UPCOMING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31
North Carolina A&T at UAB
Time: 8 p.m.
Series: First meeting
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Tulsa
Time: 8 p.m.
Series: First meeting
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
East Carolina at Michigan
Time: Noon
Series: First meeting
Louisiana Tech at SMU
Time: Noon
Series: Louisiana Tech leads, 4-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2021 (SMU, 39-37)
Akron at Temple
Time: 2 p.m.
Series: Temple leads, 15-7
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2021 (Temple, 45-24)
Rice at Texas
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Texas leads, 74-21
Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 20231 (Texas, 58-0)
South Florida at Western Kentucky
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: South Florida leads, 4-3
Last Meeting: Dec. 21, 2015 (Western Kentucky, 45-35)
California at North Texas
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: California leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 14, 2019 (California, 23-17)
South Carolina State at Charlotte
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: First meeting
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Monmouth at Florida Atlantic
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: First meeting
Bethune-Cookman at Memphis
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: First meeting
UTSA at Houston
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Houston leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 3, 2022 (Houston, 37-35 ot)
South Alabama at Tulane
Time: 8 p.m.
Series: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 12, 2020 (Tulane, 27-24)
OPEN WEEK
Navy
Next Game: Sept. 9 vs. Wagner
TALKING POINTS
UAB
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Aug. 31 vs. North Carolina A&T (ESPN+)
2022 Conference USA Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 438.2 …………………..4th
Total Defense…………………………360.9 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ………………………..30.1 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 23.2 ……………………1st
- Trent Dilfer makes his collegiate head coaching debut in the Blazers’ season-opener against North Carolina A&T.
- UAB led Conference USA in scoring defense (23.4 ppg) and was second in total defense (360.9 ypg) last year.
- RB Jermaine Brown Jr. ranked fourth in Conference USA in rushing in 2022, averaging 72.9 yards per game.
CHARLOTTE
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 vs. South Carolina State (ESPN+)
2022 Conference USA Ranks
Total Offense……………………………387.1 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense…………………………483.8 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………..24.4 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ………………………39.4 ………………….11th
- The 49ers are led by first-year head coach Biff Poggi in 2023. Poggi most recently was associate head coach at Michigan, helping the Wolverines reach the 2022 College Football Playoff.
- Charlotte has 52 transfers on its roster to start the 2023 season.
- The 2023 season will be Charlotte’s 11th as a Division I football program.
EAST CAROLINA
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 at Michigan (Peacock)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………461.1 …………………..3rd
Total Defense…………………………404.3 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 32.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………..27.1 …………………..6th
- East Carolina capped an 8-5 season with a 53- 29 win against Coastal Carolina in last year’s Birmingham Bowl.
- The Pirates return 10 of 22 positional starters from last year, but will be without their leading passer, rusher and receiver from 2022.
- East Carolina’s first two opponents this season (Michigan, Marshall) were a combined 22-5 last year.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Monmouth (ESPN+)
2022 Conference USA Ranks
Total Offense……………………………411.5 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………… 424.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….29.8 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ………………………26.6 …………………..4th
- Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman makes his debut with the Owls in the season-opener against Monmouth.
- Herman enters the season with the best winning percentage as an American Athletic Conference head coach. Herman went 22-4 at Houston in 2015-16 (.846).
- RB Larry McCammon rushed for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns last year and is the top returning rusher in The American.
NORTH TEXAS
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 vs. California (ESPNU)
2022 Conference USA Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..461.8 …………………..3rd
Total Defense…………………………459.9 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.8 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ………………………..31.7 ………………….. 7th
- Head coach Eric Morris, the former offensive coordinator at Washington State, makes his debut on the Mean Green sideline with the season-opener against California.
- North Texas went 7-7 last season and played in the Conference USA Championship Game.
- The Mean Green ranked third in Conference USA in both scoring offense (33.8 ppg) and total offense (461.8 ypg) in 2022.
MEMPHIS
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Bethune-Cookman (ESPN+)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 421.4 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………… 363.4 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ……………………….35.3 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ………………………26.0 …………………..5th
- The Tigers gained bowl eligibility for the ninth consecutive season in 2022. Memphis has the ninth-longest active bowl streak among NCAA FBS teams.
- Memphis has won 78 games since 2014, the most among American Athletic Conference teams.
- QB Seth Henigan is on the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Manning Award.
