THIS WEEK
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Cincinnati vs. Miami (Ohio)
The Battle for the Victory Bell
Time: Noon
Series: Tied, 59-59-7
Last Meeting: Sept. 4, 2021 (Cincinnati, 49-14)
Rutgers at Temple
Time: 2 p.m.
Series: Rutgers leads, 22-15
Last Meeting: Sept. 4, 2021 (Rutgers, 61-14)
Tulane at Kansas State
Time: 3 p.m.
Series: Tulane leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 17, 1988 (Tulane, 20-16)
Kansas at Houston
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: Kansas leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 23, 2005 (Kansas, 42-13)
Campbell at East Carolina
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: Campbell leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 7, 1939 (Campbell, 13-0)
Arkansas State at Memphis
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Memphis leads, 31-23-5
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2021 (Memphis, 55-50)
Jacksonville State at Tulsa
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: First meeting
UCF at Florida Atlantic
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: UCF leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2019 (UCF, 48-14)
South Florida at Florida
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Florida leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2021 (Florida, 42-20
SMU at Maryland
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Maryland leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 22, 1962 (Maryland, 7-0)
All times Eastern
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Davis Brin • Sr. • QB • Tulsa
Brin led Tulsa to a come-from-behind win against Northern Illinois with a career-high four touchdown passes in a 38-35 victory. Brin completed 19 of 32 passes for 322 yards and engineered a pair of fourth-quarter drives that put Tulsa ahead.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Derek Parish • Sr. • DE • Houston
Parish set a pair of American Athletic Conference records in a 33-30 overtime loss at Texas Tech as he finished with 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss among his 11 total tackles. Parish also had a forced fumble against the Red Raiders.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
De’Von Fox • RFr. • WR • Temple
Fox blocked three punts, finishing one shy of the NCAA single-game record, to help Temple to a 30-14 win against Lafayette. Two of his blocks led to Temple touchdowns on the ensuing drives, while his third was recovered in the end zone for a safety.
HONOR ROLL
Keaton Mitchell • So. • RB • East Carolina
Had 160 yards and two touchdowns (1, 81) on 18 carries in a 39-21 win against Old Dominion.
Seth Henigan • So. • QB • Memphis
Completed 24 of 34 passes for 415 yards and two touchdowns (4, 79) in a 37-13 win at Navy.
Quindell Johnson • Sr. • S • Memphis
Had 13 tackles with an interception in a 37-13 win at Navy.
Rashee Rice • Sr. • WR • SMU
Had nine receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns (8, 20) in a 45-16 win against Lamar.
Bryson Powers • Gr. • S • Tulsa
Had a game-high 13 tackles, including two key stops on Northern Illinois’ final drive, in a 38-35 win against the Huskies.
AMERICAN NOTEBOOK
Within Reach
East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers enters this weekend needing 26 yards to tie The American’s career passing yards record, set by Tulsa’s Dane Evans from 2014-16.
Career Passing Yards
- 10,782 Dane Evans, Tulsa (2014-16)
- 10,756 Holton Ahlers, East Carolina (2018-)
Career Total Offense - 12,418 Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (2018-21)
- 12,074 Holton Ahlers, East Carolina (2018-)
Career Day
Six American Athletic Conference quarterbacks have eclipsed their respective career highs in passing yards through the first two weeks of the 2022 season. Tulsa QB Davis Brin threw for 460 yards — the most of any NCAA FBS player — against Wyoming. SMU QB Tanner Mordecai had 432 passing yards against North Texas. Cincinnati’s Ben Bryant had 325 yards against No. 19 Arkansas. UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee had 308 passing yards against South Carolina State. Navy QB Tai Lavatai had 135 passing yards against Delaware. Tulane QB Michael Pratt had 318 yards in a win against Alcorn State.
Out Of The Gate
Tulane is 2-0 for the first time since the 2002 season after a 52-0 win against Alcorn State.
Zero Hour
The Green Wave’s win against Alcorn State was its first shutout since a 56-0 victory against Louisiana-Lafayette Nov. 1, 1997..
Expanding Horizons
SMU has won 14 consecutive regular-season nonconference games after the Mustangs’ 45-16 win against Lamar last Saturday.
