Conference USA Football Media Days will be held next weekend in Dallas, a sign that the college football season is rapidly approaching.

From now until July 25, when the C-USA West Division teams kick things off Monday afternoon, The News-Star is starting a blog series titled "6 for '16" to discuss a six-pack of relevant topics in C-USA as it pertains to the 2016 season.

Thursday's topic centers around the six most intriguing games in Conference USA for 2016. These are limited to conference matchups with an additional section below for some of the best nonconference games.

Media picks Tech to finish second behind Southern Miss

6 for '16 series:

• Monday — Handicapping the Conference USA West race
• Tuesday — Toughest schedules in Conference USA
• Wednesday — Most favorable schedules in Conference USA

Marshall at Southern Miss, Oct. 29

Marshall's toughest league road game could end up as a C-USA title game preview. Marshall, which won the title in 2014 by beating Louisiana Tech, saw Western Kentucky take the lead in the East Division in 2015. This is the Herd's chance to regain its footing as one of the elite programs in the conference. Southern Miss, meanwhile, is the favorite to run through the league like it did in 2015 and get back to the championship game. Marshall may be one of the few teams in the league to slow down Southern Miss' lethal offense.

Western Kentucky at Marshall, Nov. 26

Ever since Western Kentucky joined the league in 2014, this matchup has become must-watch TV. In 2014, Western Kentucky went for a two-point conversation in overtime to upend previously unbeaten Marshall, ending the Herd's hope at an access bowl. WKU's Brandon Doughty threw an unheard of eight touchdowns in the shootout. WKU then crushed Marshall in 2015 to advance to the C-USA championship game behind Doughty's five scores. It's time for Marshall to make a move with Doughty finally gone.

Louisiana Tech at Southern Miss, Nov. 25

Tech has a flair for the dramatic at the end of the regular season. In each of the past two years, Tech's final game in November was for the C-USA West Division title. Tech plastered Rice in 2014 on its home turf then watched Southern Miss steamroll its way to a huge win last year on the Bulldogs' home turf. Unless Rice or UTEP make a move, this clash in Hattiesburg on Thanksgiving weekend could be for the division title. With a favorable schedule and high expectations, Southern Miss could easily run the table, meaning this game may not have much significance if Tech comes in with a few conference losses.

Middle Tennessee at Marshall, Nov. 12

Sense a pattern here? The race in the East should be compelling, to say the least. One team has to emerge, although Marshall, WKU and MTSU will all rough each other up in the process. As much as Marshall has its eyes set on taking back the title from WKU, Middle Tennessee, voted by the media as the preseason favorite, also plans on throwing itself in the title race. A 7-5 regular season led many to believe if MTSU is the next team to make a sizable jump. The Marshall-WKU game at the end of the regular season could very well be a play-in game for a spot in the championship game, but if MTSU has something to say about it, this November clash may be the final obstacle to clinch a division title.

Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech, Oct. 6

This Thursday night clash in October serves as a "prove it" game for both schools. WKU no longer has star quarterback Brandon Doughty to lean on, and the Hilltoppers should be eager to show the talent is still there to make a run at another title. By the time this game rolls around, Tech could enter October with a 1-3 record due to a gauntlet September schedule. The clash with WKU isn't necessarily validation, rather survival in the league race. Games against MTSU and WKU during a three-week stretch will determine whether Tech can challenge Southern Miss in the West.

Florida Atlantic at Middle Tennessee, Nov. 26

FAU on this list? Yeah, times are changing in C-USA. It seems the Owls can't find the recipe to close out games. Maybe this is the year when FAU can win a few games, pick up some momentum and spoil seasons for teams like Middle Tennessee. In this scenario, MTSU could be heading into the final week of the season needing a win to secure a spot in the C-USA title game, leaving FAU to shake things up. Of course, this may never happen, but it's July and anything can happen at this juncture.

Additional nonconference games to watch

Indiana at FIU, Sept. 1 — FIU nearly pulled off the upset in a 2015 road game. Now, Indiana makes the return trip to South Florida. Stranger things have happened. This would be the perfect way for the Panthers to start out the year.

Baylor at Rice, Sept. 16 — A double whammy of sorts here for Rice. The Owls get this game at home and it comes during a time when Baylor is reeling as a program due to an offseason scandal. Of course, Baylor could play angry the whole year and demolish teams like Rice. This game may be closer than people think.

Louisiana Tech at Texas Tech, Sept. 17 — What does Texas Tech do well? Throw the football. What did Louisiana Tech struggle to stop last year? With three new linebackers and three new members of the secondary, Texas Tech will look to exploit this matchup. But as we saw in 2015 against Kansas State and early against Mississippi State, don't count Louisiana Tech out.

Vanderbilt at Western Kentucky, Sept. 24 — WKU edged Vanderbilt in the 2015 season opener to pick up a notable road victory that set the table for a 12-2 year. Even if Vandy fields a more competitive team, WKU always proves as a tough place to win at.

Louisville at Marshall, Sept. 28 — Marshall has some interesting nonconference games with Pittsburgh, Akron and Louisville. The latter comes at home against one of the stronger teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference not named Florida State or Clemson.

Southern Miss at LSU, Oct. 15 — LSU is a team many like to compete for a national championship. Southern Miss is a team many pick to win the C-USA championship. Pitting a conference's top team against a team from the Southeastern Conference is always intriguing, especially since LSU and USM are close in proximity and have regional ties.

Best weekend of C-USA football: Nov 25-26

If you're a fan of Thanksgiving weekend and football, what's not to like? C-USA doesn't have an actual game on Turkey Day, however, the weekend is filled with potential matchups that could determine the C-USA East/West race.

It all starts Friday with Tech and Southern Miss dueling it out Friday followed by WKU-Marshall on Saturday. Additional games include North Texas-UTEP and FAU-Middle Tennessee, the latter of which could have title implications if MTSU can navigate through the East Division. Rice also travels out West to face Stanford.