UPCOMING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19
Rice at Tulsa *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Tulsa leads, 10-8-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2013 (Rice, 30-27)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20
SMU at Temple *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: SMU leads, 3-2-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 7, 2020 (SMU, 47-23)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21
Memphis at UAB *
The Battle for the Bones
Time: Noon
Series: UAB leads, 10-5
Last Meeting: Nov. 17, 2013 (Memphis, 46-9)
Air Force at Navy
The Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy
Time: Noon
Series: Air Force leads, 33-22
Last Meeting: Oct. 1, 2022 (Air Force, 13-10)
Charlotte at East Carolina *
Time: 2 p.m.
Series: First meeting
North Texas at Tulane *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Tulane leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2013 (Tulane, 24-21)
South Florida at UConn
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: South Florida leads, 12-5
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2019 (South Florida, 48-22)
UTSA at Florida Atlantic *
Time: 6 p.m.
Series: Florida Atlantic leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 31, 2020 (Florida Atlantic, 24-3)
All times Eastern
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Daniel Richardson • Jr. • QB • Florida Atlantic
Richardson completed 31 of 38 passes for a career-high 382 yards and three touchdowns against one interception to help Florida Atlantic break open what had been a one-score game at halftime in what turned into a 56-14 victory at South Florida. Richardson led an Owls offense that scored the final 35 points of the game as Florida Atlantic improved to 2-0 in American Athletic Conference play.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Trey Moore • So. • LB • UTSA
Moore registered a career-high 3.5 sacks — the third-most by an American Athletic Conference player in league history — to pace UTSA to a 41-20 win against UAB. Moore added a key strip-sack and fumble recovery to set up a Roadrunner touchdown and finished with five total tackles. Moore leads The American and ranks third nationally with 7.5 sacks in 2023.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Riley Riethman • Jr. • P • Navy
On a day in which points were at a premium, Riethman was instrumental to the field position battle in Navy’s 14-0 win at Charlotte as the Midshipmen earned their second shutout of the season. Riethman punted 11 times for 509 yards, averaging 46.3 yards and downing four punts inside the 20-yard line and two inside the 6..
HONOR ROLL
LaJohntay Wester • Jr. • WR • Florida Atlantic
Had 190 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns in a 56-14 win at South Florida. Had 10 receptions for 123 yards and a TD along with a 67-yard punt return for a score.
Will Harbour • Sr. • LB • Navy
Had a career-high 11 tackles with a tackle for loss and 0.5 sacks in a 14-0 win at Charlotte.
Chandler Rogers • Jr. • QB • North Texas
Completed 25 of 39 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-14 win against Temple.
Kobe Wilson • Jr. • LB • SMU
Had seven tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 31-10 win at East Carolina.
Michael Pratt • Jr. • QB • Tulane
Completed 19 of 31 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns and had a rushing TD in a 31-21 win at Memphis.
Anytime, Anyplace
Through seven weeks of the 2023 season, American Athletic Conference teams have played 11 games against teams ranked in this week’s Associated Press top 25, including games against the Nos. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13 and 15 teams. That total will increase to 12 games when Navy hosts No. 22 Air Force Saturday.
Battle Tested
Teams from The American have played three of the four teams that reached the 2022-23 College Football Playoff. East Carolina faced Michigan Sept. 2., while UAB visited Georgia and SMU was at TCU on Sept. 23.
To Be The Best …
American Athletic Conference teams have played the most challenging nonconference schedules of any FBS conference in 2023, based on opponents’ winning percentage. The cumulative record of The American’s nonconference FBS opponents is 164-147 (.527).
Nonconference FBS Opponent Winning Percentage – 2023
.527 American (164-147)
.481 Big Ten (125-135)
.478 Mountain West (133-145)
.463 MAC (131-152)
.4620 Conference USA (85-99)
.4619 Big 12 (109-127)
.440 ACC (118-150)
.397 Pac-12 (79-120)
.3828 Sun Belt (111-179)
.3826 SEC (88-142)
Road Sweet Road
Tulane has won seven consecutive road games, which ranks as the third-longest active streak nationally (Georgia- 13; Michigan-8).
