UPCOMING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Army at Temple *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Temple leads, 7-6
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2017 (Army, 31-28)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Navy at UAB *
Time: Noon
Series: Navy leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 11, 2023 (Navy, 31-6)
South Florida at Tulane *
Time: Noon
Series: Tulane leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 15, 2022 (Tulane, 45-31)
UTSA at East Carolina *
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: UTSA leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 28, 2023 (UTSA, 41-27)
Wagner at Florida Atlantic
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: Florida Atlantic leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 21, 2019 (Florida Atlantic, 42-7
Charlotte at Rice *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Rice leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2023 (Rice, 28-7)
Tulsa at North Texas *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Tulsa leads, 17-8
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2023 (North Texas, 35-28)
Middle Tennessee at Memphis
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Middle Tennessee leads, 17-9-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 20, 2014 (Memphis, 36-17)
All times Eastern
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Blake Horvath • Jr. • QB • Navy
Horvath had a career day in Navy’s 56-44 win against No. 23 Memphis, keeping the Midshipmen unbeaten at 3-0 overall and 2-0 in The American. Horvath rushed for a career-high 211 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 carries, completed 9 of 12 passes for 192 yards and two TDs and had a 13-yard reception to account for 416 total yards and six touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Colin Ramos • Sr. • LB • Navy
Ramos registered a career-high 20 tackles – the most by an NCAA FBS player in a game this season – to help Navy to a 56-44 win against No. 23 Memphis. He added a sack, 2.0 tackles for loss and a key pass breakup in the end zone that denied a Memphis touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Maddux Trujillo • Sr. • K •
Temple Trujillo scored nine points, including an American Athletic Conference-record 64-yard field goal, to help Temple to a 45-29 win against Utah State. Trujillo’s field goal was the longest by any player – college or pro – in Lincoln Financial Field history, while it shattered the previous AAC mark of 56 yards.
Seth Morgan • Gr. • K • Tulsa
Morgan scored 11 points, including the game-tying and game-winning field goals, in Tulsa’s 23-20 overtime win at Louisiana Tech. Morgan, who went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, hit a 45-yard kick with 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force OT before he added a walk-off 34-yarder on Tulsa’s final possession.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bryson Daily • Sr. • QB • Army
Accounted for five total touchdowns and 252 yards of total offense in a 37-14 win against Rice.
Shane Porter • Jr. • RB • North Texas
Rushed for 120 yards on 13 carries in a 44-17 win against Wyoming.
Evan Simon • Jr. • QB • Temple
Accounted for six total touchdowns 320 yards of total offense in a 45-29 win against Utah State.
Jimmori Robinson • Sr. • LB • UTSA
Had seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick in a 45-7 win against Houston Christian.
Makhi Hughes • So. • RB • Tulane
Rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in a 41-33 win at Louisiana.
AMERICAN NOTEBOOK
Military Affairs
Army and Navy sit atop the American Athletic Conference standings at 2-0 in league play, 3-0 overall. If both teams win this week, Army and Navy would both be 4-0 for the first time since 1945. Just Win Army has won its last seven games, dating to last season, giving the Black Knights the nation’s second-longest active winning streak, tied with Ole Miss and trailing only Missouri (eight).
Real World
Army ranks second nationally in rushing with 356.0 yards per game. Navy is fourth at 307.3 ypg.
Bizarro World
Navy ranks fourth nationally in pass efficiency (195.14). The Midshipmen have more touchdown passes (six) than USC, UCF, Michigan and Missouri, among others.
So You’re Saying There’s A Chance
The annual Army-Navy game in the second Saturday in December will not count as a conference game but should the two academies finish atop the American Athletic Conference standings, they would meet in the AAC Championship Game Dec. 6, then play America’s Game the following week in Landover, Maryland. There is a 1.1% chance (1-in-91) of any two specific teams’ meeting in The American Championship Game.