RICE
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 at Texas (Fox)
2022 Conference USA Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..374.4 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………….390.7 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………..25.2 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 34.2 …………………..8th
- Rice will play five of its first six games in the state of Texas and will have nine of their 12 games in the Lone Star State.
- LB Josh Pearcy was named to the Lombardi Award watch list. Pearcy registered 6.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss last season.
- The Owls will face Texas for the 97th time when the schools meet in the season-opener. Rice is looking for its first win against the Longhorns since 1995 and its first in Austin since 1965.
NAVY
0-1, 0-0 American
Last: Lost to Notre Dame, 42-3
Next: Sept. 9 vs. Wagner (CBSSN)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….326.8 ………………….11th
Total Defense…………………………339.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ………………………..21.9 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 24.3 …………………..4th
- FB Daba Fofana had a team-high 56 rushing yards on 15 carries, but Navy was limited to 169 total yards in the loss to Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland.
- LB Will Harbour finished with a team-high eight tackles against Notre Dame.
- Navy is idle in Week 1 as the Midshipmen prepare for their Sept. 9 home opener against Wagner.
SOUTH FLORIDA
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 at Western Kentucky (CBSSN)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….390.8 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………….516.6 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ……………………….28.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….41.2 ………………….11th
- Alex Golesh makes his head coaching debut when the Bulls visit Western Kentucky in the season-opener. Golesh was most recently the offensive coordinator at Tennessee.
- Following the road game against Western Kentucky, South Florida has three straight at home, including a Sept. 16 matchup against Alabama.
- South Florida added 38 new scholarship players and 49 total players to the roster for 2023.
SMU
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Louisiana Tech (ESPNU)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..472.9 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………….431.2 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..37.2 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ………………………33.9 …………………10th
- SMU led The American in total offense (472.9 ypg) and scoring offense (37.2 ppg) in Rhett Lashlee’s first year as head coach.
- The Mustangs have earned bowl eligibility in four consecutive seasons and five of the last six years.
- SMU’s eight-game conference schedule does not include Tulane or UTSA, the top two teams in the league’s preseason media poll.
TEMPLE
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Akron (ESPN+)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 350.5 …………………10th
Total Defense………………………….391.2 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………..21.9 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ………………………29.3 ………………….. 7th
- QB EJ Warner was chosen as the 2022 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year after he threw for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
- Warner, who set a school record with 527 passing yards against East Carolina in the 2022 season finale, was fourth in The American in passing at 275.3 yards per game.
- LB Layton Jordan scored three defensive touchdowns last season.
UTSA
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 at Houston (FS1)
2022 Conference USA Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..476.0 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………….387.3 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ……………………….36.8 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.9 …………………..3rd
- UTSA, which won back-to-back Conference USA titles in 2021 and 2022, was tabbed for second in The American’s preseason media poll.
- QB Frank Harris, who holds more than 30 school records, has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award, the Manning Award, the Walter Camp Award and the Manning Award among others.
- UTSA has won its last 11 games against unranked opponents.
TULSA
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Aug. 31 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (ESPN+)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………411.8 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense………………………….414.3 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….30.6 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….33.1 …………………..9th
- Head coach Kevin Wilson makes his debut on the Tulsa sideline in the season-opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Wilson was most recently the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
- Tulsa returns nine starters and 43 letter-winners from last year.
- Following the season-opener, the Golden Hurricane’s next two games will be against preseason top-25 teams (No. 10 Washington, No. 20 Oklahoma).
TULANE
0-0, 0-0 American
Next: Sept. 2 vs. South Alabama (ESPNU)
2022 American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..441.4 …………………..5th
Total Defense…………………………360.4 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ……………………….36.0 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ……………………….22.2 …………………. 2nd
- Tulane was chosen as the American Athletic Conference favorite in the league’s preseason media poll after a 12-2 campaign in 2022.
- QB Michael Pratt has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Walter Camp Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Maxwell Award and the Manning Trophy, among others.
- The Green Wave, which is ranked No. 23 in the preseason coaches’ poll, hosts No. 22 Ole Miss in Week 2.
