Conference USA is so down this year that it's making for a quite entertaining league race with just two weeks left to play.

The league, whose RPI has hovered around No. 20 the entire season, has just six teams above .500, all of which might as well be in a class by themselves. Everyone else is essentially clumped together, minus Southern Miss and UTSA, but it's still made for some interesting storylines in regards to the top four seeds in next month's C-USA tournament and what team will take home the regular season crown.

UAB's win over Middle Tennessee to sweep the season series has turned the final four games into a mini playoff with Marshall. There's a chance MTSU could sneak back into things, but the rest of the league appears to be playing for seeding.

UTEP, Rice and North Texas are starting to make a late push in the rankings, while Florida International and Southern Miss continue to fall as there is one again significant movement.

Here are the latest power rankings. This list will be updated every Tuesday until March.

C-USA basketball power rankings: Feb. 16

CONFERENCE USA POWER RANKINGS

1. UAB

Record: 22-5 (12-2)
Previous rank: 1
Weekly schedule: vs. Marshall, vs. Western Kentucky
Explanation: UAB's coaching staff wasn't happy after the Blazers blew a big lead to Louisiana Tech. That wasn't a problem against MTSU as UAB handled MTSU to keep control of first place. UAB is the unquestioned top team right now, but Marshall may have a thing or two to say about that Thursday.

2. Marshall

Record: 15-12 (11-3)
Previous rank: 4
Weekly schedule: at UAB, at MTSU
Explanation: In my eyes, Marshall turned into a legit contender weeks, if not a month ago. How everyone else views the Herd is unclear, but they can make a major statement with a tough road swing this week. Marshall can either move into a tie with UAB for the conference lead or potentially fall back to fourth place. Big week for the Herd.

3. Middle Tennessee

Record: 18-7 (10-4)
Previous rank: 2
Weekly schedule: vs. Western Kentucky, vs. Marshall
Explanation: Middle Tennessee has taken a few hits along the way during the past two weeks with losses to Louisiana Tech and UAB. MTSU is faced with more tests this week and needs to keep winning to hold on to a top-four seed. Louisiana Tech and UTEP fans will be watching close.

4. UTEP

Record: 17-11 (9-6)
Previous rank: 5
Weekly schedule: at Old Dominion, at Charlotte
Explanation: UTEP is on a roll after what essentially was a blowout win over Louisiana Tech. The Miners have won six straight games thanks to a switch to a four-guard lineup. If UTEP can get past Old Dominion, Charlotte and UTSA, it will take a nine-game win streak to the C-USA tournament.

5. Louisiana Tech

Record: 20-7 (9-5)
Previous rank: 3
Weekly schedule: vs. North Texas, vs. Rice
Explanation: The Bulldogs haven't carried their defense on the road most of the year, and that continued against UTEP by allowing 91 points. Tech still hasn't been able to string together more than a handful of strong performances. Just last week, wins over MTSU and UAB had the Bulldogs trending upward before a poor performance against UTEP. Tech is almost certainly out of the running for the regular season crown. The focus now shifts to holding off UTEP and Old Dominion for a top-four seed in Birmingham.

6. Old Dominion

Record: 15-12 (8-6)
Previous rank: 6
Weekly schedule: vs. UTEP, vs. UTSA
Explanation: Old Dominion is fading a bit, and the Monarchs are no longer invincible on their home floor. Trey Freeman is a potential C-USA Player of the Year winner but he can't do it all. ODU prides itself on defense but appears it doesn't have the firepower to stay at the top of the C-USA race.

7. Rice

Record: 11-16 (6-8)
Previous rank: 11
Weekly schedule: at Southern Miss, at Louisiana Tech
Explanation: OK, let's just give Marcus Evans the rookie of the year award in C-USA. Evans just won another Freshman of the Week award to give him eight for the season. He's averaging more than 20 points per game and has Rice playing well of late.

8. Charlotte

Record: 10-17 (6-8)
Previous rank: 7
Weekly schedule: vs. UTSA, vs. UTEP
Explanation: Charlotte cooled off a bit from a stretch that included six wins in nine tries. The 49ers are in a holding pattern here to see if they can respond to a pair of losses to Marshall and WKU. A showdown with UTEP on Saturday could produce a lot of points.

9. North Texas

Record: 11-16 (6-8)
Previous rank: 12
Weekly schedule: at Louisiana Tech, at Southern Miss
Explanation: North Texas, the thorn in Louisiana Tech's side at home the past two years, now has to travel to Ruston. Things may be a little different this time around, but UNT is surging at the right time.

10. Western Kentucky

Record: 13-14 (5-9)
Previous rank: 9
Weekly schedule: at Middle Tennessee at UAB
Explanation: WKU is one of the harder teams to figure out in C-USA. The Hilltoppers are competitive in nearly every single game but struggle to close out wins. They can play spoiler this weekend with road swings against MTSU and UAB.

11. Florida International

Record: 12-16 (6-9)
Previous rank: 8
Weekly schedule: at FAU
Explanation: After a hot start, FIU is starting to slip a little. FIU couldn't even capitalize on a Texas road swing against improved teams in North Texas and Rice. FIU is still dangerous with three quality players, but that is nullified with no supporting cast.

12. Southern Miss

Record: 7-16 (4-8)
Previous rank: 10
Weekly schedule: vs. Rice, vs. North Texas
Explanation: Southern Miss is back to the bottom after a series of losses. Just a few weeks ago the Golden Eagles were trending upward as one of the surprises in C-USA. Then reality checked back in and USM hasn't recovered after several close calls against UAB and UTEP.

13. Florida Atlantic

Record: 7-21 (5-10)
Previous rank: 13
Weekly schedule: vs. FIU
Explanation: Of C-USA"s bottom feeders, FAU has the chance to make the most noise simply because it has beaten Louisiana Tech this year. We've learned anything is possible once tournament time starts.

14. Texas-San Antonio

Record: 5-23 (3-11)
Previous rank: 14
Weekly schedule: at Charlotte, at Old Dominion
Explanation: UTSA snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over reeling Southern Miss. In a game against two of the league's worst teams, someone was bound to win.