For Kicks
Temple K Maddux Trujillo shattered the American Athletic Conference record with a 64-yard field goal in the Owls’ win against Utah State last Saturday. South Florida K Nico Gramatica hit a 58-yard field goal against Miami later in the day that would have set the record on any other day since The American’s formation in 2013.
Coincidence
Maddux Trujillo’s field goal broke the AAC record of 56 yards set by former Memphis K Jake Elliott in 2013 and tied by Memphis’ Riley Patterson in 2020. It also broke the facility record at Lincoln Financial Field of 61 yards, also held by Elliott as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Conference Call
Tulane has won 10 consecutive American Athletic Conference regular-season games and has the nation’s fifth-longest conference winning streak. Only Georgia (28), Michigan (22), Washington (15) and Alabama (11) have longer streaks.
Conference Call II
UTSA has won 15 of its last 16 regular-season conference games, spanning two conferences.
Unfamiliar Territory
Memphis had not trailed in any of its previous five games before the Tigers fell to Navy last Saturday,
Top 25
American Athletic Conference teams play a combined nine nonconference games against teams ranked in this week’s 25 polls, including games against teams ranked No. 1, No. 4 and No. 7.
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, six schools have hosted the championship game, and seven schools have won the league title. 500 Club North Texas has gained at least 500 yards of total offense in 10 of Eric Morris’ 16 games as head coach, including three of the Mean Green’s four games in 2024. The Best Offense … Tulane is tied for the national lead with three defensive touchdowns this season (along with Arizona State, Coastal Carolina and SMU).
Anyone, Anywhere
Charlotte’s first three FBS opponents have a combined 10-1 record through Week 4.
Clincher
Navy has won 71 consecutive home games when leading after the third quarter. The Midshipmen’s last home loss when leading after 45 minutes was in 1999.
Twenty
Memphis has scored at least 20 points in 31 consecutive games, marking the longest active streak among FBS teams
One and Only
Memphis QB Seth Henigan is the only fourth-year player in FBS who is starting at quarterback for the same school in all four years.
TALKING POINTS
UAB 1-2, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Arkansas, 37-27
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Navy (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 376.7 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………300.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ………………………..24.7 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ………………………24.0 …………………..4th
• QB Jacob Zeno went 23-of-32 for 235 yards and three touchdowns, but the Blazers were unable to get the road win at Arkansas in Week 3. • UAB held a 17-3 lead against Arkansas early in the second quarter but was outscored 34-10 the rest of the way. • K Jonah Delange has gone 6-for-6 on field goals and is the only kicker in The American who is perfect on more than two attempts.
ARMY 3-0, 2-0 American
Last: Defeated Rice, 37-14
Next: Sept. 26 at Temple (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..429.7 ………………….4th
Total Defense…………………………..271.3 …………………. 1st
Scoring Offense ……………………….34.3 ………………….5th
Scoring Defense …………………………9.3 …………………. 1st-
• QB Bryson Daily rushed for 145 yards and three touchdowns and had 107 passing yards with two more TDs to lead Army past Rice. • Army ranks second nationally in rushing at 356.0 yards per game. • The Black Knights visit Temple Thursday night. It will be Army’s first Thursday night game since a home game against Louisville in 1999.
CHARLOTTE 1-3, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Indiana, 52-14
Next: Sept. 28 at Rice (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..321.8 ………………….11th
Total Defense…………………………450.8 …………………14th
Scoring Offense …………………………17.0 …………………14th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.3 …………………13th
• Charlotte trailed Indiana 17-14 late in the second quarter before the Hoosiers closed the game with 35 unanswered points. • The 49ers were limited to 256 total yards and 13 first downs by the Hoosiers. • Charlotte’s first three FBS opponents (James Madison, North Carolina, Indiana) have a combined record of 10-1 this season.