TALKING POINTS
UAB
2-5, 1-2 American
Last: Lost at UTSA, 41-20
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Memphis (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….439.0 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense………………………… 428.3 …………………12th
Scoring Offense ………………………..30.1 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ………………………36.6 …………………14th
- RB Jermaine Brown Jr. had 197 all-purpose yards, but the Blazers were unable to get the road win at UTSA.
- Brown had six catches for 116 yards to register his first career game with at least 100 receiving yards. He added 57 yards on 12 rushing attempts and 24 yards on kickoff returns.
- UAB outgained UTSA 364-360, but was undone by three turnovers, which led to 14 points.
CHARLOTTE
1-5, 0-2 American
Last: Lost to Navy, 14-0
Next: Oct. 21 at East Carolina (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..303.7 …………………13th
Total Defense………………………….381.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………..15.3 …………………14th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.3 …………………..6th
- Charlotte limited Navy to 265 total yards and 10 first downs, but the 49ers were unable to get on the scoreboard against the Midshipmen.
- QB Trexler Ivey made his first career start and passed for 142 yards on 11-of-27 passing.
- The Charlotte defense had nine tackles for loss and three sacks against Navy.
EAST CAROLINA
1-5, 0-2 American
Last: Lost to SMU, 31-10
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Charlotte (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..301.8 …………………14th
Total Defense………………………….331.8 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………..19.2 …………………13th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 26.5 …………………..6th
- Freshman WR Chase Sowell had a career-high 120 yards on seven catches in the loss to SMU. Sowell became East Carolina’s first 100-yard receiver this season.
- P Luke Larsen had 11 punts — one shy of the American Athletic Conference single-game record — against SMU.
- The Pirates held SMU to 58 rushing yards and 334 total yards.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
3-3, 2-0 American
Last: Won at South Florida, 56-14
Next: Oct. 21 vs. UTSA (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..381.5 …………………10th
Total Defense………………………….392.7 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 26.5 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 23.2 …………………..5th
- Florida Atlantic scored the final 35 points of the game in its win at South Florida.
- WR LaJohntay Wester had 10 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown and scored a 67-yard touchdown on his only punt return against South Florida.
- QB Daniel Richardson went 31-of-38 for a career-high 382 yards and three TDs against the Bulls.
NORTH TEXAS
3-3, 1-1 American
Last: Defeated Temple, 45-14
Next: Oct. 21 at Tulane (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………477.5 ……………………1st
Total Defense…………………………460.8 …………………14th
Scoring Offense ………………………..35.7 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………… 35.5 ………………….11th
- QB Chandler Rogers went 25-of-39 for 307 yards and four touchdowns to lead North Texas to its first American Athletic Conference victory.
- Rogers has thrown 165 consecutive passes without an interception.
- WR Ja’Cori Maclin had six receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns for his third 100-yard game of the season.
MEMPHIS
4-2, 1-1 American
Last: Lost to Tulane, 31-21
Next: Oct. 21 at UAB (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….426.8 …………………..4th
Total Defense…………………………369.5 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ……………………….34.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ………………………23.0 …………………..4th
- Memphis held a 21-10 lead in the third quarter against Tulane, but the Green Wave scored 21 unanswered points to close the game.
- QB Seth Henigan went 24-for-43 for 321 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions against Tulane, turning in his 13th career 300-
yard game. - WR DeMeer Blankumsee and WR Roc Taylor both had 108 receiving yards against Tulane.
RICE
3-3, 1-1 American
Last: Lost to UConn, 38-31
Next: Oct. 19 at Tulsa (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..395.7 …………………..6th
Total Defense…………………………398.8 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ………………………..32.7 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ………………………30.3 …………………10th
- QB JT Daniels passed for 362 yards and two touchdowns, but the Owls fell to UConn in their final nonconference game of the season.
- RB Juma Otoviano rushed for 51 yards and two TDs against the Huskies.
- Daniels registered this third 300-yard game of the season and the 10th of his career. He surpassed 8,500 passing yards in his career.