Not Over ‘Til It’s Over
Tulsa has registered six come-from-behind wins since the start of the 2021 season after the Golden Hurricane’s 38-35 win against Northern Illinois last Saturday.
Titletown
Through the first two weeks of the season, American Athletic Conference teams have defeated two of the other nine FBS conference champions from 2021. Houston was a 37-35 overtime winner against UTSA (Conference USA) in Week 1, and Tulsa defeated Northern Illinois (MAC) 38-35 Saturday.
We Must Defend This House
Cincinnati has won 28 consecutive games at Nippert Stadium, trailing only Clemson (32) for the nation’s longest active home field winning streak. UCF has won 31 of its last 34 home games, while Memphis has gone 31-4 at home since 2017.
Behind Enemy Lines
Houston DE Derek Parish set American Athletic Conference single-game records with 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in last Saturday’s game against Texas Tech.
Blocking Schemes
Temple WR De’Von Fox blocked three punts in the Owls’ win against Lafayette last Saturday, finishing one shy of the NCAA single-game record.
Consistency
Tulane QB Michael Pratt has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 22 of his 23 career games after his three-TD performance against Alcorn State.
Trifecta
Tulsa had three 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time in program history in the 40-37 double-OT loss at Wyoming in Week 1. WR Keylon Stokes (169 yards), WR Malachai Jones (103) and WR JuanCarlos Santana (102) all hit triple digits against the Cowboys.
Point Production
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai set the American Athletic Conference’s single-season record with 39 touchdown passes in 2021. Mordecai has six touchdown passes through two weeks of the 2022 season.
One And Only …
Cincinnati finished the 2021 regular season as the nation’s only unbeaten team (13-0). The Bearcats’ only loss in 2021 came to Alabama in the CFP Semifinals.
… But Not The Only One
The American Athletic Conference has had an undefeated team entering Bowl Season in four of the last five seasons (UCF in 2017 and 2018; Cincinnati in 2020 and 2021).
Variety Show
The American Athletic Conference was the only Division I conference that had a team in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Final Four (Houston) and in the 2021-22 College Football Playoff (Cincinnati).
Guess Who’s Back
Nine of The American’s 11 teams return their regular starting quarterback from last season. The only teams in The American to not return their starting signal-caller are Cincinnati (Desmond Ridder) and South Florida (Timmy McClain).
The American’s Returning Starting Quarterbacks
UCF Mikey Keene
East Carolina Holton Ahlers
Houston Clayton Tune
Memphis Seth Henigan
Navy Tai Lavatai
SMU Tanner Mordecai
Temple D’wan Mathis
Tulane Michael Pratt
Tulsa Davis Brin
Draft Cards
The American matched its best showing in the NFL Draft with 19 players selected in 2022. Two American players — Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner at No. 4 and Tulsa OT Tyler Smith at No. 24 — were chosen in the first round, while The American had 10 players taken in the first two days of the draft, surpassing the league’s previous high of six players.
Magnificent Seven
Seven of The American’s 11 teams were selected for Bowl Season in 2021. American Athletic Conference teams were 3-1 in bowl games that were played (three games were canceled)
Mark Your Calendars
Cincinnati’s selection to the CFP Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl marked the seventh time in the nine-year history of The American that the league has had a team in a Bowl Championship Series or CFP New Year’s Six bowl.
The American in CFP/New Year’s Six Bowls
2013 UCF 52, Baylor 42 (Fiesta Bowl)
2015 Houston 38, Florida State 24 (Peach Bowl)
2017 UCF 34, Auburn 27 (Peach Bowl)
2018 LSU 40, UCF 32 (Fiesta Bowl)
2019 Penn State 53, Memphis 39 (Cotton Bowl)
2020 Georgia 24, Cincinnati 21 (Peach Bowl)
2021 Alabama 27, Cincinnati 6 (CFP Semifinal/Cotton Bowl)
Variety Show
Nine of the 11 American Athletic Conference schools have been ranked in the top 25 since the 2018 season.
Murderers’ Row
Navy played the third-toughest schedule nationally according to the NCAA’s strength-of-schedule rating. Eleven of the Midshipmen’s 12 opponents in 2021 are playing in bowl games.
You’re The Best Around
Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell was chosen as the 2021 national coach of the year by seven different organizations.