EAST CAROLINA 2-2, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Liberty, 35-24
Next: Sept. 28 vs. UTSA (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….406.8 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense…………………………330.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ……………………….26.3 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….18.3 …………………. 2nd
• East Carolina held a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter against Liberty, but the Pirates were limited to one touchdown the rest of the way. • The game at Liberty was delayed for four hours, 40 minutes shortly after kickoff and ended at 2 a.m. ET. • East Carolina has outscored its first four opponents 50-3 in the first quarter.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 1-3, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at UConn, 48-14
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Wagner (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….288.3 …………………14th
Total Defense………………………….413.0 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense …………………………17.3 …………………13th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.0 ………………….. 7th
• Florida Atlantic was limited to nine first downs and 250 total yards in the road loss to UConn. • The Owls have 10 defensive takeaways this season, good for fifth nationally. • S C.J. Heard had 12 tackles against UConn, registering his second game in double figures. Heard leads all true freshmen nationally with 32 tackles.
MEMPHIS 3-1, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at Navy, 56-44
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Middle Tennessee (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….433.8 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………….310.0 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………. 35.5 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ……………………….21.3 …………………..3rd
• Memphis had 659 yards of offense and 32 first downs, but the Tigers were unable to complete a comeback at Navy. • QB Seth Henigan went 32-for-56 for 371 yards and two touchdowns, registering his 41st consecutive game with a touchdown pass. • Memphis has scored at least 20 points in 31 consecutive games, the longest active streak nationally
NAVY 3-0, 2-0 American
Last: Defeated Memphis, 56-44
Next: Sept. 28 at UAB (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 470.7 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense…………………………436.0 …………………13th
Scoring Offense …………………………47.7 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.3 …………………..6th
• QB Blake Horvath accounted for 403 yards of total offense and six touchdowns (four rushing, two passing) to lead Navy past No. 23 Memphis. • Navy is fourth nationally in rushing at 307.3 yards per game. The Midshipmen also rank fourth in pass efficiency (195.14). • Navy has won 71 consecutive home games when leading after three quarters, the longest active streak nationally.
NORTH TEXAS 3-1, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Wyoming ,44-17
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Tulsa (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 485.3 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………….415.0 …………………12th
Scoring Offense ……………………….38.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ………………………35.3 …………………12th
• North Texas reeled off 534 yards of offense in the win against Wyoming, marking Mean Green’s 10th 500-yard game in Eric Morris’ 16-game head coaching tenure. • QB Chandler Morris leads The American in passing (301.0 ypg), total offense (311.3 ypg) and touchdown passes (11). • WR DT Sheffield had eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown against Wyoming.
RICE 1-3, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at Army, 37-14
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Charlotte (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..315.8 …………………13th
Total Defense………………………… 320.3 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ……………………….26.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.8 …………………..8th
• Rice was shut out in the first half and was unable to keep pace with Army as the Owls dropped their conference opener. • QB E.J. Warner passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice against the Black Knights. • Rice hosts Charlotte Saturday. The teams have met in each of the last three seasons and have split two previous meetings in Houston.
SOUTH FLORIDA 2-2, 0-0 American
Last: Lost to Miami (Fla.), 50-15
Next: Sept. 28 at Tulane (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….409.8 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………….410.5 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ……………………….32.0 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………29.8 …………………..9th
• WR Sean Atkins had a career-high 11 receptions for 125 yards, but the Bulls were unable to keep pace with No. 8 Miami. • K Nico Gramatica hit field goals of 58 and 51 yards against Miami, becoming the first South Florida player to hit multiple 50-yard field goals in a game. • Two of South Florida’s first four opponents are ranked in the top seven of the AP poll.
TEMPLE 1-3, 0-1 American
Last: Defeated Utah State, 45-29
Next: Sept. 26 vs. Army (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..318.5 …………………12th
Total Defense…………………………386.3 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ………………………..19.8 …………………12th
Scoring Defense ………………………36.5 …………………13th
• Temple faced an early 14-0 deficit, but the Owls scored 45 points after the start of the second quarter to get the win against Utah State. • QB Evan Simon passed for 271 yards and five touchdowns and added a rushing TD against the Aggies. • K Maddux Trujillo set an American Athletic Conference record with a 64-yard field goal against Utah State.
