AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL REPORT
2022 Season • Week 5 (Sept. 30-Oct. 1)
THIS WEEK
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Tulane at Houston *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Houston leads, 19-7
Last Meeting: Oct. 7, 2021 (Houston, 40-22)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
Temple at Memphis *
Time: Noon
Series: Temple leads, 4-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 2, 2021 (Temple, 34-31)
Navy at Air Force
Time: Noon
Series: Air Force leads, 32-22
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2021 (Air Force, 23-3)
SMU at UCF *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: UCF leads, 8-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2021 (SMU, 55-28)
East Carolina at South Florida *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: South Florida leads, 9-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 28, 2021 (East Carolina, 29-14)
Cincinnati at Tulsa *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: Tied 17-17-2
Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2021 (Cincinnati, 28-20)
- American Athletic Conference game
All times Eastern
WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Scott • Jr. • WR • Cincinnati
Scott had career highs in receptions, yards and touchdown receptions to lead Cincinnati to a 45-24 win against Indiana. He had 10 receptions for 185 yards and three first-half touchdowns, finding the end zone from 75, 34 and 32 yards to stake the Bearcats to a 38-10 halftime lead.
Scott leads The American with five touchdown receptions and is third in the league at 105.8 receiving yards per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ivan Pace Jr. • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati
Pace helped Cincinnati to a 45-24 win against previously unbeaten Indiana as he filled the box score with a game-high 15 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, with three quarterback hurries. Pace led a defense that limited the Hoosiers to 3.3 yards per play and forced three turnovers to help Cincinnati improve to 3-1.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Daniel Davies • Sr. • K • Navy
Davies entered Saturday’s game at East Carolina having never attempted a collegiate field goal or PAT, but he accounted for 10 points, going 3-for-3 on field goals, to lead Navy to a 23-20 win in two overtimes. Davies’ made a do-or-die 43-yard field goal in the first OT to extend the game, while his 29-yard kick to start the second overtime period held up as the game-winner.
HONOR ROLL
Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste • Sr. • LB • UCF
Had seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble in a 27-10 win against Georgia Tech. Nathaniel Dell • Jr. • WR • Houston Had seven receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in a 34-27 win against Rice.
Xavier Cullens • Sr. • LB • Memphis
Had eight tackles with a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown in a 44-34 win against North Texas.
Vincent Terrell Jr. • Jr. • RB • Navy
Had three receptions for a career-high 114 yards and a key fourth-quarter touchdown in a 23-20 overtime win at East Carolina.
Alex Odom • So. • S • Temple
Had a game-high nine tackles with an interception in a 28-0 win against Massachusetts, helping the Temple defense hold its opponent without an offensive touchdown for the second straight game.
All We Do Is Win
Nine of The American’s 11 teams (81.8%) are at .500 or better through Week 4 of the 2022 season.
Conference Call
The American is 9-2 against non-autonomous FBS conferences in 2022.
Clean As A Whistle
Tulane, which leads The American in total defense (228.8 ypg) and scoring defense (11.8 ppg), has not been assessed a defensive penalty through four games of the 2022 season.
Representing The Defense
Temple has not allowed an offensive touchdown in its last two games, or its last nine quarters.
Low Ceiling
UCF has not allowed more than 20 points in any of its first four games this season.
The Best Offense …
Memphis scored two defensive touchdowns in the Tigers’ 44-34 win against North Texas last Saturday.
Find A Way
UCF scored 27 points and had only one offensive touchdown in the Knights’ 27-10 win against Georgia Tech last Saturday. The Knights had four field goals and a special teams touchdown.
Close Calls
East Carolina’s two losses this season are by a combined four points.
Three For One Special
UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee has had at least 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in two of the Knights’ first four games. Plumlee leads The American in rushing at 101.0 yards per game, which tops all NCAA FBS quarterbacks.
We Must Defend This House
Cincinnati has won 29 consecutive games at Nippert Stadium, trailing only Clemson (36) for the nation’s longest active home field winning streak. UCF has won 32 of its last 35 home games, while Memphis has gone 33-4 at home since 2017.
Point Production
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai set the American Athletic Conference’s single-season record with 39 touchdown passes in 2021. Mordecai has 12 touchdown passes through four weeks of the 2022 season.
Passing Fancy
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai ranks third among NCAA FBS players in passing offense (346.2 yards per game).
Boom!
The American Athletic Conference has three of the top four national leaders in punting average. Memphis P Joe Doyle leads the nation at 47.8 yards per punt, Houston P Laine Wilkins is second at 47.7, and Cincinnati P Mason Fletcher is third at 47.4.
