UPCOMING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Temple at Tulsa *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Tulsa leads, 4-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2022 (Tulsa, 27-16)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
UAB at Tulane *
Time: Noon
Series: UAB leads, 6-5
Last Meeting: Sept. 25, 2021 (UAB, 28-21)
South Florida at Navy *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Navy State leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 19, 2019 (Navy, 35-3)
Boise State at Memphis
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: First meeting
East Carolina at Rice *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2010 (Rice, 62-38)
Abilene Christian at North Texas
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: North Texas leads, 16-8-1
Last Meeting: Aug. 31, 2019 (North Texas, 51-31)
Charlotte at SMU *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: First meeting
OPEN WEEKS
Florida Atlantic
Next Game: Oct. 7 vs. Tulsa
UTSA
Next Game: Oct. 7 at Temple
All times Eastern
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Byrum Brown • RFr. • QB • South Florida
Brown passed for a career-high 435 yards and completed 22 of 29 attempts with two touchdowns to lead South Florida to a 42-29 win against Rice in both teams’ American Athletic Conference opener. Brown added a team-high 82 rushing yards with a TD on the ground to finish with 517 yards of total offense, the most of any NCAA FBS player in a game in the 2023 season Brown leads all FBS quarterbacks with 350 rushing yards this season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kendarin Ray • Sr. • S • Tulsa
Ray had a team-high 10 tackles and came up with a game-clinching interception to lead Tulsa to a 22-14 win at Northern Illinois. He made a pivotal tackle on a fourth-and-1 play from the NIU 28-yard line that allowed Tulsa to get a key field goal, while his interception came at the Tulsa 21 with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Ray, who leads The American with 38 tackles, registered his third game this season with at least 10 stops.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grant Gonya • Sr. • P • Charlotte
A transfer from Division III John Carroll, Gonya averaged 48.5 yards on six punts in Charlotte’s 22-7 loss at No. 25 Florida. Gonya hit two punts of least 50 yards, with a long of 60, and pinned the Gators inside their own 20-yard line twice. Gonya is ranked second among American Athletic Conference punters with a 45.7-yard average in 2023.
HONOR ROLL
Amare Thomas • Fr. • WR • UAB
Had a game-high nine receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in a 49-21 loss at No. 1 Georgia.
Eyabi Okie-Anoma • Gr. • DE • Charlotte
Had eight tackles with a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 22-7 loss at No. 25 Florida.
Tanner Gillis • Jr. • P/K • Memphis
Scored nine points, going 2-for-2 on field goals (43, 22) in his first career appearance as a placekicker in a 34-27 loss to Missouri.
Luke McCaffrey • Jr. • WR • Rice
Had nine receptions for a career-high 199 yards in a 42-29 loss at South Florida.
Naiem Simmons • Jr. • WR • South Florida
Had eight receptions for a school-record 272 yards and a touchdown in a 42-29 win against Rice.
AMERICAN NOTEBOOK
New Era, Same Power
The American Athletic Conference is in its first season under its new 14-team configuration in 2023. The American’s six new members are UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UTSA.
One And Only
The American Athletic Conference is the only conference that has a 2023 New Year’s Six bowl winner (Tulane) and an NCAA Men’s Final Four participant (Florida Atlantic) in its ranks for the 2023-24 academic year.
The Champs Are Here
The American is the only FBS conference that has two conference champions from last season among its membership. Tulane won the 2022 American title, while UTSA won the Conference USA crown.
Welcome Wagon
Seven of The American’s 14 teams have new head coaches for the 2023 season.
New Head Coaches in The American
UAB Trent Dilfer
Charlotte Biff Poggi
Florida Atlantic Tom Herman
Navy Brian Newberry
North Texas Eric Morris
South Florida Alex Golesh
Tulsa Kevin Wilson
Auld Lang Syne
The American Athletic Conference has sent its champion to a New Year’s Six bowl game in eight of the conference’s first 10 seasons after Tulane was chosen for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
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)
2022 Tulane 46, USC 45 (Cotton Bowl)
Top 10
Tulane’s finish at No. 9 in the 2022 national polls marked the third consecutive season, and the sixth time in The American’s 10-year history that the conference has had a top-10 team in the final polls. Four schools have accounted for The American’s top-10 finishes (UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, Tulane).
Conference Call
The American finished the 2022 season with a combined 12-3 record against non-autonomous FBS conference opponents in 2022.
Variety Show
Since The American began playing a championship game in the 2015 season, eight different teams have played in the game at least once, while six schools have hosted the championship game.
Play On
The American Athletic Conference had seven teams in Bowl Season last year and finished 4-3 in postseason play. The American has had at least seven bowl-eligible teams seven times in the last eight seasons.
Reversal Of Fortune
Tulane’s 9.5-game improvement from 2021 (when the Green Wave went 2-10) marked the NCAA FBS record for a one-year turnaround. The previous mark was held by Hawaii, which went 0-12 in 1998 and was 9-4 in 1999.
