WEEK 8 GAME SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
East Carolina at Army *
Time: Noon
Series: East Carolina leads, 8-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2004 (East Carolina, 38-28
Tulsa at Temple *
Time: 2 p.m.
Series: Tulsa leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: Sept. 28, 2023 (Tulsa, 48-26)
Charlotte at Navy *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Navy leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 14, 2023 (Navy, 14-0)
UAB at South Florida *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: UAB leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 7, 2023 (UAB, 56-35)
Florida Atlantic at UTSA *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Florida Atlantic leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2023 (UTSA, 36-10)
Rice at Tulane *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Rice leads, 20-16-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 28, 2023 (Tulane, 30-28)
North Texas at Memphis *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Memphis leads, 18-4
Last Meeting: Oct. 28, 2023 (Memphis, 45-42)
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bryson Daily • Sr. • QB • Army
Daily figured in five touchdowns as Army extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 10 games with a 44-10 victory against UAB. He rushed for 136 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries and completed 3 of 7 passes for 102 yards and a TD before coming out early in the third quarter. Daily, who registered his fifth consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards, ranks eighth nationally at 123.0 yards per game and is third among FBS players with 14 rushing touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chandler Martin • Jr. • LB • Memphis
Martin led a Memphis defense that limited South Florida to 24 rushing yards, 258 total yards and three points in a 21-3 win. Martin had a team-high seven tackles to go with a sack, a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Martin leads The American with 4.0 sacks, 9.0 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries in 2024.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kali Nguma • RFr. • K • North Texas
Nguma scored 11 points, including a pair of key field goals, to lead North Texas to a 41-37 win in the rain at Florida Atlantic. Nguma’s 46-yard field goal in the second quarter pulled the Mean Green even at 17-17 before he hit a 40-yard attempt late in the third quarter to bring North Texas within seven points entering the final period. Nguma leads all American Athletic Conference kickers in scoring, and is fourth among all players, at 8.8 points per game entering Week 8.
HONORABLE MENTION
Casey Larkin • Jr. • S • Army
Had two interceptions and two tackles in a 44-10 win against UAB.
Jayden Hill • Sr. • DB • North Texas
Had a game-high eight tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup in a 41-37 win at Florida Atlantic.
DT Sheffield • Jr. • WR • North Texas
Had a career-high 11 receptions for 126 yards and two late touchdowns in a 41-37 win at Florida Atlantic.
Sean Fresch • Sr. • CB • Rice
Had a career-high 11 tackles with a pass breakup and a reception for 40 yards in a 29-27 win against UTSA.
E.J. Warner • Jr. • QB • Rice
Completed 25 of 39 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with four seconds left, in a 29-27 win against UTSA.
TALKING POINTS
UAB 1-5, 0-3 American
Last: Lost at Army, 44-10
Next: Oct. 19 at South Florida (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..355.3 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………394.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….20.3 …………………13th
Scoring Defense ………………………38.0 …………………14th
• UAB fell behind early and was unable to keep pace with Army • K Jonah Delange has gone 10-for-10 on field goals and is the only kicker in The American with at least three attempts who has connected on 100% of his kicks. • The Blazers visit South Florida Saturday looking to snap a five-game slide.
ARMY 6-0, 5-0 American
Last: Defeated UAB, 44-10
Next: Oct. 19 vs. East Carolina (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 462.3 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………….267.3 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ………………………..39.7 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense …………………………9.8 ……………………1st
• QB Bryson Daily was named the Walter Camp National Player of the Week after his five-touchdown performance against UAB. • Army has scored a touchdown on its first offensive drive in every game this season. Army is the only team in the nation that has scored on its first drive in each game. • Army’s 10-game winning streak is the longest active streak nationally.
CHARLOTTE 3-3, 2-0 American
Last: Defeated East Carolina, 55-20
Next: Oct. 19 at Navy (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..351.3 …………………12th
Total Defense…………………………434.8 …………………14th
Scoring Offense ……………………….24.0 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ………………………..31.7 …………………10th
• RB Hahsaun Wilson rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns as Charlotte got to 2-0 in AAC play with the win against East Carolina. • Charlotte has sold out each of its first three home games at Richardson Stadium. The home crowd of 17,102 against East Carolina was the fourth-largest in program history. • The 49ers tied a program record with six rushing touchdowns against East Carolina.