Last: Defeated Houston Christian, 45-7
Next: Sept. 28 at East Carolina (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 382.3 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………….387.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..22.5 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ………………………32.0 ………………….11th
• UTSA had a 536-177 advantage in total offense and a 34-12 margin in first downs in the win against Houston Christian. • QB Owen McCown threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns against Houston Christian. • The Roadrunners are 23-2 in their last 25 games at the Alamodome.
TULANE 2-2, 0-0 American
Last: Won at Louisiana, 41-33
Next: Sept. 28 vs. South Florida (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….399.3 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………….341.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….34.8 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.3 …………………..5th
• RB Makhi Hughes matched his career high with 166 rushing yards in the win at Louisiana. • Tulane has three interception returns for touchdowns this season after CB Jack Tchienchou scored on a 38-yard return against Louisiana. • Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall improved to 17-2 all-time against teams in the Sun Belt Conference with the win against Louisiana.
TULSA 2-2, 0-0 American
Last: Won at Louisiana Tech, 23-20 (ot)
Next: Sept. 28 at North Texas (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………417.3 …………………..5th
Total Defense…………………………366.5 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….29.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ………………………30.3 …………………10th
• K Seth Morgan hit the tying field goal with 32 seconds left in regulation and drilled the game-winner in overtime to push Tulsa past Louisiana Tech. • DE Myles Jackson delivered a pivotal sack and forced fumble on Tulsa’s defensive series in overtime to set up the win. • Tulsa registered five sacks against Louisiana Tech.
WEEK 5 PREVIEWS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPN
ARMY at TEMPLE
Lincoln Financial Field (69,596/Natural Grass) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Television ESPN Matt Barrie, Dan Mullen and Harry Lyles Jr.
Army Radio Temple Radio WBNR-AM 1260 OwlSports.com/Listen
THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the 14th meeting between Army and Temple and the first under the American Athletic Conference banner … Temple holds a 7-6 series lead, though Army has won the last two meetings, most recently a 31-28 decision at West Point in 2017 … Temple has won three of the last five meetings.
ARMY 3-0, 2-0 American
Head Coach Jeff Monken (Millikin ’89) 73-55, 11th season at Army 109-71, 15th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Army plays the third of three consecutive games against the American Athletic Conference’s Owl-nicknamed teams with Thursday’s game at Temple … The Black Knights are off to a 2-0 start in conference play following a 37-14 win against Rice at West Point … Army has won its last seven games, dating to last season, trailing only Missouri, which has won eight straight, for the nation’s longest active winning streak … Thursday’s game will be Army’s first Thursday-night contest since 1999 … Army has outscored its first three opponents 103-28 … The Black Knights lead the nation in both red zone scoring (13-for-13) and red zone defense (3-for-8) … QB Bryson Daily is averaging 113.2 rushing yard per game, good for second in the American Athletic Conference.
TEMPLE 1-3, 0-1 American
Head Coach Stan Drayton (Allegheny ’93) 7-21, third season
Notes
Temple turned in its best performance of the 2024 season in Week 4 as the Owls pulled away for a 45-29 win against Utah State last Saturday … The Owls snapped a six-game slide that dated to last season … Temple trailed Utah State 14-0 and 21-14 in the second quarter, but got a boost from a 64-yard field goal by K Maddux Trujillo at the first-half gun … Trujillo’s kick shattered the American Athletic Conference record by eight yards and was the longest field goal by any player – college or pro – at Lincoln Financial Field … QB Evan Simon, a transfer from Rutgers, has started the last two games and has completed 34 of 52 passes for 456 yards and seven touchdowns against one interception … WR Dante Wright has 26 catches for 352 yards and three touchdowns … DE Cam’Ron Stewart has a team-high four tackles for loss.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 • NOON • ESPN2
NAVY at UAB
Protective Stadium (42,354/FieldTurf) Birmingham, Alabama
Television ESPN2 Roy Philpott, Sam Acho and Taylor Davis
Navy Radio UAB Radio WBAL-AM 1090 (flagship) WJOX-FM 94.5 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between Navy and UAB … The only previous matchup came last year, UAB’s first in the American Athletic Conference, when the Midshipmen took a 31-6 victory in Annapolis … Last year’s meeting saw Navy QB Xavier Arline rush for 109 yards and a touchdown.