TALKING POINTS
UCF
1-1, 0-0 American
@UCF_Football
Last: Lost to Louisville, 20-14
Next: Sept. 17 at Florida Atlantic (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..472.0 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………… 256.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ……………………….35.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….15.0 …………………..3rd
• UCF scored touchdowns on two of its first three drives against Louisville, but the Knights were shut out on their final 10 possessions against the Cardinals.
• UCF saw a seven-game home field winning streak end with the loss to Louisville. The Knights have gone 31-3 at FBC Mortgage Stadium since the start of the 2017 season.
• RB Isaiah Bowser rushed for 51 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries against Louisville. Bowser has scored two TDs in each of UCF’s first two games.
• Bowser leads The American with four rushing touchdowns through two games.
• After Saturday’s road game at Florida Athletic, the Knights will play their following three games at home.
CINCINNATI
1-1, 0-0 American
@BearcatsFB
Last: Defeated Kennesaw State, 63-10
Next: Sept. 17 vs. Miami (Ohio) (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..481.5 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense…………………………350.0 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 43.5 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ……………………… 20.5 …………………..4th
• QB Ben Bryant passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Kennesaw State.
• Cincinnati extended its home field winning streak to 28 games with the win against Kennesaw State. Only Clemson (32) has a longer active home field winning streak.
• LB Ivan Pace Jr. had 11 tackles against Kennesaw State, giving him back-to-back games with double-digit tackles.
• Cincinnati has won 21 consecutive home openers, a streak that started in the 2002 season.
• Cincinnati limited Kennesaw State to 142 rushing yards, snapping the Owls’ streak of 73 consecutive games with at least 150 rushing yards.
EAST CAROLINA
1-1, 0-0 American
@ECUPiratesFB
Last: Defeated Old Dominion, 39-21
Next: Sept. 17 vs. Campbell (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..457.0 …………………..6th
Total Defense…………………………..317.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 29.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….21.0 …………………..5th
• QB Holton Ahlers threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the win against Old Dominion.
• RB Keaton Mitchell rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the win against the Monarchs.
• Ahlers moved into second place on The American’s career passing yards chart (10,756) He needs 26 yards to tie the mark of 10,782, set by former Tulsa QB Dane Evans.
• The Pirates limited Old Dominion to 15 rushing yards and held the Monarchs to 1-for-8 efficiency on third down.
• East Carolina had possession for 40:52 against Old Dominion.
HOUSTON
1-1, 0-0 American
@UHCougarFB
Last: Lost at Texas Tech, 33-30 (2ot)
Next: Sept. 17 vs. Kansas (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….349.0 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………….454.5 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………34.0 …………………..9th
• Houston outscored Texas Tech 17-3 in the second half to force overtime, but the Cougars fell to the Red Raiders in the second OT period.
• Houston has played back-to-back overtime games. The Cougars’ season-opening win at UTSA came in the third overtime period.
• WR Nathaniel Dell had seven receptions for 120 yards against Texas Tech.
• DE Derek Parish tied two American Athletic Conference single-game records against Texas Tech. Parish had 4.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss.
• Houston, which played back-to-back road games to start the year, plays its home-opener Saturday against Kansas.
MEMPHIS
1-1, 1-0 American
@TigersAthletics
Last: Won at Navy, 37-13
Next: Sept. 17 vs. Arkansas State (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….400.0 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense………………………… 430.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ……………………….30.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.0 …………………..8th
• QB Seth Henigan passed for 415 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Navy. It was the third career 400-yard performance for Henigan.
• S Quindell Johnson had 13 tackles to go with a key interception to lead the Tiger defense. It was Johnson’s eighth career interception.
• Memphis has forced at least one turnover in seven consecutive games, dating to last season.
• The Tigers had four receivers with at least 70 yards against Navy.
• The Tigers, who opened the season with backto-back road games, play their home opener Saturday against Arkansas State. Memphis is 11-2 at home since the start of the 2020 season.
NAVY
0-2, 0-1 American
@NavyAthletics
Last: Lost to Memphis, 37-13
Next: Sept. 24 at East Carolina
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..316.5 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………354.0 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ………………………..10.0 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ……………………….25.5 ………………….. 7th
• Navy, which committed only eight turnovers in the 2021 season, has six giveaways through the Midshipmen’s first two games.