EAST CAROLINA 3-3, 1-1 American
Last: Lost at Charlotte, 55-20
Next: Oct. 19 at Army
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 385.2 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………… 382.2 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 26.5 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….24.7 …………………..5th
• The Pirates were undone by two turnovers and a slow start in the loss at Charlotte. • East Carolina was without two of its top defensive players as LB Zakye Barker and CB Shavon Revel Jr. did not play due to injury. Revel is out for the season with a knee injury. • WR Winston Wright Jr. had the highlight for East Carolina with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Charlotte.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2-4, 0-2 American
Last: Lost to North Texas, 41-37
Next: Oct. 19 at UTSA (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..374.0 …………………10th
Total Defense………………………….378.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 24.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 26.5 …………………..6th
• QB Cam Fancher threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns, but Florida Atlantic was unable to hold off North Texas in the final minutes. • After being held to 250 yards or fewer in three of their first four games, the Owls have turned in back-to-back games with at least 500 yards. Florida Atlantic had 519 yards against North Texas. • The Owls visit UTSA Saturday.
MEMPHIS 5-1, 1-1 American
Last: Defeated South Florida, 21-3
Next: Oct. 19 vs. North Texas (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 415.5 …………………..5th
Total Defense…………………………. 301.7 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ………………………..31.2 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….15.8 …………………. 2nd
• QB Seth Henigan threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the win against South Florida in a game that was played in Orlando. • Memphis has scored at least 20 points in 33 consecutive games, the longest active streak nationally. • The Tigers limited the Bulls to 24 rushing yards, 256 total yards and 12 first downs.
NAVY 5-0, 4-0 American
Last: Won at Air Force, 34-7
Next: Oct. 19 vs. Charlotte (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 465.4 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense…………………………395.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ……………………….43.6 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………… 20.2 …………………..3rd
• SB Eli Heidenreich had 100 rushing yards and 101 receiving yards against Air Force and is believed to be the first player in program history to hit triple digits in rushing and receiving yards in the same game. • Navy is 5-0 for the first time since 2017. • Navy has scored 19 touchdowns on 19 red zone trips in 2024. Navy is the only team to score a touchdown on every red zone possession.
NORTH TEXAS 5-1, 2-0 American
Last: Won at Florida Atlantic, 41-37
Next: Oct. 19 at Memphis (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..507.2 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………….432.3 …………………13th
Scoring Offense ……………………….40.8 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ………………………33.0 ………………….11th
• QB Chandler Morris connected with WR DT Sheffield for two touchdowns in the final 2:38 to lead North Texas past Florida Atlantic. • Morris has 20 touchdown passes this season, twice as many as any other signal-caller in The American. • The Mean Green visits Memphis Saturday in search of its first 6-1 start since 2018 and its third since 1968.
RICE 2-4, 1-2 American
Last: Defeated UTSA, 29-27
Next: Oct. 19 at Tulane (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..352.5 ………………….11th
Total Defense…………………………329.8 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ………………………..25.5 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 26.5 …………………..6th
• QB E.J. Warner had 347 passing yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning TD pass with four seconds left, to deliver the win against UTSA. • RB Dean Connors had five receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Roadrunners. • Rice plays the first of back-to-back road games with the trip to Tulane Saturday
SOUTH FLORIDA 2-4, 0-2 American
Last: Lost to Memphis, 21-3
Next: Oct. 19 s. UAB (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..349.7 …………………13th
Total Defense………………………….419.2 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 23.5 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ………………………30.8 …………………..8th
• South Florida dropped its third straight game as the Bulls fell to Memphis in a game that was relocated to Camping World Stadium in Orlando. • QB Byrum Brown did not play against Memphis due to a leg injury. • QB Bryce Archie went 22-of-41 for 234 yards against Memphis in his first career start.
TEMPLE 1-5, 0-2 American
Last: Lost at UConn, 29-20
Next: Oct. 19 vs. Tulsa (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….293.8 …………………14th
Total Defense…………………………400.8 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..18.8 …………………14th
Scoring Defense ………………………36.2 …………………12th
• Trailing by three points in the final two minutes, Temple was unable to convert a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line in the loss at UConn. • The Owls limited UConn to 99 rushing yards and 3-of-15 on third down, but Temple was undone in part by three turnovers against the Huskies. • LB Tyquan King registered a career-high 15 tackles against UConn, turning in his third consecutive game with double-figure tackles.