Tigers’ Tale
Memphis was selected for a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season, a streak that ranks ninth among NCAA FBS institutions.
Anytime, Anyplace
Through four weeks of the 2023 season, American Athletic Conference teams have played 13 games against teams ranked in this week’s Associated Press top 25, including games against the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, 12 and 14 teams.
Battle Tested
Teams from The American have played three of the four teams that reached the 2022-23 College Football Playoff. East Carolina faced Michigan Sept. 2., while UAB visited Georgia and SMU was at TCU on Sept. 23.
Catching On
South Florida WR Naiem Simmons had eight catches for a school-record 272 yards in the win against Rice. Simmons’ total ranks second on The American’s single-game chart.
Single-Game Receiving Yards
283 C.J. Johnson, East Carolina vs. Cincinnati, 11/2/19
272 Naiem Simmons, South Florida vs. Rice, 9/23/23
270 Trevon Brown, East Carolina vs. Cincinnati, 11/8/17
Milestone
Tulane head coach Willie Fritz earned his 200th career victory as an NCAA head coach with the Green Wave’s 36-7 win against Nicholls. Fritz sixth among active FBS coaches in career wins.
Most Career Wins Among Active NCAA FBS Head Coaches
283 Nick Saban, Alabama
278 Mack Brown, North Carolina
276 Brian Kelly, LSU
259 K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston
201 Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
200 Willie Fritz, Tulane
Road Sweet Road
Tulane has won six consecutive road games, which ranks as the fourth-longest active streak nationally (Georgia- 11; North Carolina, TCU-7).
Turnover On Downs
UAB is one of four teams nationally that has not allowed a fourth-down conversion (Georgia Southern, Michigan, Virginia Tech).
Best Behavior
Navy ranks second nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.0).
Fair Catch
North Texas has seen 18 of its 20 kickoffs go for touchbacks. The Mean Green has allowed a net of five yards on kickoff returns through three games.
Loss Leader
South Florida S Daquan Evans leads all FBS players in tackles for loss with an average of 2.2 per game. Evans is tied with UCF’s Tre’mon Morris-Brash for the national lead.
Bat-Man
Navy S Rayuan Lane is the national FBS leader in passes defended (2.7 per game). Lane has two interceptions and six pass breakups.
Go Wester, Young Man
Florida Atlantic WR Lajohntay Wester is averaging 10.8 receptions per game, ranking second among FBS players nationally.
Saved By Zeno
UAB QB Jacob Zeno ranks fourth nationally in total offense (330.5 ypg).
The Takeaway
UAB S Damien Miller is second nationally forced fumbles with an average of 0.75 per game (three in four games).
Dual Threat
South Florida QB Byrum Brown leads all FBS quarterbacks in rushing at 87.8 yards per game. Brown has 351 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 79 carries.
TALKING POINTS
UAB
1-3, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Georgia, 49-21
Next: Sept. 30 at Tulane (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..416.8 …………………..5th
Total Defense…………………………430.0 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ……………………….28.0 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………36.3 ………………….11th
- QB Jacob Zeno completed 32 of 51 passes for 250 yards and figured in all three UAB touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the loss to No. 1 Georgia.
- Zeno has passed for at least 250 yards in all four games this season.
- Freshman WR Amare Thomas had nine catches for 60 yards and a touchdowns against the Bulldogs.
CHARLOTTE
1-3, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Florida, 22-7
Next: Sept. 30 at SMU (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….306.3 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………….415.3 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..19.0 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ………………………26.0 …………………..5th
- Charlotte and No. 25 Florida scored one touchdown each, but the Gators used five field goals to hold off the 49ers in Gainesville.
- Charlotte held Florida to 136 rushing yards and 1-of-9 efficiency on third down.
- QB Jalon Jones completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown against the Gators.
EAST CAROLINA
1-3, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Gardner-Webb, 44-0
Next: Sept. 30 at Rice (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..282.5 …………………14th
Total Defense………………………… 345.3 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 22.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ………………………26.0 …………………..5th
- East Carolina registered its first shutout since a 38-0 victory against Duke Sept. 2, 2000.
- The Pirates forced five Gardner-Webb fumbles and held the Bulldogs to just 107 yards of offense.
- QB Alex Flinn made his second career start and completed 8 of 18 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in rainy conditions.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
1-3, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Illinois, 23-17
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Tulsa (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..331.0 …………………12th
Total Defense…………………………398.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….20.8 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.0 …………………..9th
- QB Daniel Richardson made his first start of the season and went 28-of-49 for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the loss at Illinois.
- WR LaJohnty Wester had 13 catches for 137 yards and a TD. Wester ranks second nationally with 10.8 receptions per game.
- The Owls registered four sacks and eight tackles for loss against Illinois.
NORTH TEXAS
1-2, 0-0 American
Last: Won at Louisiana Tech, 40-37
Next: Sept. 30 vs. Abilene Christian
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 445.0 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense………………………….542.3 …………………14th
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.3 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ……………………….47.0 …………………14th
- K Noah Rauschenberg’s fourth field goal of the game — a 31-yard attempt with three seconds left — gave the Owls the win against Louisiana Tech.