Catching On
SMU WR Rashee Rice leads all NCAA FBS players with 565 receiving yards and 141.2 receiving yards per game in 2022.
At A Loss
Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr. is the national leader in tackles for loss at 2.8 per game. Pace has 11.0 tackles for loss in four games.
One And Only …
Cincinnati finished the 2021 regular season as the nation’s only unbeaten team (13-0). The Bearcats’ only loss in 2021 came to Alabama in the CFP Semifinals.
… But Not The Only One
The American Athletic Conference has had an undefeated team entering Bowl Season in four of the last five seasons (UCF in 2017 and 2018; Cincinnati in 2020 and 2021).
TALKING POINTS
UCF
3-1, 0-0 American
@UCF_Football
Last: Defeated Georgia Tech, 27-10
Next: Oct. 1 at SMU (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 482.5 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………….313.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ……………………….34.3 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….13.5 …………………. 2nd
• QB John Rhys Plumlee rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown in the win against Georgia Tech.
• Plumlee leads The American in rushing, and is first among all NCAA FBS quarterbacks, at 101.0 yards per game. He has three 100-yard games in the Knights’ first four contests.
• The Knights scored 27 points with only one offensive touchdown in the win against Georgia Tech. UCF scored a special teams touchdown
and had four field goals against the Yellow Jackets.
• DL Tre’Mon Morris-Brash had 104 yards on a pair of fumble recoveries against Georgia Tech.
• UCF has not allowed more than 20 points in any of its first four games this season.
CINCINNATI
3-1, 0-0 American
@BearcatsFB
Last: Defeated Indiana, 45-24
Next: Oct. 1 at Tulsa (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….458.8 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………….307.8 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………. 42.5 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………… 20.5 …………………..5th
• QB Ben Bryant passed for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the win against Indiana. Bryant had 314 yards and all four TDs in the first half.
• Cincinnati has won 29 consecutive games at Nippert Stadium. Only Clemson (33) has a longer active home field winning streak.
• WR Tyler Scott had 10 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns — all career highs — in the win against Indiana. He became the first player in program history with three touchdown catches in a half.
• LB Ivan Pace had 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks against the Hoosiers.
• Indiana ran 104 offensive plays against Cincinnati, but the Bearcats held the Hoosiers to 3.3 yards per play.
EAST CAROLINA
2-2, 0-1 American
@ECUPiratesFB
Last: Lost to Navy, 23-20 (2ot)
Next: Oct. 1 at South Florida (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….464.0 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………… 345.0 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ……………………….32.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………….18.8 …………………..4th
• QB Holton Ahlers passed for 267 yards and two touchdowns, setting The American’s career total offense record, but it wasn’t enough to get
past Navy in the Pirates’ conference opener.
• Ahlers finished the game with 12,622 total yards, surpassing The American’s previous mark of 12,418 yards set by former Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder.
• East Carolina’s two losses are by a combined four points. The Pirates’ two wins are by an average of 28.5 points.
• WR Isaiah Winstead had 11 receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown against Navy.
• RB Keaton Mitchell, The American’s leading rusher entering the game against
HOUSTON
2-2, 0-0 American
@UHCougarFB
Last: Defeated Rice, 34-27
Next: Sept. 30 at Tulane (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 392.5 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………… 443.3 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ……………………….32.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ………………………35.8 ………………….11th
• Houston scored the tying field goal with 5:18 left and got the go-ahead points on a defensive touchdown with 3:34 to play to rally past Rice
in the Bayou Bucket Classic.
• QB Clayton Tune passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns against the Owls.
• WR Nathaniel Dell had seven catches for 134 yards and a touchdown for his eighth career 100-yard game.
• DE D’Anthony Jones had two sacks and two forced fumbles against Rice, including a sack on the decisive takeaway in the fourth quarter.
• RB Ta’Zhawn Henry rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against Rice.
MEMPHIS
3-1, 1-0 American
@TigersAthletics
Last: Defeated North Texas, 44-34
Next: Oct. 1 vs. Temple (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..419.8 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense…………………………426.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..37.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ………………………32.0 …………………..9th
• Memphis scored two defensive touchdowns in the win against North Texas.
• LB Xavier Cullens had eight tackles, a fumble recovery and a touchdown on an interception return against the Mean Green.
• QB Seth Henigan was limited to 141 passing yards, but had two touchdown passes in the win.
• Memphis has forced at least one turnover in nine consecutive games, dating to last season.
• Memphis is 13-2 at home since the start of the 2020 season. The Tigers have won 24 of their last 25 nonconference home games.