UTSA 2-4, 0-2 American
Last: Lost at Rice, 29-27
Next: Oct. 19 vs. Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….396.5 …………………..6th
Total Defense…………………………. 379.7 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 22.8 …………………12th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.2 …………………..9th
• UTSA took a 27-23 lead with 2:06 left in regulation, but the Roadrunners saw Rice rally for the game-winning drive to snap an eight-game series winning streak against the Owls. • QB Owen McCown threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns against Rice and had a game-high 53 rushing yards. • The Roadrunners are 2-0 at home and 0-4 on the road in 2024.
TULANE 4-2, 2-0 American
Last: Won at UAB, 71-20
Next: Oct. 19 vs. Rice (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..437.0 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….310.8 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………. 42.5 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….21.8 …………………..4th
• RB Makhi Hughes rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns as the Green Wave earned its 12th consecutive AAC regular-season win. • Tulane’s conference winning streak trails only Michigan’s 24 straight Big Ten wins for the longest active conference winning streaks. • The 51-point win was Tulane’s largest margin in a conference game since a 52-0 win against Sewanee in a 1939 SEC matchup.
TULSA 2-4, 0-2 American
Last: Lost to Army, 49-7
Next: Oct. 19 at Temple (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….392.0 …………………..8th
Total Defense…………………………. 427.5 …………………12th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 24.3 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………….37.0 …………………13th
• Tulsa and Army were tied at 7-7 after the first quarter, but the Golden Hurricane was unable to find the end zone the rest of the way. • The Golden Hurricane was limited to 268 yards of offense against Army. • Tulsa had an open date in Week 7 and returns to action Oct. 19 at Temple.
WEEK 8 PREVIEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 • NOON • ESPN2
EAST CAROLINA at ARMY
Richie Stadium (38,000/FieldTurf)
West Point, New York
Television ESPN2 Roy Philpott, Sam Acho and Taylor Davis
East Carolina Radio Army Radio WNCT-FM 107.9 (flagship) WBNR-AM 1260 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the ninth meeting between East Carolina and Army … The schools met eight times between 1995-2004 … The Pirates won all eight previous matchups and have gone 4-0 at West Point … The last meeting was a 38-28 Pirate win Oct. 30, 2004, as QB James Pinkney threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
EAST CAROLINA 3-3, 1-1 American
Head Coach Mike Houston (Mars Hill ’94) 27-37, sixth season at East Carolina 107-62, 14th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
East Carolina looks to bounce back from a stretch in which it has lost three of its last four games following a 55-24 setback at Charlotte Oct. 5 … The Pirates were idle last weekend … QB Jake Garcia has started every game and has completed 109 of 181 passes for 1,426 yards and eight touchdowns against 12 interceptions … Garcia ranks third in The American in at 237.7 passing yards per game … RB Rahjai Harris has 397 rushing yards with three touchdowns … DE Elijah Morris has 3.0 sacks … LB Zakye Barker is fourth in the conference at 8.0 tackles per game, but Barker missed the game against Charlotte due to injury … CB Shavon Revel Jr., who is projected as a first-round draft pick, suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice before the Pirates’ game against Liberty.
23/24 ARMY 6-0, 5-0 American
Head Coach Jeff Monken (Millikin ’89) 76-55, 11th season at Army 112-71, 15th season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Army is back in the national rankings for the first time since 2020 … Army is 6-0 for the first time since 1996 … Army has won its last 10 games, dating to last season, and takes the nation’s longest active winning streak into Saturday’s game … Army is the only team in the nation that has scored a touchdown on its first drive in every game this season … Army leads the nation in rushing offense (369.3 ypg) and red zone defense (41.7%) … QB Bryson Daily is averaging 123.0 rushing yards and has 14 rushing touchdowns, leading the American Athletic Conference in both categories … SB Kanye Udoh is fourth in the AAC in rushing (88.5 ypg) … Army has allowed only 9.8 points per game, ranking second nationally … LB Andon Thomas has a team-high 39 tackles.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 2 P.M. • ESPN+
TULSA at TEMPLE
Lincoln Financial Field (69,596/Natural Grass)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Television ESPN+ Doug Sherman and Barrett Brooks
Tulsa Radio Temple Radio KXBL-FM 99.5 (flagship OwlSports.com/Listen
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the ninth meeting between Tulsa and Temple in a series that dates to 1987 … The Golden Hurricane holds a 5-3 lead in the series and has won the last three, including a 48-26 decision Sept. 28, 2023, in Tulsa … Temple’s last victory was a 31-17 win in Philadelphia in 2018.
