It’s almost over.

That’s about the nicest thing that can be said about the C-USA’s annual non-conference clashes with BCS conferences.

Last week was particularly humbling. The league went 0-6 and was outscored 242-95 along the way.

No. 7 Louisville pounded FIU 72-0. The game was so lopsided that there was confusion afterward as to whether FIU coach Ron Hunter had requested a running clock in the second half. Hunter said he didn’t. No. 9 Georgia was actually tied with North Texas in the third quarter before pulling away for a 24-point win. Syracuse routed Tulane, Virginia Tech survived a triple-overtime scare against Marshall, and Kansas played a lot like Charlie Weis said it did last year before scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to rally past Louisiana Tech.

Fortunately, there won’t be a repeat this week. There can’t be. ECU (at UNC), Texas-San Antonio (vs. Houston) and UAB (at Vanderbilt) are the only C-USA teams facing BCS schools.

Conference play begins in earnest next week, and it’s possible that Middle Tennessee will be the league’s only team with a winning record.

Not much of what happened in September will matter then, of course, but it will be interesting to watch Tulsa.

The Golden Hurricane was an overwhelming favorite to repeat as West Division champions, but it struggled immediately, splitting its first two games before running into Oklahoma. It lost again Thursday night to fall to 1-3.

The East is shaping up as most expected. ECU, which pushed Va. Tech and has another big opportunity Saturday at UNC, was picked to win the division. Marshall, which received a first-place vote, is a few plays from being 4-0.

Chris Wright