WEEK 12 IN THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Memphis at Houston *
Time: 9 p.m.
Series: Houston leads, 15-14
Last Meeting: Dec. 12, 2020 (Memphis, 30-27)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20
South Florida at Tulane *
Time: Noon
Series: UCF leads, 8-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 6, 2018 (UCF, 48-20)
SMU at Cincinnati *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Cincinnati leads, 4-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 24, 2020 (Cincinnati, 42-13)
East Carolina at Navy *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Navy leads, 7-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2018 (Navy, 27-23)
UConn at UCF
Time: 4 p.m
Series: UCF leads, 5-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 28, 2019 (UCF, 56-21)
Temple at Tulsa *
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: Temple leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 20, 2018 (Temple, 31-17)
AMERICAN NOTEBOOK
One Down …
Houston became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2021 American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The Cougars stand at 7-0 in conference play with one league game remaining (Nov. 19 vs. Memphis). Houston last played in the championship game in 2015, when the Cougars defeated Temple for the title.
… One To Go
Cincinnati needs one win in its final two games (Nov. 20 vs. SMU, Nov. 26 at East Carolina) to clinch a spot in The American Championship Game for the third consecutive season.
Elite Company
Cincinnati (10-0) is one of three undefeated teams nationally, joining UTSA and Georgia.
Defend This House
Cincinnati enters Week 12 with the second-longest home field winning streak nationally as the Bearcats have won 25 straight at Nippert Stadium, trailing only Clemson (33).
Active Home Winning Streaks
33 Clemson
25 Cincinnati
18 Oregon
High Point
Cincinnati was ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll for four consecutive weeks, marking the highest ranking by an American Athletic Conference team in the league’s nine-year history.
Highest AP Ranks by American Athletic Conference Teams
No. 2 Cincinnati Oct. 17-Nov. 7, 2021
No. 3 Cincinnati Oct. 10, Nov. 14, 2021
No. 5 Cincinnati Oct. 3, 2021
No. 6 Houston Sept. 6-Oct. 2, 2016
UCF Final 2017
Cincinnati Nov. 1, Dec. 13-20, 2020
On A Roll
Cincinnati is 42-5 since the start of the 2018 season. SMU is 26-7 since the start of the 2019 campaign.
Bullies
Cincinnati has won 36 consecutive games against unranked teams.
Consistency
Cincinnati has been ranked in 38 consecutive national polls, dating to the rankings of Oct. 6, 2019.
Variety Show
Nine of the 11 American Athletic Conference schools have been ranked in the top 25 since the 2018 season.
Rejection Letters
East Carolina CB Ja’Quan McMillian enters Week 12 as the NCAA FBS leader in passes defended (2.0 per game).
Point Production
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai has 37 touchdown passes through 10 games. Mordecai has 15 more touchdown passes as any other American Athletic Conference player and is trails only Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe (42) for the national lead.
Ford’s Theater
Cincinnati RB Jerome Ford is third nationally with 15 rushing touchdowns.
Streaking
Houston has won nine games in a row for the first time since an 11-game winning streak between Jan. 2-Nov. 14, 2015.
Murderers’ Row
Navy has played the toughest schedule nationally according to the NCAA’s strength-of-schedule rating. South Florida’s schedule is fourth nationally, while Tulane’s is ranked seventh.
Rejection
Cincinnati leads the nation in pass efficiency defense (95.20).
Keeping Up With Jones
Houston CB Marcus Jones, who was the 2020 American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, is the national leader in both four special teams touchdowns. Jones has two TDs on kickoff returns and two on punt returns.
TALKING POINTS
UCF
6-4, 4-3 American
@UCF_Football
Last: Lost at SMU, 55-28
Next: Nov. 20 vs. UConn (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..397.4 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense…………………………380.2 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ……………………….32.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ………………………. 27.2 …………………..5th
• RB Mark-Antony Richards had career highs with 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but the Knights couldn’t keep pace with SMU.
• QB Mikey Keene went 18-for-35 for 174 yards and a touchdown against the Mustangs.
• The Knights allowed a season-high 631 yards to SMU.
• WR Jaylon Robinson had two receptions for 50 yards in his first game back in the lineup. Robinson had missed five games due to injury.