TULSA 2-4, 0-2 American
Head Coach Kevin Wilson (North Carolina ’84) 6-12, second season at Tulsa 32-59, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulsa returns from an open week looking to snap a two-game slide after the Golden Hurricane fell 49-7 to Army Oct. 5 … Tulsa’s wins have been against Northwestern State (62-28 in the season-opener) and Louisiana Tech (23-20 in overtime) … Tulsa has held only one opponent to fewer than 28 points this season … QB Kirk Francis has started all six games and has completed 106 of 176 passes for 1,064 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions … The top three running backs all have at least 170 yards, while RB Anthony Watkins leads the way with 248 yards and three touchdowns … WR Kamdyn Benjamin has 39 receptions for 471 yards and two touchdowns … LB Gavin Potter has 35 stops with a team-leading 6.0 tackles for loss.
TEMPLE 1-5, 0-3 American
Head Coach Stan Drayton (Allegheny ’93) 7-23, third season
Notes
emple resumes play after an open date last week as the Owls look to snap a two-game losing streak… Temple dropped a heartbreaking 29-20 decision at UConn Oct. 5 when the Owls were denied on back-to-back plays from the 1-yard line in the closing seconds … QB Evan Simon, a transfer from Rutgers who had started the previous three games, did not play against UConn, but is expected to return against Tulsa … Simon completed 53 of 82 passes for 680 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions … WR Dante Wright leads The American with 42 catches for 517 yards and four touchdowns … The Owls’ leading rusher is RB Antwain Littlejohn, who has 168 yards on 51 carries … LB D.J. Woodbury has a team-high 55 tackles, while DE Cam’Ron Stewart has 5.0 tackles for loss to top the Owls.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 3:30 P.M. • CBSSN
CHARLOTTE at NAVY
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000/FieldTurf)
Annapolis, Maryland
Television CBS Sports Network Carter Blackburn, Adam Breneman and Sheehan Stanwick Burch
Charlotte Radio Navy Radio WXMX-FM 98.9 (flagship) WBAL-AM 1090 (flagship)
THE GAME
Charlotte and Navy meet for just the second time Saturday, while this year’s meeting will be the first in Annapolis … Navy was a 14-0 winner at Richardson Stadium last season as big plays by FB Alex Tecza (62-yard TD) and RB Eli Heidenreich (69-yard TD) were the difference on a day in which each team was held to 265 yards.
CHARLOTTE 3-3, 2-0 American
Head Coach Biff Poggi (Duke) 6-12, second season
Notes
Charlotte had dropped three of its first four games, but the 49ers ride a two-game winning streak following an impressive 55-24 victory against East Carolina Oct. 5 … Charlotte is 0-4 as an FBS program against top-25 teams … Navy will be Charlotte’s second opponent this season that is ranked in the current AP top -25 (Indiana) … QB Deshawn Purdie has completed 48 of 79 passes for 717 yards and four touchdowns since relieving QB Max Brown, a transfer from Florida who was injured in the game against North Carolina … Brown is expected to be available for Saturday’s game … WR Jarius Mach has 14 catches for 295 yards, while WR O’Mega Blake has 14 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns … S Al-Ma’hi Ali has a team-high 33 tackles with two interceptions and five pass breakups, while LB Reid Williford has 5.5 tackles for loss.
25 NAVY 5-0, 3-0 American
Head Coach Brian Newberry (Baylor ’98) 10-7, second season
Notes
Navy has been one of the best stories in college football this season as the Midshipmen have matched last year’s win total and find themselves ranked in the AP top 25 for the first time since 2019 … Saturday’s game will be Navy’s first home game as a top-25 team since 2016 … Navy has scored 218 points this season, or six more than the Midshipmen had in the entire 2023 campaign … The Midshipmen have gone 18-for-18 in the red zone this season, all touchdowns … QB Blake Horvath ranks 11th nationally in rushing at 113.0 ypg and has 585 yards and 10 touchdowns … Horvath has also completed 39 of 59 passes for 771 yards and seven TDs … SB Eli Heidenreich is The American’s leading receiver at 89.8 yards per game … LB Colin Ramos ranks fifth nationally with 11.2 tackles per game
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN+
UAB at SOUTH FLORIDA
Raymond James Stadium (65,000/Natural Grass)
Tampa, Florida
Television ESPN+ Jason Ross Jr., Tyoka Jackson and Maria Trivelpiece
UAB Radio South Florida Radio WJOX-FM 94.5 (flagship) WHPT-FM 102.5 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fourth meeting between UAB and South Florida … The teams played in 2003 and 2004, when both institutions were in Conference USA, and resumed the series last year, when the Blazers joined The American … UAB has won two of the three previous meetings, including a 56-35 decision last year in Birmingham.