WEEK 1 PREVIEWS
THURSDAY, AUG. 31 • 8 P.M. • ESPN+
NORTH CAROLINA A&T at UAB
Protective Stadium (47,100/FieldTurf)
Birmingham, Alabama
THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the first meeting between UAB and North Carolina A&T … It will be the first game for both teams in their respective new conferences — UAB in The American and the Aggies in the Coastal Athletic Association … It also marks the college head coaching debuts of two former NFL All-Pro players.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T
0-0, 0-0 CAA
Head Coach
Vincent Brown (Mississippi Valley State ’88)
0-0, first season
Notes
North Carolina A&T overcame an 0-3 start to the 2022 season to finish 7-4 in its final season in the Big South Conference … The Aggies reeled off seven consecutive
wins before falling to Gardner-Webb in a regular-season finale … The Aggies make the transition to the Coastal Athletic Association this season and will be led by former New England Patriots All-Pro linebacker Vincent Brown … The Aggies were picked 10th in the CAA preseason poll … Brown was most recently defensive coordinator at William & Mary … North Carolina A&T returns nine starters from last year and will look to replace its leading rusher, passer and receiver … The strength of the team will be on the offensive line, which has three returning all-conference picks … The defense has only three returning starters, but CB Karon Prunty earned preseason All-CAA honors.
UAB
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Trent Dilfer (Fresno State)
0-0, first season
Notes
UAB begins its first season in the American Athletic Conference with a first-year head coach as former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer mans the Blazers’ sideline … Dilfer comes to UAB from the high school ranks, where he won back-to-back Tennessee state titles at Lipscomb Academy … Since the reinstatement of the program in 2017, UAB has registered a winning season each year, including last year’s 7-6 mark … The Blazers led Conference USA in rushing last year (235.6 ypg) and have RB Jermaine Brown back from that unit … Brown rushed for 948 yards and eight TDs in 2022 on his way to all-conference honors … QB Jacob Zeno, a transfer from Baylor, is expected to take over as the starter after seeing limited action last year … The defense is led by DT Fish McWilliams, an all-conference pick who had 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022.
THURSDAY, AUG. 31 • 8 P.M. • ESPN+
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF at TULSA
H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000/FieldTurf)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the first meeting between Tulsa and Arkansas-Pine Bluff … The game will also mark the debuts of both head coaches with their respective teams … Tulsa is looking to snap a four-game slide in season-openers as the Golden Hurricane looks for its first 1-0 start since 2018.
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
0-0, 0-0 SWAC
Head Coach
Alonzo Hampton (Louisiana-Monroe ’96)
0-0, first season
Notes
Arkansas-Pine Bluff looks to bounce back from a 3-8 season as Alonzo Hampton begins his first season as head coach … Hampton has coached in the American Athletic Conference as an assistant at South Florida in 2015 and 2016 … The Golden Lions won their first two games of the 2022 season, but dropped eight straight before scoring a season-ending victory at Alabama State … The Golden Lions have 13 returning starters from last year, but will need to replace a lot of production at the skill positions … The strength of the team appears to be a deep wide receivers unit as five of the top six pass-catchers from last year are back … WR Chrysten Cochran had 28 catches for 336 yards and a touchdown to lead the returnees … LB Rico Dozier registered 76 tackles with 11.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks to lead the defense.
TULSA
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Kevin Wilson (North Carolina ’84)
0-0, first season at Tulsa
26-47, seventh season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulsa enters its first season with new head coach Kevin Wilson as the Golden Hurricane comes off a 5-7 campaign in 2022 … Wilson spent six seasons as head coach at Indiana, leading the Hoosiers to consecutive bowl games in 2015 and 2016, and most recently served as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Ohio State for six years … Wilson has coached in four national championship games as an assistant — three at Oklahoma and one at Ohio State … Following the season-opener against UAPB, Tulsa faces back-to-back preseason top-25 opponents with games against No. 10 Washington and No. 20 Oklahoma … QB Braylon Braxton started the final three games last year and impressed as a true freshman with 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • NOON • PEACOCK
EAST CAROLINA at MICHIGAN
Michigan Stadium (107,601/FieldTurf)
Ann Arbor, Michigan
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between East Carolina and Michigan … The Pirates are 0-6 all-time against Big Ten opponents … Michigan has won its last
four season-openers and will bring a 14-game home winning streak into the contest … The last visiting team to win at Michigan Stadium was Penn State in the 2020 season.