- RB Ayo Adeyi rushed for a career-high 148 yards and two touchdowns against Louisiana Tech.
- QB Chandler Rogers made his first start of the season and threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-41 passing.
MEMPHIS
3-1, 1-0 American
Last: Lost to Missouri, 34-27
Next: Sept. 30 vs. Boise State (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….436.8 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………….319.8 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………..37.0 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………….18.8 ……………………1st
- QB Seth Henigan passed for 316 yards and three touchdowns and was intercepted twice in the loss to Missouri.
- Henigan registered his 12th career game with at least 300 passing yards, joining former Memphis players Brady White and Paxton Lynch for the second-most in school history.
- WR Roc Taylor had seven catches for a career-high 143 yards against Missouri.
RICE
2-2, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at South Florida, 42-29
Next: Sept. 30 vs. East Carolina (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….405.8 …………………..6th
Total Defense…………………………420.8 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ……………………….35.3 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.8 ………………….11th
- QB JT Daniels went 27-of-40 for a career-high 432 yards and three touchdowns against South Florida, but left the game with a lower body injury in the third quarter.
- RB Dean Connors had six receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns against the Bulls.
- WR Luke McCaffrey had a career-high 199 receiving yards, good for second on Rice’s single-game chart.
NAVY
1-2, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at Memphis, 28-24
Next: Sept. 30 vs. South Florida (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….336.3 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………….359.7 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense …………………………17.0 …………………14th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 23.3 …………………..4th
- FB Alex Tecza rushed for a career-high 163 yards and a touchdown, and Navy reeled off 299 rushing yards against Memphis in the conference opener.
- QB Tai Lavatai completed 10 of 19 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown against the Tigers.
- Navy had its second open week of the season last week. The Midshipmen resume play Sept. 30 against South Florida in Annapolis.
SOUTH FLORIDA
2-2, 1-0 American
Last: Defeated Rice, 42-29
Next: Sept. 30 at Navy (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 434.3 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….415.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….26.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.8 …………………..9th
- QB Byrum Brown was 22-for-29 for a career-high 435 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing TD to lead the Bulls past Rice.
- WR Naiem Simmons set a school record with 227 yards on eight receptions, shattering the old mark of 272 yards by Tyre McCants against UCF in 2017.
- South Florida snapped an 18-game losing streak against FBS opponents.
SMU
2-2, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at TCU, 34-17
Next: Sept. 30 vs. Charlotte (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….463.3 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………… 263.3 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ……………………….39.3 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….14.0 …………………. 2nd
- QB Preston Stone threw for 258 yards, but was intercepted twice in the loss at TCU in the Battle for the Iron Skillet.
- The Mustangs did not have a 100-yard receiver against TCU, but had five players with at least 40 receiving yards.
- S Isaiah Nwokobia had a career-high eight tackles with a sack against the Horned Frogs.
TEMPLE
2-2, 0-0 American
Last: Lost to Miami (Fla.), 41-7
Next: Sept. 28 at Tulsa (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 365.5 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………….378.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………..19.8 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ………………………26.8 ………………….. 7th
- WR Amad Anderson Jr. had career highs with 10 receptions and 117 receiving yards in the loss to No. 20 Miami.
- Anderson registered his fourth career 100-yard game.
- QB E.J. Warner went 22-of-39 for 240 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice.
UTSA
1-3, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Tennessee, 45-14
Next: Oct. 7 at Temple (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..367.0 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………… 382.5 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ………………………..19.3 …………………12th
Scoring Defense ………………………28.0 …………………..9th
- UTSA fell behind No. 23/20 Tennessee 31-0 in the second quarter and was unable to get back in the game.
- QB Owen McCown completed 18 of 20 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. McCown’s 90% completion rate ranks fifth on The American’s single-game chart.
- The Roadrunners visit Temple for their American Athletic Conference opener
TULSA
2-2, 0-0 American
Next: Won at Northern Illinois, 22-14
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Temple (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..374.3 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………….470.0 …………………13th
Scoring Offense ……………………….23.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………….38.7 …………………13th
- RB Anthony Watkins rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries as Tulsa picked up the road win at Northern Illinois.
- K Chase Meyer added two second-half field goals to help the Golden Hurricane close the game with 13 unanswered points.
- Tulsa is 2-0 against unranked teams and 0-2 against top-25 teams this season.
TULANE
3-1, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Nicholls, 36-7
Next: Sept. 30 vs. UAB (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..375.0 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense………………………….291.3 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ………………………. 28.5 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….16.0 ……………………1st
- QB Michael Pratt returned to the lineup and passed for 190 yards and two touchdowns to lead Tulane past Nicholls.
- The win was the 200th career victory for head coach Willie Fritz and four-year NCAA institutions. Fritz ranks sixth among active FBS coaches in career wins.
- WR Lawrence Keys had four receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns against Nicholls.