UAB 1-5, 0-3 American
Head Coach Trent Dilfer (Fresno State) 5-13, second season
Notes
UAB hopes to snap a four-game slide and bounce back from a 44-10 setback to Army last Saturday … The Blazers have faced one of the toughest schedules nationally this season … UAB’s five FBS opponents have a combined record of 24-8 … Four opponents are either ranked or receiving votes in this week’s national polls … UAB ranks third nationally in pass defense (135.8 ypg) … QB Jalen Kitna has started the last two games in place of injured QB Jacob Zeno … Kitna has thrown for 481 yards and two touchdowns with five interceptions … RB Lee Beebe Jr. has 382 rushing yards with three TDs, while WR Kam Shanks has 30 receptions for 297 yards and a touchdown … LB Michael Moore has a team-high 42 tackles and an interception … K Jonah Delange has gone 10-for-10 on field goal attempts and 12-for-12 on PATs.
SOUTH FLORIDA 2-4, 0-2 American
Head Coach Alex Golesh (Ohio State ’06) 9-10, second season
Notes
South Florida has similarly played a challenging early schedule to a 2-4 mark after the Bulls fell to Memphis 21-3 in a game that was moved to Camping World Stadium in Orlando in the wake of Hurricane Milton … The four teams that have defeated the Bulls in 2024 have a combined record of 20-4 … QB Byrum Brown has passed for 836 yards and two touchdowns and has 269 rushing yards with three TDs, but Brown left the Sept. 28 game against Tulane with a leg injury … QB Bryce Archie made his first career start in last week’s game against Memphis RB Kelley Joiner Jr. has 270 yards and four touchdowns … WR Sean Atkins has 32 receptions for 344 yards … LB Mac Harris has team highs of 39 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss … K Nico Gramatica has gone 3-for-3 on field goals of at least 50 yards.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC at UTSA
Alamodome (34,984/FusionH XP2 Synthetic)
San Antonio, Texas
Television ESPN+ Ted Emrich and LaDarrin McLane
Florida Atlantic Radio UTSA Radio WMEN-AM 640 (flagship) KTXR-AM 760 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between Florida Atlantic and UTSA … The Owls had taken the first three meetings with victories in 2014, 2019 and 2020 before the Roadrunners claimed last year’s battle in Boca Raton, 36-10 … QB Frank Harris passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns for UTSA in last year’s win.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2-4, 0-2 American
Head Coach Tom Herman (Cal Lutheran ’97) 6-12, second season at Florida Atlantic 60-34, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Florida Atlantic had scored more than 14 points only once in its first four games, but the Owls have averaged 39 points in their last two games … The Owls dropped a heartbreaking 41-37 decision to North Texas last Saturday … The Owls rank second in The American in pass defense at 168.0 yards per game … Opponents have completed only 51.6% of their passes against the Owls … QB Cam Fancher, a transfer from Marshall, has thrown for 1,058 yards and five touchdowns with six interceptions … RB CJ Campbell Jr. has 381 yards and six TDs, while RB Zuberi Mobley has 334 yards and four TDs … WR Omari Hayes has team highs with 24 receptions, 371 yards and two touchdowns … S Phillip Dunham and CB Kahzir Brown have two interceptions each.
UTSA 2-4, 0-2 American Head Coach
Jeff Traylor (Stephen F. Austin ’90) 41-18, fifth season
Notes
UTSA fell in a stunner last Saturday as the Roadrunners saw Rice get the game-winning touchdowns with four seconds left in a 29-27 setback in Houston … UTSA has gone 27-6 in regular-season conference games under Jeff Traylor and has won 15 of its last 18 conference games … QB Owen McCown has completed 129 of 207 passes for 1,310 yards and 10 touchdowns with two interceptions … The top target has been WR Devin McCuin, who has 37 receptions for 279 yards and four touchdowns … RB Robert Henry has 230 rushing yards and a touchdown, while RB Brandon High has 225 rushing yards and two TDs … LB Jimmori Robinson leads the defense with 4.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss to go with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick … CB Zah Frazier leads the Roadrunners with two interceptions.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN+
RICE at TULANE
Yulman Stadium (30,000/Hellas Synthetic)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Television ESPN+ James Westling, Leger Douzable and Smacker Miles
Rice Radio Tulane Radio Varsity Network KVDU-FM 104.1 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 38th meeting between Rice and Tulane in a series that traces its roots to 1916 … The Owls hold a 20-16-1 series lead … Tulane snapped Rice’s four-game winning streak in the rivalry with a 30-28 decision in Houston last year … The last meeting in New Orleans saw Rice prevail 49-47 in 2012.