EAST CAROLINA
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Mike Houston (Mars Hill ‘94)
22-24, fifth season at East Carolina
102-49, 13th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
East Carolina enjoyed a solid 8-5 season in 2022, capped by a 53-29 win against Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl … The Pirates look to get to a bowl game for a third consecutive season … East Carolina loses its leading passer, rusher and receiver from last year and will look to a veteran defense to hold the fort … The top returner on offense is RB Rahjai Harris. the 2020 American Rookie of the Year who was limited to five games last season … QB Mason Garcia played behind veteran Holton Ahlers last season and could emerge as the Opening Day starter … The defense returns all four starters up front, including DE Jeremy Lewis, who had 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss last year … S Julius Wood led the team with 87 tackles to go with two interceptions.
2/2 MICHIGAN
0-0, 0-0 Big Ten
Head Coach
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan ’86)
74-25, ninth season at Michigan
132-52, 16th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Michigan is ranked No. 2 in both preseason polls after the Wolverines went 13-1 last season, reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals … The only loss was a 51-45 setback to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl in the playoff … The 13 wins were a program record, while Michigan won its 44th conference title by topping Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game … Head coach Jim Harbaugh will not coach against East Carolina as he serves a university-imposed three-game suspension to start the year … Michigan has 15 returning starters from last year … RB Blake Corum was a unanimous first-team All-America pick last year after he rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns … OG Zak Zinter was a first-team AP All-America pick, while CB Will Johnson earned second-team honors.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • NOON • ESPNU
LOUISIANA TECH at SMU
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/FieldTurf)
Dallas, Texas
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the seventh meeting between SMU and Louisiana Tech in a series that dates to 2001 … The Mustangs hold a 4-2 series lead, but the Mustangs took the most recent matchup with a 39-37 decision in Ruston in 2021 … Saturday’s meeting will be the teams’ first in Dallas since 2004.
LOUISIANA TECH
1-0, 1-0 Conference USA
Head Coach
Sonny Cumbie (Texas Tech ’04)
4-9, second season at Louisiana Tech
6-12, third season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Louisiana Tech rallied from an early 17-3 deficit to take a 22-17 victory against Florida International in a Week 0 matchup … The Bulldogs scored the last 19 points of the game and held the Panthers scoreless in the second half … Louisiana Tech held the lead for only 61 seconds against FIU … The Bulldogs won their ninth consecutive home-opener and their seventh straight Conference USA opener … QB Hank Bachmeier, a transfer from Boise State, completed 33 of 43 passes for 333 yards and a touchdown in his Louisiana Tech debut … WR Smoke Harris had 11 receptions for 155 yards and a TD, while RB Charvis Thornton had 51 rushing yards on eight carries … The Bulldogs had a 28-8 advantage in first downs and a 447-182 edge in total offense.
-/rv SMU
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Rhett Lashlee (Arkansas ’08)
7-6, second season
Notes
SMU is considered among the favorites to reach the American Athletic Conference Championship game in 2023, in part because of 16 returning starters from a 7-6 team … QB Preston Stone is expected to take over the starter after serving as the primary backup last season … WR Jordan Kerley had 37 receptions for 588 yards and six touchdowns last year as part of a deep group of wideouts … WR Jordan Hudson was TCU’s top freshman receiver last year as he helped the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff … RB Tyler Lavine led the squad with 642 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns … DT Elijah Chatman had 3.0 sacks and earned second-team all-conference honors last season … The Mustangs’ conference schedule does not include Tulane or UTSA, the two top-ranked teams in The American’s preseason media poll.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • 2 P.M. • ESPN+
AKRON at TEMPLE
Lincoln Financial Field (67,594/Natural Grass)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 23rd meeting between Temple and Akron in a series that dates to 1967 … Temple holds a 15-7 series lead and has won the last six meetings, including a 45-24 decision in 2021 … Temple faced Akron annually from 2007-11 while the Owls were in the MAC … Saturday’s game is the first meeting in Philadelphia since 2010.
AKRON
0-0, 0-0 MAC
Head Coach
Joe Moorhead (Fordham ’96)
2-10, second season at Fordham
54-35, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Akron went 2-10 last year in Joe Moorhead’s first season on the Zips’ sideline … The lone wins came against Saint Francis (Pa.) in the season-opener and against Northern Illinois in late November … Akron has gone 2-20 in road games since the start of the 2019 season … Akron was picked fifth in the six-team East Division in the MAC preseason coaches’ poll … The Zips return 15 starters and 41 letter-winners from last season … QB DJ Irons passed for 2,606 yards and 10 touchdowns last season … WR Alex Adams was a first-team all-conference selection after he had 63 catches for 856 yards and nine TDs … RB DJ Irons and RB Clyde Price III combined to rush for 623 yards and 11 touchdowns … The defense returns its top three tacklers, led by DB Nate Thompson, who had 73 stops.
