THIS WEEK IN THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26
South Florida at UCF *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Tied, 6-6
Last Meeting: Nov. 27, 2020 (UCF, 58-46)
Cincinnati at East Carolina *
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: East Carolina leads, 13-11
Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2020 (Cincinnati, 55-17)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Houston at UConn
Time: Noon
Series: Houston leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 19, 2019 (Houston, 24-17)
Navy at Temple *
Time: Noon
Series: Temple leads, 8-7
Last Meeting: Oct. 10, 2020 (Navy, 31-29)
Tulsa at SMU *
Time: 4 p.m.
Series: SMU leads, 15-12
Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2020 (Tulsa, 28-24)
Tulane at Memphis *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Memphis leads, 23-13-1
Last Meeting: Dec. 5, 2020 (Tulane, 35-21)
Houston and Cincinnati have clinched the two spots in the American Athletic Conference Football Championship, which will take place Saturday, Dec. 4, at the home stadium at one of those teams. The site will be determined based on Cincinnati’s result against East Carolina Friday in the Bearcats’ regular-season finale.
Familiar Territory
Cincinnati will make its third consecutive appearance in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The Bearcats fell to Memphis in the 2019 game and defeated Tulsa in the 2020 game. Houston will make its second appearance in The American Championship after the Cougars won the inaugural title game in 2015.
Elite Company
Cincinnati (11-0) is one of three undefeated teams nationally, joining UTSA and Georgia.
Defend This House
Cincinnati enters Week 13 with the second-longest home field winning streak nationally as the Bearcats have won 26 straight at Nippert Stadium, trailing only Clemson (34).
Active Home Winning Streaks
34 Clemson
26 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 43-5 since the start of the 2018 season. SMU is 26-8 since the start of the 2019 campaign.
Bullies
Cincinnati has won 37 consecutive games against unranked teams.
Consistency
Cincinnati has been ranked in 39 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 13 as the NCAA FBS leader in passes defended (1.8 per game).
Point Production
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai has 38 touchdown passes through 10 games. Mordecai has 13 more touchdown passes as any other American Athletic Conference player and is trails only Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe (48) for the national lead.
Streaking
Houston has won 10 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. Tulane’s schedule is ranked No. 8 nationally, while South Florida’s is No. 13.
Rejection
Cincinnati leads the nation in pass efficiency defense (94.92).
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
7-4, 4-3 American
@UCF_Football
Last: Beat UConn, 49-17
Next: Nov. 26 vs. South Florida (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………410.1 ………………….. 7th
Total Defense………………………….373.9 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.5 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ………………………26.3 …………………..4th
• QB Mikey Keene threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the win against UConn.
• RB Johnny Richardson rushed for a career-high 147 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries against the Huskies. Richardson was one of seven different UCF players to score a touchdown against UConn.
• WR Brandon Johnson had seven receptions for a career-high 125 yards and his American Athletic Conference-leading 10th touchdown catch against the Huskies.
• The Knights have scored on their first offensive possession six times in 11 games this season.
• UCF registered five sacks and had three interceptions against UConn.
CINCINNATI
11-0, 7-0 American
@BearcatsFB
Last: Beat SMU, 48-14
Next: Nov. 26 at East Carolina (ABC)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..430.1 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………… 305.2 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ……………………….40.0 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ……………………….16.0 ……………………1st
• QB Desmond Ridder figured in five touchdowns (three passing, one rushing, on receiving) in the win against SMU, clinching the Bearcats’ appearance in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
• Cincinnati has reached The American Championship Game for the third consecutive season. The location of the game will be determined based on Cincinnati’s result at East Carolina.
• Cincinnati has won its last 26 home games and has the second-longest homefield winning streak nationally (Clemson, 31).
• Cincinnati is 43-5 since the start of the 2018 season. The Bearcats are 24-1 all-time as a top-10 team.
• The Bearcats have won 14 straight games against American Athletic Conference opponents.
EAST CAROLINA
7-4, 5-2 American
@ECUPiratesFB
Last: Won at Navy, 38-35
Next: Nov. 26 vs. Cincinnati (ABC)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….. 447.5 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense…………………………390.3 …………………..6th
Scoring Offense ………………………..31.2 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ……………………….25.5 …………………..3rd
• K Owen Daffer hit a 54-yard field goal as time expired to give East Carolina the win at Navy. Daffer had three field goals and scored 12 points against the Midshipmen.
• QB Holton Ahlers went 27-for-32 for 405 yards and three touchdowns against Navy. Ahlers had 48 rushing yards to finish with 453 yards of total offense.
• WR Tyler Snead had five receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns against Navy.
• Ahlers ranks fourth on the American Athletic Conference’s total offense chart with 11,280 total yards.
• The Pirates have clinched their first winning season since 2014.
HOUSTON
10-1, 8-0 American
@UHCougarFB
Last: Beat Memphis, 35-13
Next: Nov. 27 at UConn (CBSSN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..416.5 …………………..6th
Total Defense…………………………294.0 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense ……………………….34.6 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ……………………….19.5 …………………. 2nd
• QB Clayton Tune threw for 264 yards and had rushing and passing touchdowns, while CB Marcus Jones had two interceptions in the win against Memphis.
• Houston became the fourth team in American Athletic Conference history to finish 8-0 in conference games, joining UCF’s 2013, 2017 and 2018 teams.
• The Cougars have registered their ninth 10-win season in program history and their first since 2015.
• Houston went 6-0 at TDECU Stadium this season, going unbeaten at home for the first time since 2016.
• The Cougars’ eight-game conference winning streak is Houston’s longest since a 10-game stretch from 2011-12, when Houston was in Conference USA.