NAVY 3-0, 2-0 American
Head Coach Brian Newberry (Baylor ’98) 8-7, second season
Notes
Navy is looking for its first 4-0 start since 2017 … The Midshipmen remained unbeaten with a 56-44 win against No. 23 Memphis, lifting Navy to 2-0 in American Athletic Conference play … Navy has won 71 consecutive home games in which the Mids held a lead after three quarters, marking the longest active streak nationally … Navy leads The American in scoring offense at 47.7 points per game … QB Blake Horvath accounted for 416 total yards and six touchdowns in the win against Memphis (four rushing, two passing) … Horvath ranks seventh nationally in rushing at 122.0 ypg and has 366 yards and seven touchdowns … Horvath has also completed 21 of 33 passes for 412 yards and five TDs … SB Eli Heidenreich has 12 receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns … LB Colin Ramos ranks second nationally with 15.0 tackles per game.
UAB 1-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach Trent Dilfer (Fresno State) 5-10, second season
Notes
UAB returns from an open week as the Blazers look to snap a two-game slide … UAB battled Arkansas in a 37-27 setback in Fayetteville in Week 3 heading into the open week … The game against Navy is the first of back-to-back home games for the Blazers, who host Tulane Oct. 5 … UAB is 1-0 at home in 2024 and has gone 13-5 all-time at Protective Stadium and 33-6 in Birmingham since the 2017 season … UAB ranks third nationally in pass defense (102.7 ypg) and has held opponents to a 46% completion rate … QB Jacob Zeno has completed 68 of 96 passes (70.8%) for 617 yards and five touchdowns against three interceptions … RB Lee Beebe Jr. has 187 rushing yards with two TDs, while WR Kam Shanks has 15 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown … K Jonah Delange has gone 6-for-6 on field goal attempts and 8-for-8 on PATs.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 • NOON • ESPNU
SOUTH FLORIDA at TULANE
Yulman Stadium (30,000/Hellas Synthetic) New Orleans, Louisiana
Television ESPNU Matt Schumacker and Dustin Fox
South Florida Radio Tulane Radio WHPT-FM 102.5 (flagship) KVDU-FM 104.1 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between South Florida and Tulane … Tulane holds a 3-1 series lead and has won the last three meetings after South Florida had taken the inaugural matchup in 2017 … The last meeting was in 2022, when the Green Wave prevailed 45-31 in Tampa behind four touchdowns from QB Michael Pratt.
SOUTH FLORIDA 2-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach Alex Golesh (Ohio State ’06) 9-8, second season
Notes
South Florida has played a challenging early schedule to a 2-2 mark after the Bulls fell to No. 8 Miami (Fla.) last Saturday in Tampa … South Florida was within five points of No. 4 Alabama late in the fourth quarter in Week 2 before the Crimson Tide closed out a 42-16 win, while the Bulls held a 15-14 lead against Miami before the Hurricanes scored 34 unanswered points … QB Byrum Brown has completed 66 of 114 passes for 702 yards and two touchdowns without an interception and is South Florida’s leading rusher with 281 yards and two TDs … RB Kelley Joiner Jr. has 251 yards and four touchdowns … WR Sean Atkins has 24 receptions for 289 yards … LB Mac Harris has team highs of 24 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss … K Nico Gramatica went 2-for-2 on field goals of at least 50 yards against Miami, including a 58-yard kick.