• Keene is one of four true freshmen in the American Athletic Conference who started at quarterback last week, along with Memphis’ Seth Henigan, South Florida’s Timmy McClain and Temple’s Justin Lynch.
CINCINNATI
10-0, 6-0 American
@BearcatsFB
Last: Won at South Florida, 45-28
Next: Nov. 20 vs. SMU (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..418.9 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………….315.8 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ……………………….39.2 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….16.2 ……………………1st
• QB Desmond Ridder threw for a season-high 304 yards and became Cincinnati’s career leader in touchdown passes (79) in the win at South Florida.
• Ridder needs one touchdown pass to tie former Tulsa QB Dane Evans (2014-16) for second on the American Athletic Conference career chart.
• Cincinnati has won its last 25 home games and has the second-longest homefield winning streak nationally (Clemson, 31).
• Cincinnati is 42-5 since the start of the 2018 season. The Bearcats are 23-1 all-time as a top-10 team.
• The Bearcats have won 13 straight games against American Athletic Conference opponents.
EAST CAROLINA
6-4, 4-2 American
@ECUPiratesFB
Last: Won at Memphis, 30-29 (ot)
Next: Nov. 20 at Navy (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 435.3 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………….390.7 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ……………………….30.5 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 24.5 …………………..3rd
• QB Holton Ahlers threw for 313 yards and WR Tyler Snead had 13 receptions for 113 yards in the Pirates’ overtime win at Memphis.
• East Carolina picked up its sixth win of the season against Memphis, making the Pirates bowl eligible for the first time since the 2014 season.
• East Carolina had a 502-341 advantage in total yards and a 32-15 margin in first downs against Memphis. The Pirates had possession for 42:47.
• CB Ja’Quan McMillian had his fifth interception of the season against Memphis, giving him the most interceptions by an East Carolina player since 2014.
• The Pirates take a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s game at Navy.
HOUSTON
9-1, 7-0 American
@UHCougarFB
Last: Won at Temple, 37-8
Next: Nov. 19 vs. Memphis (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………411.9 …………………..6th
Total Defense………………………… 290.5 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ……………………….38.9 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ………………………20.8 …………………. 2nd
• Houston clinched a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game with its win against Temple.
• QB Clayton Tune went 20-for-33 for 210 yards and two touchdowns against the Owls.
• Tune has gone 110-for-161 for 1,464 yards and 14 touchdowns without an interception in Houston’s last five games.
• Houston has outscored its opponents 123-38 in the first quarter this season.
• Houston has forced at least one turnover in all 10 games this season.
• The Cougars have won nine games for the sixth time in program history and the first time since the 2015 season
MEMPHIS
5-5, 2-4 American
@TigersAthletics
Last: Lost to East Carolina, 30-29 (ot)
Next: Nov. 19 at Houston (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….450.9 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense………………………….410.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..31.5 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 29.2 ………………….. 7th
• QB Seth Henigan threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns in the overtime loss to East Carolina.
• The Tigers forced overtime against East Carolina on a 24-yard field goal by K David Kemp as time expired in regulation.
• WR Calvin Austin had two receptions for 37 yards against East Carolina and became the seventh Memphis player in program history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season (1,026).
• Austin is the third player in program history with back-to-back 1,000-receiving-yard seasons.
• DL Wardalis Ducksworth registered eight tackles with 2.5 sacks against the Pirates.
NAVY
2-7, 2-4 American
@NavyAthletics
Last: Lost at Notre Dame, 34-6
Next: Nov. 20 vs, East Carolina (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 270.7 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………… 356.2 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ………………………..16.8 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ………………………30.4 ………………….. 7th
• FB Isaac Ruoss rushed for 73 yards on 22 carries to lead the Midshipmen in the loss at No. 8 Notre Dame.
• The Midshipmen held a 3-0 lead after the first quarter against Notre Dame, but the Fighting Irish closed the game with 17 unanswered points to pull away.
• Navy has faced four opponents that were ranked in last week’s top 25 poll (Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Houston, SMU).
• Navy had 166 of its 184 total yards on the ground against Notre Dame. The Midshipmen completed 1 of 3 passes for 18 yards.
