CFB-FBS: American Athletic Conference Week 3 Release

0
173

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Navy at Memphis *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Memphis leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: Sept. 10, 2022 (Memphis, 37-13)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Army at UTSA
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Army leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 10, 2022 (UTSA, 41=38)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Norfolk State at Temple
Time: 2 p.m.
Series: First meeting

East Carolina at Appalachian State
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Appalachian State leads, 20-12
Last Meeting: Sept. 2, 2021 (Appalachian State, 33-19)

Alabama at South Florida
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Alabama leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Aug. 30, 2003 (Alabama, 40-17

Oklahoma at Tulsa
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: Oklahoma leads, 20-7-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2015 (Oklahoma, 52-38)

Tulane at Southern Miss
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: Southern Miss leads, 24-9
Last Meeting: Sept. 24, 2022 (Southern Miss, 27-24)

Georgia State at Charlotte
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 17, 2022 (Charlotte, 42-41)

Louisiana at UAB
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: UAB leads, 4-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 23, 2020 (Louisiana, 24-20)

North Texas at Louisiana Tech
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Louisiana Tech leads, 13-8
Last Meeting: Oct. 15, 2022 (North Texas, 47-27)

Texas Southern at Rice
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Rice leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 25, 2021 (Rice, 48-34)

Prairie View A&M at SMU
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: First meeting

Florida Atlantic at Clemson
Time: 8 p.m.
Series: Clemson leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 2, 2006 (Clemson, 54-6)

All times Eastern

TALKING POINTS
UAB
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Georgia Southern, 49-35
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Louisiana (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..467.5 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense………………………….312.5 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ……………………….35.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.5 …………………..9th

  • QB Jacob Zeno passed for a career-high 385 yards with two touchdowns and added a rushing TD, but it wasn’t enough for UAB to get the road win at Georgia Southern.
  • Zeno has completed 84.5% of his passes through two games (71 of 84). He leads The American in passing at 338.0 yards per game.
  • WR Tejhaun Palmer had six receptions for 102 yards against Georgia Southern.

CHARLOTTE
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Maryland, 38-20
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Georgia State (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 329.5 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………349.0 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 22.0 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 20.5 …………………..4th

  • Charlotte built an early 14-0 lead against Maryalnd, but the 49ers saw the Terrapins rally to score 38 consecutive points.
  • Charlotte’s defense did not allow a touchdown through the first six quarters and 18 possessions of the 2023 season.
  • Charlotte has six touchdowns through two games. Each TD has been that respective player’s first career touchdown.

EAST CAROLINA
0-2, 0-0 American
Last: Lost to Marshall, 31-13
Next: Sept. 16 at Appalachian State (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..252.0 …………………14th
Total Defense………………………….397.0 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………….8.0 …………………14th
Scoring Defense ………………………30.5 …………………12th

  • East Carolina took a 13-10 lead into the fourth quarter, but saw Marshall rally for 21 unanswered points to close the game in Greenville.
  • The Pirates, who ranked ninth nationally in fewest penalties last season, committed 11 penalities for 112 yards against the Thundering Herd.
  • QB Mason Garcia had a career-high 118 rushing yards against Marshall.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Lost to Ohio, 17-10
Next: Sept. 16 at Clemson (ACC Network)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….339.0 …………………..8th
Total Defense…………………………. 357.5 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….26.0 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….18.5 …………………..3rd

  • Florida Atlantic was limited to 185 total yards and 10 points and had possession for only 21:22 in the loss to Ohio.
  • The Owls’ lone touchdown came on a 72-yard interception return by CB Jarron Morris in the second quarter.
  • Florida Atlantic scored the first 10 points of the game against Ohio, but the Bobcats closed with the last 17 points.

NORTH TEXAS
0-2, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at FIU, 46-39
Next: Sept. 16 at Louisiana Tech (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….386.5 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………….591.5 …………………14th
Scoring Offense ……………………….30.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 52.0 …………………14th

  • North Texas held a 39-38 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Mean Green fell in a wild game against FIU.
  • North Texas reeled off 548 yards of offense and averaged 6.9 yards per play against FIU.
  • QB Chandler Rogers, who started the second half against FIU, competed 11 of 15 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing TD.

MEMPHIS
2-0, 0-0 American
Last: Won at Arkansas State, 37-3
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Navy (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..470.0 ……………………1st
Total Defense…………………………. 152.5 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ……………………….46.5 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense …………………………8.5 ……………………1st

  • Memphis raced to an early 24-0 lead on its way to the comfortable win at Arkansas State.
  • QB Seth Henigan completed 21 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing TD against the Red Wolves.
  • Memphis’ defensive unit has not allowed a touchdown through two games. The two TDs scored by Tiger opponents have come from offensive turnovers.

