Tyson Helton Happy With State of CUSA Football In 2024

Since taking over the Western Kentucky Hilltopers' football program prior to the 2019 season, head coach Tyson Helton has enjoyed an owinning record and a bowl

© Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Since taking over the Western Kentucky Hilltopers' football program prior to the 2019 season, head coach Tyson Helton has enjoyed an owinning record and a bowl win in four of his five seasons. He's also led the Tops to a winning record in conference play in all five seasons. Helton also won Conference USA's Coach of the Year award in that 2019 season.

Prior to the 2023 season, Conference USA had six teams (UTSA, Charlotte, Rice, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, UAB) leave the league to join the American Athletic Conference. Liberty, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, and Jacksonville State joined the league in their place. Kennesaw State will join in 2024 and Delaware will join in 2025. 

Helton recently appeared on G5 Football Daily's podcast, where he was asked his opinion on the state of Conference USA football compared to before the league underwent those changes.

"I think it's more competitive now than it was before in the old Conference USA," Helton said. "I think we had six teams leave that were probably middle-to-bottom of the league. Some were not. And we had some teams come in that people weren't very familiar with. I was, but the general public was not. I think those brands have caught now recognition...But I think the league has gotten stronger and will continue to get stronger. I think the level of competition is as high as it's ever been."

Download the full podcast episode here.