• QB Tai Lavatai suffered an upper body injury against Notre Dame in the first half and did not return.
SOUTH FLORIDA
2-8, 1-5 American
@USFFootball
Last: Lost to Cincinnati, 45-28
Next: Nov. 20 at South Florida (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….360.5 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………….488.1 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………..25.1 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 35.4 …………………..9th
• QB Timmy McClain threw for 245 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing TD in the loss to No. 2 Cincinnati.
• WR Jimmy Horn Jr. had five receptions for 108 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown, against the Bearcats.
• RB Jaren Mangham had 53 rushing yards to go with his 14th and 15th rushing touchdowns of the season against the Bearcats.
• The Bulls trailed Cincinnati 31-7 in the third quarter, but were able to close within 10 points in the fourth.
• LB Antonio Grier had 14 tackles, including 13 solo stops, against the Bearcats.
SMU
8-2, 4-2 American
@SMU_Football
Last: Beat UCF, 55-28
Next: Nov. 20 at Cincinnati (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..498.7 ……………………1st
Total Defense………………………….405.7 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ………………………..41.6 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.9 …………………..4th
• QB Tanner Mordecai threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns in the win against UCF.
• Mordecai has a school-record 37 touchdown passes this season, breaking Shane Buechele’s single-season mark set last season. Mordecai needs one touchdown pass to tie the American Athletic Conference single-game record of 38, set by Memphis’ Riley Ferguson in 2017.
• Mordecai has thrown at least two touchdown passes in all 10 games this season.
• The Mustangs had season highs of seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss against UCF.
• SMU set a school record with 36 first downs against the Knights. The Mustangs’ 631 total yards against UCF ranks eighth on the program’s single-game chart.
TEMPLE
3-7, 1-5 American
@Temple_FB
Last: Lost to Houston, 37-8
Next: Nov. 20 at Tulsa (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 297.4 …………………10th
Total Defense………………………….397.9 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense …………………………17.2 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ………………………36.8 ………………….11th
• Temple was kept off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter for the third straight game in the loss to Houston.
• The Owls have dropped their last five contests.
• Temple was held to 218 yards and 10 first downs against the Cougars.
• QB Justin Lynch went 11-for-24 for 119 yards and was Temple’s leading rusher with 78 yards on 14 carries against the Cougars.
• S M.J. Griffin had a sack, two tackles for loss and a team-high nine tackles for the Owls against Houston.
• DT Darian Varner registered two sacks against the Cougars. The Owls had three sacks and 12 tackles for loss against Houston.
TULANE
1-9, 0-6 American
@GreenWaveFB
Last: Lost to Tulsa, 20-13 (ot)
Next: Nov. 20 vs. South Florida (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….368.5 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………….446.7 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 25.8 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….36.1 …………………10th
• Tulane erased a 13-3 lead in the final three minutes to force overtime, but the Green Wave fell to Tulsa in OT for the second consecutive season.
• RB Tyjae Spears rushed for a game-high 104 yards on 14 carries against Tulsa.
• The Green Wave forced a season-high four turnovers, all in the second half, against Tulsa.
• Tulane has recovered four onside kicks this season.
• QB Michael Pratt has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 18 of his 19 career games.
• P Ryan Wright averaged 49.8 yards on eight punts against Tulsa and hit two punts of more than 60 yards.
TULSA
4-6, 3-3 American
@TulsaFootball
Last: Won at Tulane, 20-13 (ot)
Next: Nov. 20 vs. Temple (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….434.9 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….387.6 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 23.5 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ………………………28.8 …………………..6th
• RB Shamari Brooks’ 15-yard touchdown in the first overtime period held up as the game-winner as Tulsa took a wild win at Tulane.
• Tulsa held a 13-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation only to see Tulane tie the game and have a would-be game-winning field goal miss in the closing seconds.
• Tulsa had limited Tulane to 139 yards of offense on the Green Wave’s first 12 possessions before allowing 169 yards on the final four drives.
• Tulsa is 6-1 in overtime games under coach Philip Montgomery.
• Tulane’s 13 points were the fewest by a Tulsa opponent since the Golden Hurricane held Central Michigan to 10 points in the 2016 Miami Beach Bowl.
