AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE NOTES:
THIS WEEK
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
South Florida at Louisville
Time: Noon
Series: Louisville leads, 6-5
Last Meeting: Oct. 26, 2013 (Louisville, 34-3)
TCU at SMU
The Battle for the Iron Skillet
Time: Noon
Series: TCU leads, 51-42-7
Last Meeting: Sept. 5, 2021 (SMU, 42-34)
Massachusetts at Temple
Time: 2 p.m.
Series: Temple leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 15, 2017 (Temple, 29-21)
North Texas at Memphis
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Memphis leads, 16-4
Last Meeting: Dec. 16, 2003 (Memphis, 27-17)
Indiana at Cincinnati
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Indiana leads, 9-4-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2021 (Cincinnati, 38-24)
Georgia Tech at UCF
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: Georgia Tech leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2020 (UCF, 49-21)
Tulsa at Ole Miss
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: Tulsa leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 19, 1964 (Tulsa, 14-7)
Rice at Houston
The Bayou Bucket Classic
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: Houston leads, 32-11
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2021 (Houston, 44-7)
Navy at East Carolina *
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: Navy leads, 7-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2021 (East Carolina, 38-35
Southern Miss at Tulane
The Battle for the Bell
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Southern Miss leads, 23-9
Last Meeting: Sept. 26, 2020 (Tulane, 66-24)
All times Eastern
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
John Rhys Plumlee • Sr. • QB • UCF
Plumlee turned in his second game this season with 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards as he led UCF to a 40-14 win at Florida Atlantic. He completed 25 of 36 passes for a career-high 339 yards and a touchdown and finished with 121 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nick Anderson • Sr. • LB • Tulane
Anderson led a Green Wave defense that limited previously unbeaten Kansas State to 10 points and 336 total yards in a 17-10 road victory. Anderson tied for the team lead with six tackles, including a tackle for loss, with a quarterback hurry. Two of his stops came on fourth down plays.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mason Fletcher • So. • P • Cincinnati
Fletcher averaged 48.2 yards on five punts, dropping one punt inside the 5-yard line and hitting another for a careerlong 67 yards to help Cincinnati to a 38-17 win against Miami (Ohio) in the annual Battle for the Victory Bell. The 67-yard punt matched the longest by an American Athletic Conference player this season.
HONOR ROLL
Ben Bryant • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati
Completed 26 of 35 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-17 win against Miami (Ohio).
Holton Ahlers • Sr. • QB • East Carolina
Went 17-for-20 for 263 yards and three TDs in a win against Campbell. Became The American’s career passing leader.
Seth Henigan • So. • QB • Memphis
Completed 19 of 28 passes for 360 yards with a rushing TD in a 44-32 win against Arkansas State.
Brian Battie • So. • RB • South Florida
Rushed for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries n a 31-28 loss at No. 18 Florida.
Davis Brin • Jr. • QB • Tulsa
Completed 27 of 35 passes for 424 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-17 win against Jacksonville State
AMERICAN NOTEBOOK
All We Do Is Win
Seven of The American’s 11 teams (63.4%) have winning records through Week 3.
Conference Call
The American is 7-1 against non-autonomous FBS conferences in 2022.
Win Big, Lose Close
The six victorious American Athletic Conference teams from Saturday won by an average of 23 points. The four teams that lost fell by an average of 7.5 points.
Top Of The Charts
East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers set The American’s career passing yards record, previously held by Tulsa’s Dane Evans from 2014-16, in the Pirates’ win against Campbell. Ahlers ranks second on the conference’s career total offense list.
Career Passing Yards
- 11,019 Holton Ahlers, East Carolina (2018-)
- 10,782 Dane Evans, Tulsa (2014-16)
Career Total Offense
- 12,418 Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (2018-21)
- 12,332 Holton Ahlers, East Carolina (2018-)
Trending Well
Tulane is 3-0 for the first time since 1998, when the Green Wave went 12-0 and was ranked No. 7 in the final national polls.
Margin Call
Tulane has outscored its first three opponents by a 111-20 margin.
Clean As A Whistle
Tulane’s defense, which has held its first three opponents to 6.7 points per game, has not been assessed a penalty through three games of the 2022 season.
Consistency
Tulane QB Michael Pratt has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 23 of his 24 career games.
Three For One Special
UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee has had at least 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in two of the Knights’ first three games. Plumlee passed for a career-high 339 yards and rushed for 121 in Saturday’s win at Florida Atlantic.