NAVY
1-2, 1-1 American
@NavyAthletics
Last: Won at East Carolina, 23-20 (2ot)
Next: Oct. 1 at Air Force (CBS)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..325.3 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………… 359.3 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………..14.3 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ……………………….23.7 …………………..6th
• K Daniel Davies, who had not attempted a field goal or a PAT in his career, hit three field goals, including two in overtime, in the win at East Carolina.
• RB Vincent Terrell II had three receptions for a career-high 114 yards and a touchdown against the Pirates.
• Navy improved to 5-0 all-time against East Carolina in Greenville.
• LB John Marshall ranks third in The American with 9.3 tackles per game.
• QB Tai Lavatai completed 7 of 10 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown against the Pirates.
SOUTH FLORIDA
1-3, 0-0 American
@USFFootball
Last: Lost at Louisville, 41-3
Next: Oct. 1 vs. East Carolina (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..319.3 …………………10th
Total Defense………………………… 465.5 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 23.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 35.5 …………………10th
• South Florida was limited to 48 rushing yards and 158 total yards in the loss at Louisville.
• The Bulls were on the short end of a 30-11 margin in first downs against the Cardinals.
• LB Antonio Grier had eight tackles for the Bulls before leaving the game in the second half with an injury.
• QB Gerry Bohanon was 9-of-17 for 62 yards and was intercepted twice against the Cardinals. QB Katravis Marsh went 4-for-11 for 48 yards.
• The Bulls open American Athletic Conference play Saturday at East Carolina. South Florida looks to snap a 15-game losing streak in road games.
SMU
2-2, 0-0 American
@SMU_Football
Last: Lost to TCU, 42-34
Next: Oct. 1 at UCF (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….506.3 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense…………………………400.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….38.5 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ……………………….25.5 ………………….. 7th
• QB Tanner Mordecai passed for 372 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted twice in the loss to TCU.
• WR Jake Bailey had eight receptions for a career-high 163 yards with a touchdown against the Horned Frogs.
• The Mustangs have had a 100-yard receiver in all four games this season.
• Mordecai moved into third place on SMU’s career touchdown passes chart (51). He is 20 TDs shy of Ben Hicks’ school record of 71, set from 2016-18.
• SMU registered five sacks and nine tackles for loss against TCU. Nelson Paul had a career-high 3.0 sacks.
TEMPLE
2-2, 0-0 American
@Temple_FB
Last: Defeated Massachusetts, 28-0
Next: Oct. 1 at Memphis (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..279.3 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………….267.5 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ………………………..18.0 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ……………………….15.0 …………………..3rd
• WR Adonicas Sanders had four receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown to lead the Owls’ offense in the win against Massachusetts.
• The Owls registered their first shutout since a 31-0 victory against Tulane Nov. 19, 2016.
• Temple has not allowed an offensive touchdown in its last two games.
• QB Quincy Patterson had a team-high 52 rushing yards with a touchdown against UMass. QB E.J. Warner passed for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
• LB Layton Jordan scored a touchdown on a 41-yard interception return against the Minutemen.
TULANE
3-1, 0-0 American
@GreenWaveFB
Last: Lost to Southern Miss, 27-24
Next: Sept. 30 vs. Houston (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 428.5 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………… 228.8 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.8 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………. 11.8 ……………………1st
• Tulane built an early 14-0 lead, but managed only 10 points the rest of the way in its first loss of the 2022 season.
• RB Tyjae Spears rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns against Southern Miss. Spears was also the Green Wave’s leading receiver with five receptions for 74 yards.
• Tulane had a 26-13 advantage in first downs and a 451-253 margin in total offense against Southern Miss.
• Tulane’s defense has not been assessed a penalty on 278 plays by opposing offenses in 2022.
• Spears registered his seventh career 100-yard game and his first of the season.
TULSA
2-2, 0-0 American
@TulsaFootball
Last: Lost to Ole Miss, 35-27
Next: Oct. 1 vs. Cincinnati (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..507.0 ……………………1st
Total Defense…………………………385.3 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ……………………….39.0 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.8 …………………..8th
• Tulsa had a 14-7 lead after the first quarter against No. 16/13 Ole Miss, but the Golden Hurricane fell on the road.
• Tulsa trailed 35-14 at halftime, but outscored the Rebels 10-0 in the second half to close within eight.
• QB Davis Brin, who entered the game as the nation’s leading passer, completed 7-of-13 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an injury in the second quarter.
• Tulsa ranks fourth nationally in passing offense at 358.5 yards per game.
• WR Isaiah Epps had four receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns against Ole Miss.