TULANE 2-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach Jon Sumrall (Kentucky ’05) 2-2, first season at Tulane 25-6, third season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulane snapped a two-game slide, which came to a pair of top-25 opponents, with a 41-33 win at Louisiana in Week 4 … The game against South Florida is the Green Wave’s only home date in a stretch in which it plays three of four on the road … Tulane’s 25 wins since 2022 rank fifth nationally, behind only Georgia, Michigan, Washington and Alabama … Tulane has won 10 straight American Athletic Conference regular-season games … QB Darian Mensah has gone 54-of-90 for 796 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions … RB Makhi Hughes has rushed for 424 yards and three touchdowns and is averaging 106.0 yards per game … WR Mario Williams has team highs with 18 receptions and 312 yards … S Rayshawn Pleasant has scored touchdowns on defense and special teams.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 • 4 P.M. • ESPN+
UTSA at EAST CAROLINA
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (50,000/Natural Grass) Greenville, North Carolina
Television ESPN+ Richard Cross and Reggie Walker
UTSA Radio East Carolina Radio KTXR-AM 760 (flagship) WNCT-FM 107.9 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between UTSA and East Carolina … The first meeting was last season, when UTSA joined The American, as the Roadrunners took a 41-27 victory in San Antonio … UTSA QB Frank Harris threw for 395 yards and four touchdowns, while WR Joshua Cephus had four catches for 183 yards.
UTSA 2-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach Jeff Traylor (Stephen F. Austin ’90) 41-16, fifth season
Notes
UTSA begins conference play on the heels of a 45-7 win against Houston Christian to wrap up the nonconference portion of its schedule … The Roadrunners set a program record with 34 first downs against Houston Christian … UTSA has gone 27-4 in regular-season conference games under Jeff Traylor and has won 15 of its last 16 conference games … QB Owen McCown has completed 77 of 115 passes for 803 yards and six touchdowns without an interception … The top target has been WR Devin McCuin, who has 27 receptions for 178 yards and three touchdowns … Three players have at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown this season … LB Jimmori Robinson leads the defense with 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss to go with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.
EAST CAROLINA 2-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach Mike Houston (Mars Hill ’94) 26-36, sixth season at East Carolina 106-61, 14th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
East Carolina closed the nonconference portion of its 2024 schedule with a 35-24 loss at Liberty as the Pirates look to snap a two-game slide … East Carolina opened with wins against Nofolk State and Old Dominion and held double-digit leads against Appalachian State and Liberty, but saw the latter two rally in the second half … The game at Liberty was delayed by four hours, 40 minutes shortly after kickoff and ended at 2 a.m. ET … QB Jake Garcia has started every game and has completed 86 of 138 passes for 1,021 yards and five touchdowns against nine interceptions … Garcia ranks third in The American in passing at 255.3 yards per game … RB Rahjai Harris has 289 rushing yards with three touchdowns … DE Elijah Morris is tied for the conference lead with 3.0 sacks.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 • 6 P.M. • ESPN+
WAGNER at FLORIDA ATLANTIC
FAU Stadium (29,945/Natural Grass) Boca Raton, Florida
Television ESPN+ Ryan Urquhart, Patrick Murray and Natalie Kalibat
Florida Atlantic Radio WMEN-AM 640 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the third meeting between Florida Atlantic and Wagner … The series began with a 7-3 Owls win in 2012 and most recently includes a 42-7 Florida Atlantic victory in 2019 … Both previous games have been in Boca Raton … QB Chris Robinson passed for 379 yards and five touchdowns in the last meeting.