• LB John Marshall had a game- and career-high 15 tackles in the loss to Memphis.
• Navy had 215 rushing yards against Memphis, with RB Maquel Haywood as the top rusher with 54 yards on eight carries.
• QB Tai Lavatai completed 3 of 7 passes for 99 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown to WR Anton Hall.
• The Midshipmen are idle in Week 3 before resuming conference play at East Carolina
1-1, 0-0 American
@USFFootball
Last: Defeated Howard, 42-20
Next: Sept. 17 at Florida (SEC Network)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 358.5 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………… 495.5 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………..31.5 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ………………………35.0 …………………10th
• South Florida broke open what had been a 14-7 halftime score with 28 second-half points in the win against Howard.
• The Bulls snapped a six-game slide with the victory against Howard.
• RB Brian Battie, a consensus All-America selection as a return specialist last season, had a game-high 105 rushing yards and a touchdown
on only seven carries against Howard.
• QB Gerry Bohanon completed 17 of 28 passes for 219 yards and an interception against Howard.
• South Florida will face its second top-25 opponent in its first three games with Saturday’s trip to No. 18 Florida. The Bulls have dropped
12 consecutive games to top-25 opponents.
SMU
2-0, 0-0 American
@SMU_Football
Last: Defeated Lamar, 45-16
Next: Sept. 17 at Maryland (FS1)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 514.5 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………….337.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ……………………….46.5 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….13.0 …………………. 2nd
• QB Tanner Mordecai passed for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Lamar.
• WR Rashee Rice had a career-high nine receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns against Lamar.
• SMU has won 14 consecutive regular-season nonconference games, its longest streak since a run of 17 straight from 1979-85.
• RB T.J. McDaniel had 13 caarries for 96 yards and two touchdowns against Lamar, while RB Velton Gardner rushed for a game-high 100 yards on 11 carries.
• The Mustangs are 15-2 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium since the start of the 2019 season.
TEMPLE
1-1, 0-0 American
@Temple_FB
Last: Defeated Lafayette, 30-14
Next: Sept. 17 vs. Rutgers (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..270.0 ………………….11th
Total Defense…………………………305.0 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………..15.0 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 22.0 …………………..6th
• QB E.J. Warner came off the bench to throw for 173 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Owls past Lafayette.
• WR Jose Barbon had game highs with eight receptions and 118 receiving yards for his second career 100-yard game.
• WR De’Von Fox blocked three punts against Lafayette, one shy of the NCAA single-game record. Fox’s blocked punts led to two Temple touchdowns and a safety.
• The win against the Leopards was the first career head coaching victory for first-year Temple coach Stan Drayton.
• The Owls snapped an eight-game slide with the win against Lafayette.
TULANE
2-0, 0-0 American
@GreenWaveFB
Last: Defeated Alcorn State, 52-0
Next: Sept. 17 at Kansas State (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 463.5 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………….163.0 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ………………………..47.0 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense …………………………5.0 ……………………1st
• Tulane is 2-0 for the first time since 2002 after the win against Alcorn State.
• The Green Wave registered its first shutout since a 56-0 victory against Louisiana-Lafayette Nov. 1, 1997.
• QB Michael Pratt completed 17 of 21 passes for a career-high 318 yards and three touchdowns against Alcorn State.
• WR Shae Wyatt had five receptions for 130 yards and a TD against Alcorn State.
• Tulane leads the nation in pass efficiency defense (26.18) and passing yards allowed (33.0 ypg).
TULSA
1-1, 0-0 American
@TulsaFootball
Last: Defeated Northern Illinois, 38-35
Next: Sept. 17 vs. Jacksonville State (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..475.0 …………………..3rd
Total Defense…………………………392.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ………………………..37.5 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ……………………….37.5 ………………….11th
• QB Davis Brin completed 19 of 32 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns to lead Tulsa to the win against Northern Illinois.
• Brin enters Week 3 as the NCAA leader in passing yards (391.0 ypg) and fourth nationally in total offense (388.5 ypg).
• There were four lead changes in the fourth quarter of the win against Northern Illinois.
• WR Keylon Stokes is second nationally in receiving yards (152.0 ypg). Stokes had eight receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown against NIU.
• Brin became the 12th player in program history to surpass 4,000 career passing yards (4,319).
