UPCOMING SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
UTSA at Temple *
Time: 2 p.m.
Series: First meeting
North Texas at Navy *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Navy leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2007 (Navy, 74-62)
South Florida at UAB *
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Nov. 3, 2004 (South Florida, 45-20)
UConn at Rice
Time: 5 p.m.
Series: First meeting
Tulsa at Florida Atlantic *
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 5, 2015 (Tulsa, 47-44)
OPEN WEEKS
Charlotte
Next Game: Oct. 14 vs. Navy
East Carolina
Next Game: Oct. 12 vs. SMU
Memphis
Next Game: Oct. 13 vs. Tulane
SMU
Next Game: Oct. 12 at East Carolina
Tulane
Next Game: Oct. 13 at Memphis
All times Eastern
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cardell Williams • RFr. • QB • Tulsa
Williams accounted for 334 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to lead Tulsa to a 48-26 win against Temple. He completed 14 of 17 passes (82%) for 244 yards and three touchdowns without an interception and led all players with 90 rushing yards and a TD on 10 carries. .
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tramel Logan • Jr. • DE • South Florida
Logan had four tackles and made a pivotal defensive play to help South Florida to a 44-30 win at Navy, improving the Bulls to 2-0 in American Athletic Conference play for the first time since 2018. With Navy threatening to tie the score early in the fourth quarter, Logan recovered a Navy fumble and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bulls a 37-23 lead. It was the first fumble return touchdown for a South Florida player since the 2018 season.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Geoffrey Cantin-Arku • Sr. • LB • Memphis
Cantin-Arku delivered a game-changing play on special teams to spark Memphis’ 35-32 come-from-behind win against Boise State. As the Broncos lined up for a short field goal that would have given them a 20-14 lead late in the third quarter, Cantin-Arku blocked the kick, recovered the ball and raced 80 yards for a touchdown, giving Memphis the lead. It was the first blocked field goal return for a touchdown by a Memphis player since 2006.
HONOR ROLL
Chandler Rogers • Jr. • QB • North Texas
Completed 23 of 36 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing TD in a 45-31 win against Abilene Christian.
Byrum Brown • RFr. • QB • South Florida
Completed 26 of 34 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-30 win at Navy.
Jaylan Knighton • Sr. • RB • SMU
Rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including a 95-yard score, in a 34-16 win against Charlotte.
Devean Deal • So. • DE • Tulane
Had eight tackles, a sack and four tackles for loss in a 35-23 win against UAB.
Makhi Hughes • RFr. • RB • Tulane
Rushed for a career-high 123 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-23 win against UAB.
TALKING POINTS
UAB
1-4, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at Tulane, 35-23
Next: Oct. 7 vs. South Florida (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..420.2 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………… 433.6 …………………13th
Scoring Offense ………………………..27.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ………………………36.0 …………………13th
- RB Isaiah Jacobs rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in the loss at Tulane.
- QB Jacob Zeno completed 27 of his 35 pass attempts for 236 yards. Zeno has completed 75% of his passes this season (157 of 208), leading The American.
- WR Amare Thomas finished with 99 receiving yards on eight catches against the Green Wave.
CHARLOTTE
1-4, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at SMU, 34-16
Next: Oct. 14 vs. Nav (ESPN+)y
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………311.2 …………………13th
Total Defense…………………………404.8 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..18.4 …………………14th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.6 …………………..5th
- QB Trexler Ivey passed for 107 yards and a touchdown with an interception in the second half, but Charlotte was unable to overcome an early deficit at SMU.
- WR Jack Hestera had game highs with seven receptions and 81 yards with a touchdown.
- The 49ers are idle in Week 6 and return to action Sept. 14 against Navy.
EAST CAROLINA
1-4, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at Rice, 24-17
Next: Oct. 12 vs. SMU (ESPN))
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 304.2 …………………14th
Total Defense………………………….331.6 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………..21.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.6 …………………..4th
- East Carolina had advantages in total yards (391-277), rushing yards (145-37), first downs (25-14) and time of possession (34:58-25:02), but was unable to get the road victory against Rice.
- QB Alex Flinn set career highs for completions (21), attempts (44) and passing yards (246) against Rice.
- The Pirates host SMU Thursday, Oct. 12.
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 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….20.8 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.0 …………………..5th
- 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
2-2, 0-0 American
Last: Defeated Abilene Chrisitan, 45-31
Next: Oct. 7 at Navy (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….466.3 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………… 503.5 …………………14th
Scoring Offense ……………………….36.3 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ………………………43.0 …………………14th
- QB Chandler Rogers threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing TD to lead the Mean Green against Abilene Christian.