WAGNER 2-2, 0-1 NEC
Head Coach Tom Masella (Wagner ’81) 7-33, fifth season at Wagner 51-99, 15th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Wagner plays the first of two games against FBS opponents this season with Saturday’s visit to Florida Atlantic … The Seahawks fell 21-14 to Robert Morris last Saturday in their Northeast Conference opener and stand at 2-2 overall … Wagner ranks ninth in FCS in total defense, allowing 270.5 yards per game … The Seahawks have at least two touchdown passes in each game this season … QB Jake Cady has played in three games and has completed 36 of 61 passes for 445 yards and seven touchdowns against one interception … QB Damien Mazil has played in two games and has 289 passing yards with three TDs … WR Jaylen Bonelli is the leading receiver with 20 catches for 338 yards and four touchdowns … RB Rickey Spruill has 304 rushing yards with two TDs.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 1-3, 0-1 American
Head Coach Tom Herman (Cal Lutheran ’97) 5-11, second season at Florida Atlantic 59-33, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Florida Atlantic had rid itself of a six-game slide, but the Owls were unable to put together back-to-back wins as they fell to UConn 48-14 … The Owls opened 2024 with a 16-10 setback at Michigan State and fell 24-7 to Army in their American Athletic Conference opener before topping FIU 38-20 in Week 3 … Florida Atlantic had struggled offensively through its first two games, averaging 288.3 yards per game … QB Cam Fancher, a transfer from Marshall, has thrown for 557 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions … RB Zuberi Mobley has rushed for 214 yards and three TDs, while WR Omari Hayes has 13 receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown … LB CJ Heard has a team-high 32 tackles … Florida Atlantic has 10 takeaways on defense.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+
CHARLOTTE at RICE
Rice Stadium (47,000/FieldTurf) Houston, Texas
Television ESPN+ Ted Emrich and Charlie Strong
Charlotte Radio Rice Radio WZGV-AM 730 (flagship) Varsity Network
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the sixth meeting between Charlotte and Rice … The Owls hold a 3-2 series lead after a 28-7 win last year in Charlotte … The 49ers won back-toback meetings in 2021 and 2022 … The teams have split a pair of meetings in Houston — Rice won 27-7 in 2015 before Charlotte prevailed 56-23 in 2022.
CHARLOTTE 1-3, 0-0 American
Head Coach Biff Poggi (Duke) 4-12, second season
Notes
Charlotte played a challenging nonconference schedule to a 1-3 mark on the heels of a 52-14 setback at Indiana last Saturday … The 49ers opened with back-to-back losses to James Madison and North Carolina before getting a win against Gardner-Webb in Week 3 … Charlotte is looking for its first 1-0 start in conference play since 2021 … Injuries have been prevalent through the early part of the season, most notably behind center as the 49ers have used three different starting quarterbacks in four games … QB Trexler Ivey got the start against Indiana … Four receivers have at least 100 yards on the season … Charlotte’s defense has been led by LB Reid Williford, who has 20 tackles, a sack and 4.0 tackles for loss … S Al-Ma’hi Ali has a team-high 21 tackles with two interceptions and two pass breakups.
RICE 1-3, 0-1 American
Head Coach Mike Bloomgren (Florida State ’99) 23-49, seventh season
Notes
Rice looks to snap a two-game slide after the Owls fell 37-14 to Army in their conference opener last Saturday … The game at Army was the only game among Rice’s first six not to be played in the city of Houston …The Owls have held their first three opponents to just 291.0 yards of offense per game … Rice ranks fourth nationally with 14 sacks through four games … The game against Army, which had only attempted 13 passes, was the only game this season in which the Owls did not register a sack … Nine players have at least one sack, while DE Michael Larbie leads the squad with 2.5 sacks … QB E.J. Warner has completed 87 of 136 passes for 701 yards and five touchdowns against six interceptions … RB Dean Connors has a team-high 248 rushing yards with five touchdowns and is the leading receiver with 26 catches for 112 yards.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 • 7 P.M. • ESPN+
TULSA at NORTH TEXAS
DATCU Stadium (30,850/FieldTurf) Denton, Texas
Television ESPN+ James Westling, Leger Douzable and Smacker Miles
Tulsa Radio North Texas Radio KXBL-FM 99.5 (flagship) KEGL-FM 97.1 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 26th meeting between and Tulsa and North Texas in a series that began in 1957 … The Golden Hurricane holds a 17-8 series lead, though the Mean Green has taken the last two meetings, including a 35-28 decision last year in Tulsa … QB Chandler Rogers threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
TULSA 2-2, 0-0 American
Head Coach Kevin Wilson (North Carolina ’84) 6-10, second season at Tulsa 32-57, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulsa evened its record at 2-2 with a wild 23-20 overtime win at Louisiana Tech last Saturday … The Golden Hurricane got the tying field goal with 32 seconds left in regulation, appeared to win the game on a long fumble return in overtime and eventually did win it on a 34-yard field goal from K Seth Morgan … QB Kirk Francis has started all four games and has completed 77 of 125 passes for 879 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions … The top three running backs all have at least 130 yards, while RB Anthony Watkins leads the way with 186 yards and three touchdowns … WR Kamdyn Benjamin has 25 receptions for 359 yards and two touchdowns … LB Zach Marcheselli leads the defense with 5.0 tackles for loss while DE Owen Ostroski has 4.5 tackles for loss.
