeated and would have a win over a AAC and Sun Belt team. It would have also made their matchup with us a much higher profile game. The fact that they didn't have a program two years ago doesn't look great from an outsiders point of view, so they need to be really good to justify their position and getting smacked by a middle of the pack sun-belt team doesn't do that
IF Marshall had beaten MTSU, they would be sitting at 6-1 with their only loss being a 17 point deficit to NC State. For good or bad, Marshall is one of the flagship programs of our conference and their success is the conference's success. it would almost certainly set them up at 9-1 heading into their last game against FIU
Lastly, the fact that the Lane Train has slowed considerably. Like it or not, Kiffin was bringing a TON of credibility/publicity to our conference, and he has had none of that this year. The team averages 28 points a game, and outside of Singletary, doesn't appear to have much going on.
I think if these are the 3 main factors that have CUSA looking meh this year