Keep Climbing
Tulsa QB Davis Brin, who entered the week as the national leader in passing yards (391.0 ypg), improved his average to 402.0 yards per game after he threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns against Jacksonville State.
Murderers’ Row
Two of South Florida’s first three opponents this season have been nationally ranked (BYU, Florida).
Titletown
Through the first three 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 in Week 2.
We Must Defend This House
Cincinnati has won 28 consecutive games at Nippert Stadium, trailing only Clemson (33) for the nation’s longest active home field winning streak. UCF has won 31 of its last 34 home games, while Memphis has gone 32-4 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.
Point Production
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai set the American Athletic Conference’s single-season record with 39 touchdown passes in 2021. Mordecai has 10 touchdown passes through three weeks of the 2022 season.
Catching On
SMU WR Rashee Rice leads all NCAA FBS players with 491 receiving yards and 163.7 receiving yards per game in 2022.
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.
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
2-1, 0-0 American
@UCF_Football
Last: Won at Florida Atlantic, 40-14
Next: Sept. 24 vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..532.3 ……………………1st
Total Defense…………………………..271.3 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………..36.7 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ………………………..14.7 …………………. 2nd
• QB John Rhys Plumlee passed for a career-high 339 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 121 yards and two TDs in the win at Florida Atlantic.
• Plumlee has had two 300-100 games in the Knights’ first three contests.
• The Knights finished with 653 yards of total offense against Florida Atlantic. UCF had 32 first downs.
• UCF held Florida Atlantic to 18 yards of total offense in the second half.
• The Knights began a three-game homestand with Saturday’s matchup against Georgia Tech.
CINCINNATI
2-1, 0-0 American
@BearcatsFB
Last: Defeated Miami (Ohio), 38-17
Next: Sept. 24 vs. Indiana
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….480.3 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………… 294.3 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense …………………………41.7 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….19.3 …………………..4th
• QB Ben Bryant passed for 337 yards and two touchdowns in the win against Miami (Ohio).
• Cincinnati has won 28 consecutive games at Nippert Stadium. Only Clemson (33) has a longer active home field winning streak.
• Cincinnati won the annual battle for the Victory Bell for the 16th consecutive season and took a 60-59-7 series lead against Miami (Ohio) with the win. It is the first lead for Cincinnati in the series since 1915.
• RB Charles McClelland rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns against Miami.
• WR Tyler Scott had eight receptions for 119 yards against the RedHawks.
EAST CAROLINA
2-1, 0-0 American
@ECUPiratesFB
Last: Defeated Campbell, 49-10
Next: Sept. 24 vs. Navy (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 495.3 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….345.7 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ……………………….36.0 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………..17.3 …………………..3rd
• QB Holton Ahlers became The American’s career passing leader in the win against Campbell. Ahlers finished the game with 11,019 career passing yards, bettering the old mark of 10,782, set by former Tulsa QB Dane Evans.
• RB Keaton Mitchell rushed for 185 yards with a touchdown on 13 carries against the Camels. Mitchell has eight career 100-yard games, to lead all American Athletic Conference players.
• WR Isaiah Winstead had six catches for 112 yards against Campbell, turning in his first career 100-yard game.
• East Carolina had a season-high 572 offensive yards against Campbell.
• East Carolina opens conference play Saturday against Navy. It will be the fourth straight home game for the Pirates.
HOUSTON
1-2, 0-0 American
@UHCougarFB
Last: Lost to Kansas, 48-30
Next: Sept. 24 vs. Rice (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..381.0 …………………..8th
Total Defense…………………………449.0 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 32.3 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………….38.7 ………………….11th
• Houston scored the first 14 points of the game, but the Cougars were unable to hold off Kansas at TDECU Stadium.
• RB Ta’Zhawn Henry had five receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown and added 56 rushing yards with a TD against the Jayhawks.
• Houston had a 446-438 advantage in total yards and a 26-25 edge in first downs against Kansas, but was undone by two turnovers and 10 penalties,
• LB Malik Robinson, who started the first three games, suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will be out for the rest of the season.
• Houston faces Rice Saturday in the Bayou Bucket Classic. The two campuses are located about five miles apart.
MEMPHIS
2-1, 1-0 American
@TigersAthletics
Last: Defeated Arkansas State
Next: Sept. 24 vs. North Texas (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….449.0 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………….410.3 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..34.7 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.3 …………………..9th
• QB Seth Henigan passed for 360 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Arkansas State.