- Rogers has gone 2-0 as North Texas’ starting signal-caller. The Mean Green lead The American in total offense at 466.3 yards per game.
- North Texas has had back-to-back games with a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver.
MEMPHIS
4-1, 1-0 American
Last: Defeated Boise State, 35-32
Next: Oct. 13 vs. Tulane (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….439.0 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense…………………………359.6 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ……………………….36.6 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………….21.4 …………………..3rd
- Memphis trailed Boise State 17-0 early, but the Tigers rallied for the nonconference win.
- LB Geoffrey Cantin-Arku made the pivotal play with a field goal block and an 80-yard return for a touchdown that gave the Tigers their first
lead. - Memphis improved to 19-4 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium under head coach Ryan Silverfield.
RICE
3-2, 1-1 American
Last: Defeated East Carolina, 24-17
Next: Oct. 7 vs. UConn (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….380.0 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………….414.8 …………………12th
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ………………………28.8 …………………10th
- QB JT Daniels passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns as the Owls won their first American Athletic Conference home game.
- All three Rice touchdowns against East Carolina were scored by freshmen.
- Rice’s defense limited the Pirates to three field goals on four trips inside the red zone and held East Carolina to 2-of-6 on fourth-down conversions.
NAVY
1-3, 0-2 American
Last: Lost to South Florida, 44-30
Next: Oct. 7 vs. North Texas (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..334.7 …………………12th
Total Defense………………………….378.5 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ……………………….20.3 …………………12th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 28.5 …………………10th
- Navy’s defense registered four sacks and six tackles for loss against South Florida, but the Midshipmen were unable to get the home win.
- FB Alex Tecza had a game-high 82 rushing yards as the Midshipmen ran for 240 yards against the Bulls.
- Navy, which ranked second nationally in fewest penalties entering the game, had eight penalties for 70 yards against South Florida.
SOUTH FLORIDA
3-2, 2-0 American
Last: Won at Navy, 44-30
Next: Oct. 7 at UAB (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..434.4 …………………..3rd
Total Defense…………………………398.0 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….30.2 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 28.2 …………………..8th
- QB Byrum Brown passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns, including two TDs by WR Sean Atkins, to lead South Florida past Navy.
- South Florida is 2-0 in The American for the first time since the Bulls won their first three conference games in 2018.
- The Bulls snapped a 19-game road losing streak. The Bulls’ last road win had been a 45- 20 decision at East Carolina in 2019.
SMU
3-2, 1-0 American
Last: Defeated Charlotte, 34-16
Next: Oct. 12 at East Carolina (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 433.6 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….315.6 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.8 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ……………………….18.4 …………………. 2nd
- RB Jaylan Knighton rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns — including a 95-yard TD — to lead SMU past Charlotte.
- Knighton’s 95-yard run was the third-longest run from scrimmage in American Athletic Conference history.
- The Mustangs finished with a season-high 228 rushing yards against Charlotte.
TEMPLE
2-3, 0-1 American
Last: Lost at Tulsa, 48-26
Next: Oct. 7 vs. UTSA (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 355.0 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………409.4 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………..21.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.0 ………………….11th
- QB E.J. Warner went 27-of-49 for 269 yards and two touchdowns, but the Owls were unable to get past Tulsa in their conference opener.
- S Sam Martin scored a touchdown on a 95-yard kickoff return, marking Temple’s first score on a kickoff return since Isaiah Wright against
UConn in 2018. - LB Jacob Hollis had a game- and career-high 15 tackles against Tulsa.
UTSA
1-3, 0-0 American
Last: Lost at Tennessee, 45-14
Next: Oct. 7 at Temple (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..367.0 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………… 382.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………..19.3 …………………13th
Scoring Defense ………………………28.0 ………………….. 7th
- 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
3-2, 1-0 American
Next: Defeated Temple, 48-26
Next: Oct. 7 at Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..387.4 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense…………………………403.6 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..27.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.2 …………………12th
- QB Cardell Williams completed 14 of 17 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing TD and 90 yards on the ground in the win against Temple.
- WR Marquis Shoulders had five receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns, turning in his second game with two TDs this season.
- Tulsa is 3-0 against unranked teams and 0-2 against top-25 teams this season.
TULANE
4-1, 1-0 American
Last: Defeated UAB, 35-23
Next: Oct. 13 at Memphis (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….389.6 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………….319.8 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ……………………….29.8 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………..17.4 ……………………1st
- RB Makhi Hughes rushed for a career-high 123 yards and two touchdowns to help Tulane overcome a 20-7 first-half deficit in the win against UAB.
- QB Michael Pratt completed 14 of 23 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns against the Blazers.
- Tulane has gone 16-3 in its last 19 games.