RICE 2-4, 1-2 American
Head Coach Mike Bloomgren (Florida State ’99) 24-50, seventh season
Notes
Rice scored its best win of the season as the Owls rallied past UTSA 29-27, snapping an eight-game series slide against the Roadrunners … Rice got the go-ahead touchdown with four seconds left against UTSA … Saturday’s game at Tulane will be the Owls’ second outside the city of Houston this season and begins a stretch in which Rice plays four of its next five games on the road … Rice ranks seventh nationally in sacks, at 3.3 per game … Twelve players have at least one sack, while DE Michael Larbie and LB Josh Pearcy lead the squad with 3.5 sacks each … QB E.J. Warner has completed 134 of 217 passes for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns against six interceptions … RB Dean Connors has a team-high 396 rushing yards with six touchdowns and is the leading receiver with 34 catches for 248 yards and a TD.
TULANE 4-2, 2-0 American
Head Coach Jon Sumrall (Kentucky ’05) 4-2, first season at Tulane 27-6, third season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Tulane takes a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s game after the Green Wave rolled to a 71-20 win at UAB Oct. 5 … Tulane has won 12 straight American Athletic Conference regular-season games, a streak which stands as the third-longest in conference history … Tulane’s only two losses are to Kansas State and Oklahoma, which have a combined 9-3 record … QB Darian Mensah has completed 84 of 127 passes for 1,256 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions … RB Makhi Hughes has rushed for 604 yards and seven touchdowns and is averaging 100.7 yards per game … WR Mario Williams has team highs with 23 receptions and 414 yards … S Rayshawn Pleasant has scored three non-offensive touchdowns (two kickoff returns, one interception return).
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPNU
NORTH TEXAS at MEMPHIS
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (58,325/AstroTurf)
Memphis, Tennessee
Television ESPNU Noah Reed and Craig Haubert
North Texas Radio Memphis Radio KEGL-FM 97.1 (flagship) WXMX-FM 98.9 (flagship)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 23rd meeting between North Texas and Memphis in a series that dates to 1952… The schools met regularly between 1960-80, but have played just three times in the 21st century … Memphis holds an 18-4 series lead and has won the last three meetings, including a 45-42 decision in Denton last year.
NORTH TEXAS 5-1, 2-0 American
Head Coach Eric Morris (Texas Tech ’08) 10-8, second season at North Texas 34-26, sixth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
North Texas is off to a 5-1 start, which is the best record through six games since 1967, when the Mean Green went 5-0-1 … The Mean Green enters Saturday’s game on the heels of a 41-37 win at Florida Atlantic … The Mean Green ranks fifth nationally in total offense at 507.2 yards per game and fourth in passing offense at 346.5 ypg … The Mean Green has gained at least 500 yards in 11 of Eric Morris’ 18 games as head coach … QB Chandler Morris has completed 150 of 233 passes for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns with seven interceptions … Morris’ 20 TD passes lead the nation and are more than twice as many as any other American Athletic Conference player … WR DT Sheffield has 34 catches for 443 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns.
MEMPHIS 5-1, 1-1 American
Head Coach Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ’03) 36-20, fifth season
Notes
Memphis evened its American Athletic Conference record at 1-1 and improved to 5-1 overall with a 21-3 win against South Florida in a game that was relocated to Orlando … Memphis has scored at least 20 points in 33 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak nationally … QB Seth Henigan has thrown for 1,547 yards and nine touchdowns … Henigan, who has 12,311 career passing yards, ranks second on The American’s career chart, trailing only the 13,927 yards of former East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers … RB Mario Anderson Jr. has 462 rushing yards and eight touchdowns … WR Roc Taylor has 26 receptions for 375 yards and a touchdown … LB Chandler Martin has 42 tackles, 4.0 sacks and a conference-leading 9.0 tackles for loss to go with three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups.