MEMPHIS
5-6, 2-5 American
@TigersAthletics
Last: Lost at Houston, 35-13
Next: Nov. 27 vs. Tulane (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….439.8 …………………..4th
Total Defense………………………….415.0 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ……………………….29.8 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 29.4 ………………….. 7th
• WR Calvin Austin III had five receptions for 103 yards, but it wasn’t enough to push Memphis past Houston.
• Austin registered his sixth 100-yard game of the season and stands fifth on the Tigers’ single-season chart with 1,129 receiving yards.
• QB Seth Henigan went 21-for-45 for 208 yards and a touchdown, giving him 22 TD passes in his freshman season.
• LB JJ Russell had nine tackles and his first career interception against the Cougars.
• The Tigers will need a win against Tulane in the regular-season finale to secure bowl eligibility for the seventh consecutive season.
NAVY
2-8, 2-5 American
@NavyAthletics
Last: Lost to East Carolina, 38-35
Next: Nov. 27 at Temple (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..281.8 ………………….11th
Total Defense………………………….376.9 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ………………………..18.6 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ……………………….31.2 …………………..8th
• Navy had two scoring plays of 90 or more yards in the same game for the first time in program history, but the Midshipmen were undone by a field goal as time expired against East Carolina.
• RB Carlinos Acie rushed for a career-high 155 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown against East Carolina. Acie’s total was the highest by a Navy slotback since Shun White had a schoolrecord 348 yards against Towson in 2008.
• RB Maquel Haywood scored on a 98-yard kickoff return, giving Navy its first touchdown on a kickoff return since 2012.
• QB Tai Lavatai threw two touchdown passes against East Carolina and completed all four of his pass attempts.
• Navy finishes conference play at Temple Saturday before playing the annual Army-Navy game Dec. 11.
SOUTH FLORIDA
2-9, 1-6 American
@USFFootball
Last: Lost at Tulane, 45-14
Next: Nov. 26 at UCF (ESPN)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..353.5 …………………..9th
Total Defense…………………………489.3 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………..24.1 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ………………………36.3 …………………10th
• South Florida scored on its opening possession, but was kept off the scoreboard again until late in the fourth quarter against Tulane.
• QB Timmy McClain was 15-of-27 for 132 yards and was intercepted once against the Green Wave.
• RB Kelley Joiner Jr. rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against Tulane.
• CB Christian Williams registered his second interception of the season against the Green Wave.
• S Mekhi LaPointe finished with a game-high seven tackles against Tulane.
SMU
8-3, 4-3 American
@SMU_Football
Last: Lost at Cincinnati, 48-14
Next: Nov. 27 vs. Tulsa (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………471.5 ……………………1st
Total Defense…………………………..419.1 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..39.1 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.9 …………………..6th
• SMU was held to season lows of 199 yards and 14 points in the loss to Cincinnati.
• QB Tanner Mordecai has a school-record 38 touchdown passes this season, tying the American Athletic Conference single-game record of 38, set by Memphis’ Riley Ferguson in 2017.
• Mordecai had thrown at least two touchdown passes in SMU’s first 10 games before being held to 66 yards and one TD against the Bearcats.
• SMU has won at least eight games in two of the last three seasons.
• The Mustangs close the regular season at home against Tulsa. SMU is 14-1 at Ford Stadium since the start of the 2019 season.
TEMPLE
3-8, 1-6 American
@Temple_FB
Last: Lost at Tulsa, 44-10
Next: Nov. 27 vs. Navy (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….296.8 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………408.3 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ………………………..16.5 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ……………………….37.5 ………………….11th
• Temple was kept off the scoreboard in the first half for the fourth straight game in the loss to Tulsa.
• The Owls have dropped their last six contests.
• Temple was held to 293 yards against the Golden Hurricane.
• QB Justin Lynch went 22-for-37 for 162 yards against Tulsa.
• S Amir Tyler had a team-high nine tackles against Tulsa.
• The Owls close the 2021 season at Navy.
TULANE
2-9, 1-6 American
@GreenWaveFB
Last: Beat South Florida, 45-14
Next: Nov. 27 at Memphis (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….380.5 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………….433.1 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ………………………..27.5 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Defense ……………………….34.1 …………………..9th
• QB Michael Pratt threw for a career-high 311 yards and three touchdowns in the win against South Florida.
• Pratt became the first Tulane player to pass for 300 yards in a game since the 2018 season. He saw a streak of 128 consecutive passes without an interception end in the third quarter against the Bulls.
• RB Tyjae Spears rushed for a career-high 111 yards with two touchdowns on 13 carries against the Bulls.
• K Merek Glover finished the game against South Florida with 337 career points, passing Seth Marler atop Tulane’s career scoring chart.
• The Green Wave snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win against South Florida.
TULSA
5-6, 4-3 American
@TulsaFootball
Last: Beat Temple, 44-10)
Next: Nov. 27 at SMU (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 442.0 …………………..3rd
Total Defense…………………………. 378.1 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………..25.4 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ………………………..27.1 …………………..5th
• QB Davis Brin threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in the win against Temple.
• WR Josh Johnson had nine receptions for a career-high 159 yards and a touchdown against the Owls.
• Tulsa’s 44 points against Temple were the most by the Golden Hurricane in a game this season.
• LB Yohance Burnett had 10 tackles against Temple, registering his second career game with at least 10 stops.
• RB Shamari Brooks rushed for 55 yards on 11 carries, improving his career total to 3,546 rushing yards. Brooks moved into third place on Tulsa’s career rushing chart and passed Memphis’ Darrell Henderson for fifth on The American’s career list.