TEMPLE
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Stan Drayton (Allegheny ’93)
3-9, second season
Notes
Temple has gone 3-9 in back-to-back seasons, while the Owls look to get back to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019 in Stan Drayton’s second year in Philadelphia … The Owls return 17 starters, including their leading passer, rusher and top three tackle leaders from 2022 … QB EJ Warner was the 2022 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year after he passed for a Temple freshman record 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 275.3 yards per game … RB Edward Saydee rushed for 639 yards and six touchdowns … WR Amad Anderson Jr. is the top returning receiver with 38 receptions for 479 yards and four TDs … A veteran defense is led by LB Jordan Magee, who had 86 tackles and 4.5 sacks, and LB Layton Jordan, who had 53 stops with 9.0 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and scored three defensive touchdowns
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • 3:30 P.M. • FOX
RICE at TEXAS
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119/FieldTurf)
Austin, Texas
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 97th meeting between Rice and Texas in a series that dates to 1914 … The Longhorns hold a 74-21-1 series lead and have won the last 15 meetings … The last win for Rice in the series was a 19-17 decision in Houston in 1994 … The Owls are looking for their first win in Austin since a 20-17 decision in 1965.
RICE
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Mike Bloomgren (Florida State ’99)
16-39, sixth season
Notes
Rice has increased its wins total in each of the last two seasons and has 15 starters back from last year’s squad, which went 5-8 and played in the Lending Tree Bowl … The Owls went 4-2 at home last season, but were 1-6 away from Rice Stadium … Rice will be led by veteran QB JT Daniels, who helped Georgia to a national championship in 2021 and most recently passed for 2,107 yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 starts at West Virginia last year … Rice has its top two receivers back as WR Bradley Rozner had 876 yards and 10 touchdowns on 44 receptions, while WR Luke McCaffrey had 58 catches for 723 yards and six TDs … The defense is led by LB Josh Pearcy, who earned all-conference honors last year he led the Owls with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks … Rice will play five of its first six games in the state of Texas.
11/12 TEXAS
0-0, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach
Steve Sarkisian (BYU ’97)
13-12, third season at Texas
59-47, 11th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Texas enters its third season under head coach Steve Sarkisian on the heels of an 8-5 season … All five losses came by seven points or fewer … The Longhorns are in their final season as a member of the Big 12 before joining the SEC for the 2024 season … Ten of Texas’ 12 games will be played in the Lone Star State … Eleven of
the Longhorns’ opponents played in bowl games last year, while three had double-digit wins … QB Quinn Ewers returns after he completed 172 of 296 passes for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman … The top three receivers return, including WR Xavier Worthy, who had team highs with 60 receptions, 760 yards and nine touchdowns … LB Jaylan Ford registered 119 tackles with four interceptions last season.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • 3:30 P.M. • CBSSN
SOUTH FLORIDA at WESTERN KENTUCKY
Houchens-Smith Stadium (22,113/FieldTurf)
Bowling Green, Kentucky
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the eighth meeting between South Florida and Western Kentucky in a series that dates to 1997 … The Bulls hold a 4-3 series lead, but the Hilltoppers took the last meeting with a 45-35 decision in the 2015 Miami Beach Bowl … South Florida has won two of the three games in Bowling Green.
SOUTH FLORIDA
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Alex Golesh (Ohio State ’06)
0-0, first season
Notes
South Florida has turned to Alex Golesh as its new head coach after the Bulls went 1-11 last season … South Florida gave scares to three nationally ranked opponents, playing then-No. 18 Florida to a 31-28 setback, battling No. 24 Cincinnati to a 28-24 decision and No. 25 UCF to a 46-39 final … Golesh was the offensive coordinator at Tennessee for the last two seasons … South Florida’s roster includes 50 new players, including 26 transfers and 17 high school recruits … QB Gerry Bohanon started the first seven games and passed for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury … QB Byrum Brown was impressive in the final two games of the season … Following the road trip to Western Kentucky, South Florida plays its next three at home, including a Sept. 16 matchup against No. 3 Alabama.