RICE
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Houston, 43-41 (2ot)
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Texas Southern (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 323.0 …………………12th
Total Defense………………………… 450.5 …………………13th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 26.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………39.0 …………………13th

  • Rice built an early 28-0 lead, but had to hold off Houston in two overtimes to win the Bayou Bucket matchup for the first time since 2010.
  • The Owls scored on the first four possessions, and their last two possessions against the Cougars and were held scoreless in-between.
  • QB JT Daniels completed 28 of 42 passes for a career-high 401 yards with three touchdowns against Houston.

NAVY
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Wagner, 24-0
Next: Sept. 14 at Memphis (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 288.5 …………………13th
Total Defense………………………….335.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………..13.5 …………………13th
Scoring Defense ……………………….21.0 …………………..5th

  • Navy registered its first shutout since a 34-0 win against Army Dec. 6, 2008. The Midshipmen turned in their first shutout in Annapolis since a 7-0 victory against Lafayette Oct. 15, 1994.
  • QB Tai Lavatai completed 8 of 13 passes for a career-high 161 yards and a touchdown against Wagner.
  • Navy limited Wagner to 227 total yards.

SOUTH FLORIDA
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Florida A&M, 38-24
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Alabama (ABC)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..441.0 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………… 429.0 …………………12th
Scoring Offense ………………………..31.0 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ……………………… 32.5 …………………12th

  • South Florida snapped an 11-game losing streak and ended Florida A&M’s 10-game winning streak wiht the victory against the Rattlers.
  • The win was the first career head coaching victory for the Bulls’ Alex Golesh.
  • QB Byrum Brown went 20-for-34 for 197 yards and three touchdowns to go with two rushing TDs against Florida A&M.

SMU
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Oklahoma, 28-11
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Prairie View A&M (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..412.0 …………………..5th
Total Defense…………………………..317.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 24.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….21.0 …………………..5th

  • SMU was within three points of No. 17 Oklahoma in the fourth quarter before the Sooners closed the game with two late touchdowns.
  • QB Preston Stone completed 26 of 45 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma. Stone set career highs in completions and yards.
  • SMU has had 10 different players catch a pass in each of its first two games.

TEMPLE
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Rutgers, 36-7
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Norfolk State (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..325.5 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………… 365.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..15.5 …………………12th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 28.5 …………………10th

  • Temple was within six points of Rutgers in the fourth quarter (13-7) before the Scarlet Knights reeled off 23 straight points to close the game.
  • QB E.J. Warner threw for 230 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice as the Owls committed three turnovers against the Scarlet Knights.
  • S Tywan Francis had a game-high 11 tackles against Rutgers.

UTSA
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Texas State, 20-13
Next: Sept. 15 vs. Army (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 394.5 …………………..6th
Total Defense…………………………288.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense …………………………17.0 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ……………………….15.0 …………………. 2nd

  • UTSA scored the only touchdown of the second half as the Roadrunners pulled away from Texas State.
  • The crowd of 49,342 at the Alamodome was the largest for UTSA since the first game in program history, when 56,743 were on-hand against Northeastern State Sept. 3, 2011.
  • UTSA set a school record with seven sacks against Texas State.

TULSA
1-1, 0-0 American
Next: Lost at Washington, 43-10
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Oklahoma (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………417.5 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….407.5 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ……………………….26.0 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.0 ………………….. 7th

  • QB Cardell Williams made his first career start against Washington, but left the game in the second quarter with an injury.
  • QB Roman Fuller completed 12 of 18 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.
  • The Golden Hurricane’s game against No. 16 Oklahoma will be the second of back-to-back games against top-25 teams for Tulsa.

TULANE
1-1, 0-0 American
Last: Lost to Ole Miss, 37-20
Next: Sept. 16 at Southern Miss (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….389.0 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense………………………….314.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 28.5 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.0 …………………..8th

  • Tulane held a 17-10 halftime lead against No. 18 Ole Miss, but the Rebels used a 20-point fourth quarter to take the matchup of top-25 teams.
  • QB Michael Pratt missed the game against Ole Miss due to injury. QB Kai Horton passed for 231 yards and a touchdown in his first start of the season.
  • The loss snapped Tulane’s streak of three consecutive wins against top-25 teams.
Previous articleCFL 110th Grey Cup Playoff Scenarios – Week 15
Next articleCFB-FBS: Atlantic Coast Conference Week 3 Release
NCAAFB Editor
Profile: A dedicated college football analyst with a deep understanding of the sport’s tactical complexity, recruiting landscape, and conference‑wide dynamics. This columnist provides comprehensive coverage of the NCAA football season, blending film study, statistical insight, and historical context to explain how programs evolve from Week 1 through bowl season and the College Football Playoff. Background: With extensive experience covering Division I football, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on coaching trends, roster construction, and player development. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term program trajectories across all major conferences. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and tactical matchups Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive systems Recruiting analysis, transfer‑portal movement, and roster‑building strategy Coaching philosophies, scheme evolution, and conference‑wide trends Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes, advanced metrics, and recruiting data into insights that resonate with both long‑time college football fans and new followers of the sport. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the tradition, passion, and unpredictability that define NCAA football.