NAVY
3-3, 2-2 American
Last: Won at Charlotte, 14-0
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Air Force (CBS)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….335.0 …………………12th
Total Defense………………………….375.3 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ……………………….20.3 …………………12th
Scoring Defense ………………………23.0 …………………..3rd
- Navy used a 69-yard touchdown reception from WR Eli Heidenreich and a 62-yard run from FB Alex Tecza to get the road win at Charlotte.
- Navy registered its second shutout victory of the season.
- Freshman QB Braxton Woodson came off the bench to replace injured QB Tai Lavatai, who left the game on the second series in the first quarter.
SOUTH FLORIDA
3-4, 2-2 American
Last: Lost to Florida Atlantic, 56-14
Next: Oct. 21 at UConn (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….433.9 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………… 455.0 …………………13th
Scoring Offense ……………………….28.6 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….36.1 …………………14th
- RB Nay’Quan Wright rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown, registering his second 100-yard game of the year, in the loss to Florida Atlantic.
- The Bulls, who trailed 21-14 at halftime, were outscored 35-0 in the second half.
- South Florida plays its final nonconference game of the season with the trip to former American Athletic Conference and Big East rival UConn.
SMU
4-2, 2-0 American
Last: Won at East Carolina, 31-10
Next: Oct. 20 at Temple (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………417.2 …………………..5th
Total Defense…………………………..311.3 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.3 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ………………………..17.0 ……………………1st
- QB Preston Stone passed for 276 yards and three TDs to lead the Mustangs past East Carolina Thursday.
- SMU limited East Carolina to 290 yards of offense and 3.8 yards per play while scoring a touchdown on a pick-six by S Jonathan McGill.
- The Mustangs lead The American in scoring defense (17.0 ppg) and total defense (311.3 ypg).
TEMPLE
2-5, 0-3 American
Last: Lost at North Texas, 45-14
Next: Oct. 20 vs. SMU (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….380.6 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………… 438.4 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………..21.9 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ………………………35.6 …………………12th
- QB Quincy Patterson rushed for a game-high 113 yards and a touchdown and had 105 passing yards in his first start of the season.
- Patterson started in place of QB E.J. Warner, who was a late scratch. He became the third quarterback in program history to rush for 100 yards in a game.
- S Dominick Hill had a game-high 12 tackles with a forced fumble and a pass breakup against North Texas.
UTSA
3-3, 2-0 American
Last: Defeated UAB, 41-20
Next: Oct. 21 at Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..387.2 …………………..8th
Total Defense…………………………406.0 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..27.8 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ………………………..27.7 …………………..8th
- LB Trey Moore had 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to lead UTSA past UAB as the Roadrunners improved to 2-0 in conference play.
- QB Frank Harris went 19-for-30 for 171 yards and two touchdowns against the Blazers.
- UTSA has won 10 consecutive regular-season conference games and is 24-3 against conference opponents under Jeff Traylor.
TULSA
3-3, 1-1 American
Next: Lost at Florida Atlantic, 20-17
Next: Oct. 19 vs. Rice (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….386.2 …………………..9th
Total Defense…………………………399.3 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ……………………….26.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ………………………29.3 …………………..9th
- S Jaise Oliver had a career-high 11 tackles and an interception, but Tulsa was unable to get a road win against Florida Atlantic.
- QB Braylon Braxton saw his first action since the Golden Hurricane’s opening game and threw a late touchdown pass.
- The game against Rice completes a streak of three straight games against The American’s three teams with Owl nicknames.
TULANE
5-1, 2-0 American
Last: Won at Memphis, 31-21
Next: Oct. 21 vs. North Texas (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..391.8 …………………..8th
Total Defense…………………………. 327.5 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ……………………….30.0 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ……………………….18.0 …………………. 2nd
- QB Michael Pratt passed for 259 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing TD to help Tulane overcome a 21-10 deficit to win at Memphis for the first time since 1998.
- RB Makhi Hughes rushed for a career-high 130 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries against Memphis, turning in his second consecutive 100-yard game.
- Tulane has gone 17-3 in its last 20 games.