WESTERN KENTUCKY
0-0, 0-0 Conference USA
Head Coach
Tyson Helton (Houston ’99)
32-21, fifth season
Notes
Western Kentucky was chosen as the favorite in the 2023 Conference USA preseason media poll as the Hilltoppers come off a 9-5 season that included a 44-23 win against South Alabama in the New Orleans Bowl … WKU has won nine games in three of the last four seasons and won a combined 23 games in the 2015 and 2016 seasons … WKU averaged 36.4 points and 497.3 yards per game last year … QB Austin Reed was named as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while LB JaQues Evans is the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year … Reed passed for 4,746 yards and 40 touchdowns last season and leads all returning FBS players in passing yards … WR Malachi Corley ranked fourth nationally with 1,293 receiving yards to go with 101 receptions and 11 touchdowns … Evans, meanwhile, had 106 tackles with 9.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • 4 P.M. • ESPNU
CALIFORNIA at NORTH TEXAS
DATCU Stadium (30,850/Power Blade HP)
Denton, Texas
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the second meeting between California and North Texas … The first came in 2019, when the Golden Bears scored a 23-17 win in Berkeley … That game saw Cal race to a 20-0 lead after the first quarter before the Mean Green scored 17 of the next 20 points … North Texas had a 329-278 advantage in total yards.
CALIFORNIA
0-0, 0-0 Pac-12
Head Coach
Justin Wilcox (Oregon ’99)
30-36, seventh season
Notes
California won three of its first four games to start the season, but the Bears dropped seven of their last eight to close the year … Five of the eight losses were by seven points or fewer … Cal returns 17 starters from last season … The Bears have gone 1-12 on the road in the last three seasons and have dropped six straight road games … QB Sam Jackson is a transfer from College Football Playoff finalist TCU, where he played seven games in the last two seasons … RB Jaydn Ott rushed for 897 yards and eight touchdowns … Cal has four of its top five receivers back, including WR Jeremiah Hunter, who had 60 receptions for 985 yards and five touchdowns … The defense is led by DT Brett Johnson, an NFL prospect who missed the last two seasons with injuries … LB Jackson Sirmon is a sixth-year player who led the Bears with 104 tackles last season.
NORTH TEXAS
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Eric Morris (Texas Tech ’08)
0-0, first season at North Texas
24-18, fifth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Eric Morris makes his debut on the North Texas sideline after serving for one year as the offensive coordinator at Washington State … Morris previously was head coach at Incarnate Word for five seasons … The Mean Green went 7-7 last season, including trips to the Conference USA Championship Game and the Frisco Bowl … North Texas is the only FBS program with three running backs who have rushed for 1,000 yards in their careers … The Mean Green returns its top six rushers from last season, including RB Ayo Adeyi, who had 807 yards and four touchdowns in 2022 … Morris has named QB Stone Earle as his Opening Day starter … Earle saw limited action last season and was the starter at Abilene Christian in 2021 … CB Ridge Texada ranked fifth nationally with 18 passes defended last year
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • 6 P.M. • ESPN+
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE at CHARLOTTE
Jerry Richardson Stadium (15,314/Synthetic)
Charlotte, North Carolina
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Charlotte and South Carolina State … Charlotte has gone 6-2 against FCS opponents since the 49ers elevated to FBS status in 2015 … South Carolina State last faced an American Athletic Conference team last season, when the Bulldogs fell 56-10 to UCF.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
0-1, 0-0 MEAC
Head Coach
Buddy Pough (South Carolina State ’75)
146-88, 22nd season
Notes
South Carolina State dropped a 37-7 decision to Jackson State in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff in Atlanta in a Week 0 game that was televised on ABC … The Bulldogs were kept off the scoreboard until the 5:37 mark of the fourth quarter … Longtime head coach Buddy Pough announced last Thursday that the 2023 season would be his final year on the South Carolina sideline … Pough holds two degrees from South Carolina State and has been the head coach since 2002 … South Carolina State was picked third in the MEAC preseason poll … The Bulldog went 3-8 overall and were 1-4 in the MEAC last season … QB Corey Fields Jr. completed 7 of 20 passes for 59 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Jackson State … RB Jawarn Howell was the team’s leading rusher with 49 yards on 13 carries.