• The Tigers trailed Arkansas State 32-31 with 4:22 left, but Memphis scored the last 15 points of the game.
• TE Caden Prieskorn had five receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns against the Red Wolves.
• Memphis has forced at least one turnover in eight consecutive games, dating to last season.
• Memphis is 12-2 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 (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..316.5 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………354.0 …………………..6th
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 were idle in Week 3 before resuming conference play at East Carolina
SOUTH FLORIDA
1-2, 0-0 American
@USFFootball
Last: Lost at Florida, 31-28
Next: Sept. 24 at Louisville (ACC Regional Net)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..373.0 …………………..9th
Total Defense…………………………440.0 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ……………………….30.3 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….33.7 …………………10th
• South Florida held a 28-24 fourth-quarter lead against No. 18 Florida before the Gators won it with a late touchdown.
• RB Brian Battie, an NCAA consensus All-America selection as a return specialist last season, rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against the Gators.
• QB Gerry Bohanon passed for 116 yards and rushed for 102 yards and a TD against Florida.
• South Florida had a 402-329 advantage in total offense and a 23-17 edge in first downs against Florida.
• South Florida has faced two top-25 opponents in its first three games.
SMU
2-1, 0-0 American
@SMU_Football
Last: Lost at Maryland, 34-27
Next: Sept. 24 vs. TCU (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..516.3 …………………..3rd
Total Defense…………………………. 371.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….40.0 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ………………………20.0 …………………..5th
• SMU saw a streak of 14 consecutive wins in regular-season nonconference games end with the loss to Maryland.
• The Mustangs took a 27-20 lead into the fourth quarter against Maryland before the Terrapins outscored SMU 14-0 in the final 15 minutes.
• WR Rashee Rice had 11 receptions for 193 yards against Maryland. Rice leads all FBS players with 491 receiving yards entering Week 4.
• QB Tanner Mordecai went 29-for-54 for 369 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions against the Terrapins.
• The Mustangs are 15-2 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium since the start of the 2019 season.
TEMPLE
1-2, 0-0 American
@Temple_FB
Last: Lost to Rutgers, 16-14
Next: Sept. 24 vs. Massachusetts (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….268.0 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………….270.3 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense …………………………14.7 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ………………………20.0 …………………..5th
• Temple held Rutgers without an offensive touchdown, but the Scarlet Knights used three field goals and a pick-six to escape with the wiin Philadelphia.
• Freshman QB E.J. Warner went 19-for-32 for 215 yards and a touchdown with an interception in his first career start.
• WR Adonicas Sanders had eight receptions for 90 yards against the Scarlet Knights.
• LB Layton Jordan had two sacks to lead a defense that limited Rutgers to 201 yards and 12 first downs.
• Temple plays the second of back-to-back home games Saturday against Massachusetts.
TULANE
3-0, 0-0 American
@GreenWaveFB
Last: Won at Kansas State, 48-30
Next: Sept. 24 vs. Southern Miss (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..421.0 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense………………………….220.7 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ………………………..37.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ………………………….6.7 ……………………1st
• Tulane is 3-0 for the first time since 1998 after the win at Kansas State.
• The last 3-0 start for Tulane was part of a 12-0 season that saw the Green Wave finish the year at No. 7 in the national polls.
• Tulane has outscored its first three opponents by a 111-20 margin.
• QB Michael Pratt passed for 176 yards and a touchdown and was the game’s leading rusher with 87 yards on the ground against Kansas
State.
• Tulane is ranked second nationally in pass efficiency defense (77.58), trailing only Michigan (75.74).
TULSA
2-1, 0-0 American
@TulsaFootball
Last: Defeated Jacksonville State, 54-17
Next: Sept. 24 at Ole Miss (SEC Network)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..523.7 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense………………………….359.7 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….43.0 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………….30.7 …………………..8th
• QB Davis Brin went 27-for-35 for 424 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Golden Hurricane against Jacksonville State.
• Brin enters Week 4 as the NCAA leader in passing yards (402.0 ypg) and total offense (397.0 ypg).
• WR Keylon Stokes is third nationally in receiving yards (152.3 ypg).
• Stokes, who surpassed 3,000 career receiving yards in the win against Jacksonville State, ranks fifth on The American’s career chart
(3,007 yards).
• P Lachlan Wilson was named the Ray Guy National Punter of the Week after he averaged 44.5 yards and landed four punts inside the 20-yard line against Jacksonville State.