NORTH TEXAS 3-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach Eric Morris (Texas Tech ’08) 8-8, second season at North Texas 32-26, sixth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
North Texas wrapped up nonconference play in impressive fashion as the Mean Green scored a 44-17 win against Wyoming at DATCU Stadium … North Texas is off to its first 3-1 start since 2018, when the Mean Green won its first four games … North Texas has 77 newcomers on its 2024 roster, the most of any FBS team … The Mean Green ranks ninth nationally in passing offense (326.0 ypg) … QB Chandler Morris has completed 101 of 154 passes for 1,204 yards and 11 touchdowns with six interceptions … RB Damashja Harris has a team-high 193 rushing yards … WR DT Sheffield has 21 catches for 257 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, while WR Damon Ward Jr. has 16 catches for 288 yards and two TDs … CB Ridge Texada leads The American with six passes defended.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPNU
MIDDLE TENNESSEE at MEMPHIS
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (58,325/AstroTurf) Memphis, Tennessee
Television ESPNU Courtney Lyle and Rene Ingoglia
Memphis Radio WXMX-FM 98.9 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 28th meeting between Memphis and Middle Tennessee in a series that traces its origin to 1925 … Middle Tennessee holds a 17-9-1 series lead … The teams have not met since the 2014 season, Memphis’ second year in the American Athletic Conference, when the Tigers were 36-17 winners.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1-3, 0-1 Conference USA
Head Coach Derek Mason (Northern Arizona ’93) 1-3, first season at Middle Tennessee 28-58, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Middle Tennessee scored a 32-25 win against Tennessee Tech in head coach Derek Mason’s first game in Murfeesboro, but the Blue Raiders take a three-game slide into Memphis after a 45-17 loss to Duke last Saturday … Mason is 12-4 all-time against teams from the state of Tennessee, but Saturday’s game will be the first time … QB Nicholas Vattiato has thrown for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging 250.5 yards per game … Two players enter with at least 250 receiving yards, with WR Omari Kelly atop the list with 18 catches for 297 yards and three touchdowns … RB Jaiden Credle has a team-high 194 rushing yards with two touchdowns … LB John Howse leads the defense with 23 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions.
MEMPHIS 3-1, 0-1 American
Head Coach Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ’03) 34-20, fifth season
Notes
Memphis scored 44 points, ran 95 plays and reeled off 659 total yards, but it wasn’t enough to put the Tigers past Navy in the American Athletic Conference opener as the Midshipmen held on for a 56-44 win … The Tigers, who started the year 3-0 had not trailed in any of its previous five games … Memphis has scored at least 20 points in 31 consecutive games, the longest active streak nationally … QB Seth Henigan has thrown for 1,112 yards and seven touchdowns … Henigan has at least one TD pass in all 41 games of his career, a streak that ranks second in NCAA FBS history and trails only former Marshall QB Rakeem Cato (46 games) … Henigan, who has 11,876 yards, needs 121 yards to pass former Houston QB Clayton Tune (11,996) for second on The American’s career chart … Memphis has gone 48-9 at home since 2016.