CHARLOTTE
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Biff Poggi (Duke)
0-0, first season
Notes
Charlotte embarks on its first season in the American Athletic Conference and its first under new head coach Biff Poggi, who most recently served as assistant head
coach at Michigan … The 49ers went 3-9 last season, but Poggi is quick to note that the 2023 team will bear little resemblance to that group, thanks in part to the arrival of 52 transfers … Charlotte begins its 11th season of NCAA football and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in conjunction with the opener against South Carolina State … QB Jalon Jones, a transfer from Bethune-Cookman who began his career at Florida, is expected be the Opening Day starter … The top returning rusher is RB Shadrick Byrd, who had 620 yards and four touchdowns last year … The defensive player to watch is DE Eyabi Okie, who was part of Michigan’s rotation on the defensive line.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • 6 P.M. • ESPN+
MONMOUTH at FLORIDA ATLANTIC
FAU Stadium (29,495/Natural Grass)
Boca Raton, Florida
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Florida Atlantic and Monmouth … The Owls will be looking for their 13th consecutive win against an FCS opponent since the start of the 2004 season … Monmouth last faced an FBS opponent in 2021, when the Hawks fell 50-15 at Middle Tennessee.
MONMOUTH
0-0, 0-0 CAA
Head Coach
Kevin Callahan (Rochester ’77)
178-135, 31st season
Notes
Monmouth enters its second season as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association … The Hawks went 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the CAA last season … Four of the five wins came in consecutive fashion early in the season as the Hawks dropped four of their last five games … The Hawks made NCAA FCS Championship appearances in 2017, 2019 and 2021 … Monmouth was projected to finish eighth in the CAA preseason coaches’ poll … The top player is RB Jaden Shirden, the 2023 CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year who rushed for 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns on 206 carries, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt … WR Dymere Miller had 55 receptions for 820 yards nd seven TDs and joined Shirden on the preseason All-CAA team … The defense returns nine starters, including CB Davis Smith, who had a team-high three interceptions.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Tom Herman (Cal Lutheran ’97)
0-0, first season at Florida Atlantic
54-22, seventh season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Florida Atlantic enters its first season in the American Athletic Conference on the heels of a 5-7 season, but hopes are high in Boca Raton with the arrival of former Houston and Texas head coach Tom Herman … Herman, who went 22-4 with Houston in two seasons in The American Athletic Conference, has 19 returning starters from last season … RB Larry McCammon III rushed for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns and is the top returning rusher in The American … Herman has named QB Casey Thompson, a former starter at Nebraska, as his Opening Day signal-caller … WR LaJohntay Wester led the Owls with 62 receptions for 719 yards and eight touchdowns last season … The defense has 10 starters back, including S Armani-Eli Adams, who hada team-high 69 tackles.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPNU
BETHUNE-COOKMAN at MEMPHIS
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (58,325/AstroTurf)
Memphis, Tennessee
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Memphis and Bethune-Cookman … The Tigers have won their last 10 games against NCAA FCS opponents, including a 59-0 victory against North Alabama last season … The game against Memphis is the first of two against FBS teams for Bethune-Cookman, which faces Miami Sept. 14.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
0-0, 0-0 SWAC
Head Coach
Raymond Woodie Jr. (Bethune-Cookman ’96)
0-0, first season
Notes
The Wildcats look to rebound from a 2-9 season behind first-year head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. … Woodie was most recently the associate head coach at Florida Atlantic and has coached in The American as an assistant at South Florida (2013-16) … Bethune-Cookman has added 10 FBS transfers to its roster and returns 14 starters from last season … Last year’s starting quarterback, Jalon Jones, is projected as the Opening Day starter at Charlotte this season, leaving the Wildcats inexperienced behind center … WR Marcus Reilly had a team-high 39 receptions for 563 yards and five touchdowns last season … CB Omari Hill-Robinson was a first-team all-conference selection in 2022 after he registered four interceptions … S Darnell Deas was a first-team choice on special teams after averaging 26.6 yards on kickoffs last season.
