The Hilltoppers are not the only team in Conference-USA who will have a big non-conference game today as Marshall University will be taking on the University of Louisville in Huntington, West Virginia.

The Thundering Herd will have an uphill task as the Cardinals are now ranked third in the Associated Press top-25 poll after putting up 63 points on the then-second ranked Florida State University Seminoles.

Last week Marshall lost to Akron University after giving up 65 points to their Mid-American Conference Opponent.

However, despite the Thundering Herd’s 1-1 start, sophomore quarterback Chase Litton has gotten off to a great start this season as he has thrown for 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He is also averaging 361 yards per game through the air.

Marshall’s defense will have to pick things up in order to defeat Louisville and Heisman Trophy candidate Lamar Jackson if they want a shot at beating the Cardinals. After games against Morgan State University and Akron, the Thundering Herd are giving up 373 yards per game.

Elsewhere in C-USA football are four match-ups between schools in the conference: Middle Tennessee State University versus Louisiana Tech University, the University of Southern Mississippi versus the University of Texas at El-Paso, North Texas University versus Rice University and Florida Atlantic University versus Florida International University.

The most important of these games is the matchup between MTSU (2-1) and Louisiana Tech (1-2). Both programs will be in bowl contention toward the end of the year and this game will have big C-USA title game implications.

The Blue Raiders were picked to finish first in the east division and the Bulldogs were picked to finish second in the west division in the C-USA Preseason Media Poll.

So far on the year, MTSU has defeated Alabama A&M and Bowling Green University. However, the Blue Raiders were blown out by Vanderbilt University 47-24 on Sept. 10.

Louisiana Tech has fared better against power-five conference opponents on the season as they only lost to the University of Arkansas and Texas Tech University by a combined 15 points.

The Bulldogs are paced by running back Jarred Craft who has 314 yards rushing through three games while also averaging seven yards a carry.

In order for the Blue Raiders to pull off the win in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, quarterback Brent Stockstill will have to keep up the blistering pace he has had so far this season.

Through three games Stockstill has passed for 1,006 yards and 10 touchdowns while only throwing three interceptions.

Regardless of who wins any one of these important conference matchups, the landscape of C-USA football will be much different come Sunday morning.

Reporter John Reecer can be reached at 270-745-6291 and [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @Reece_12_Falcon.