-/rv MEMPHIS
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ’03)
14-12, third season
Notes
Memphis went 7-6 last season as the Tigers gained bowl eligibility for a program-record ninth consecutive season … The Tigers have been at .500 or better each year in The American except for 2013 … Memphis closed the year with a 36-10 win against Utah State in the First Responder Bowl … QB Seth Henigan, who was an FWAA Freshman All-America in 2021, returns for his third year as Memphis’ starter … Henigan has registered back-to-back 3,000-yard seasons, including 3,571 yards in 2022 … The top returning rusher is RB Jeyvon Ducker, who had 544 yards and seven touchdowns last season … RB Brandon Thomas led the team with nine rushing touchdowns … The Tigers are without their top four receivers from last year … Memphis visits Arkansas State Sept. 9, which will be its only true road game until an Oct. 21 matchup at UAB.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPNU
UTSA at HOUSTON
TDECU Stadium (40,000/FieldTurf)
Houston, Texas
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fourth meeting between UTSA and Houston … Houston has won two of the first three meetings, including a 37-35 triple-overtime decision last season in San Antonio … The visiting team has won all three games … UTSA’s win was a 27-7 victory in 2014 in the first game played at Houston’s TDECU Stadium.
rv/rv UTSA
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Jeff Traylor (Stephen F. Austin ’90)
30-10, fourth season
Notes
UTSA begins its first season as an American Athletic Conference member in search of a third consecutive conference title … The Roadrunners went 11-3 last season and won its second straight Conference USA championship … UTSA returns 18 starters from last season, including nine from an offense that averaged 36.9 points and 476.0 yards per game in 2022 … The Roadrunners are led by QB Frank Harris, who enters his seventh year with the program … Harris, the 2022 Conference USA Most Valuable Player, passed for 4,063 yards and 32 touchdowns last season … Harris enters the 2023 season with 9,356 career passing yards and 74 career touchdown passes … WR Joshua Cephus had 87 catches for 985 yards and six touchdowns last year while WR De’Corian Clark had 51 receptions for 741 yards and eight TDs.
-/rv HOUSTON
0-0, 0-0 Big 12
Head Coach
Dana Holgorsen (Iowa Wesleyan ’93)
27-20, fourth season at Houston
88-61, 13th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Houston, which had been a member of the American Athletic Conference since the league’s reconstitution in 2013, enters its first season of Big 12 play in 2023 … The
Cougars went 8-5 last season, capping the year with a win against Louisiana in the Independence Bowl … Houston returns 12 returning starters from last year, but looks to replace its starting passer, rusher, top two receivers and top five leading tacklers … QB Donovan Smith is expected to take over as the starter after he transferred from Texas Tech …OT Patrick Paul earned first-team all-conference honors in The American last season … The season-opener against UTSA is the first of back-to-back games against American Athletic Conference opponents for Houston, which makes the short road trip to Rice Sept. 9.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 • 8 P.M. • ESPNU
SOUTH ALABAMA at TULANE
Yulman Stadium (30,000/UBU Speed Series 5M)
New Orleans, Louisiana
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the third meeting between Tulane and South Alabama … The visiting team has won the first two games as the Jaguars took a 41-39 decision in New Orleans in 2013 before the Green Wave scored a 27-24 win in 2020 in Mobile … The last matchup saw Tulane score the final 21 points to erase a 24-6 third-quarter deficit.
rv/rv SOUTH ALABAMA
0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt
Head Coach
Kane Wommack (Southern Miss ’09)
15-10, third season
Notes
South Alabama was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt’s West Division in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll … The Jaguars went 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt last season, missing out on a spot in the conference championship game by virtue of a head-to-head loss with Troy … The 10 wins tied a program record, while the two regular-season losses were by a combined five points … South Alabama has 22 starters back from last year … The Jaguars return eight All-Sun Belt players from 2022 and have a conference-leading nine players on the preseason all-conference team … RB La’Damian Webb rushed for 1,063 yards and 13 touchdowns … QB Carter Bradley passed for 3,343 yards and 28 touchdowns … S Yam Banks led the conference with six interceptions and 17 passes defended .
24/23 TULANE
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ‘83)
43-45, eighth season at Tulane
214-114, 26th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulane was one of college football’s great stories last season as the Green Wave engineered the best one-year turnaround in major college football history by finishing 12-2 in 2022 after a 2-10 showing in 2021 … Tulane won its first American Athletic Conference title and went on to top USC in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on its way to a final national ranking of No. 9 … Tulane edged UTSA as the favorite in The American’s preseason media poll … The Green Wave has 16 returning starters … QB Michael Pratt enters his third season as the starter and comes off a season in which he passed for 3,009 yards and 27 touchdowns against five interceptions … Pratt also added 10 rushing touchdowns and is the team’s top returning runner (478 yards).
