AAC Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron this week.
| Team | Record | This Week | Result | Up Next |
| Army | 8-0 (6-0) | vs Air Force | W, 20-3 | at North Texas |
| Charlotte | 3-6 (2-3) | vs Tulane | L, 34-3 | — OFF — |
| ECU | 4-4 (2-2) | — OFF — | — | vs FAU |
| FAU | 2-6 (0-4) | vs USF | L, 44-21 | at ECU |
| Memphis | 7-2 (3-2) | at UTSA | L, 44-36 | vs Rice |
| Navy | 6-2 (4-1) | at Rice | L, 24-10 | at USF |
| North Texas | 5-3 (2-2) | — OFF — | — | vs Army |
| Rice | 3-6 (2-4) | vs Navy | W, 24-10 | at Memphis |
| Temple | 2-6 (1-3) | — OFF — | — | at Tulane |
| Tulane | 7-2 (5-0) | at Charlotte | W, 34-3 | vs Temple |
| Tulsa | 3-6 (1-4) | at UAB | L, 59-21 | — OFF — |
| UAB | 2-6 (1-4) | vs Tulsa | W, 59-21 | vs UConn |
| USF | 4-4 (2-2) | at FAU | W, 44-21 | vs Navy |
| UTSA | 4-5 (2-3) | vs Memphis | W, 44-36 | — OFF — |
Notable Results and Storylines // (Standings)
How about the Owls?
Rice football was a double-digit underdog to a Navy team previously unbeaten in conference play. Led by an interim head coach following a lengthy five-hour rain delay, the Owls came out swinging. Rice took a 17-0 lead and held on to win 24-10. The win keeps bowl hopes alive for at least one more week with a trip to a struggling Memphis team on deck.
Memphis exposed
For a team picked to run through the AAC with ease in the preseason, the Memphis Tigers never quite looked the part. A 3-0 start with a win over Florida State led to a loss to Navy (who turned out to be pretty good) before a series of close games against North Texas and Charlotte. Memphis was good, but never the juggernaut they were made out to be. That’s probably why it wasn’t too surprising to see them felled by UTSA, who is in the midst of a disappointing season of their own.
Tulane and Army on a collision course
With Navy going down on Saturday there are two teams still unbeaten in league play: Tulane and Army. The Green Wave are right on schedule with their preseason expectations. The Black Knights continue to defy the odds assigned to them by those preseason prognosticators. If everything holds this might set up a thrilling AAC title game between two teams that don’t play in the regular season.
Looking ahead – Key storylines
Navy must keep sailing
All is not lost for the Midshipmen. Despite a disappointing result on Saturday, Navy does play Tulane in the regular season. If the Middies can hold serve against the rest of their schedule, they’ll have a chance to get back into the conference title race with a win over Tulane. The room for error got a lot smaller this week, though.
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
For other teams, the final nail in the coffin could be coming soon. Both Florida Atlantic and Charlotte will head into next weekend on the edge of bowl elimination with six losses on their ledger and many games still to play. However, the road gets much easier for both teams. It would take some fortune, but one of the running the table isn’t the most inconceivable notion. FAU plays ECU, Temple, Charlotte and Tulsa. Charlotte gets USF, FAU and UAB. The same goes for Rice who gets Memphis, UAB and USF.
Hope alive
One of the odd side effects of a top-heavy AAC in 2024 has been the elimination of the conference’s so-called “middle class”. There are the heavyweights and the cellar dwellers, but very few teams that will enter the final quarter of the season hovering around .500. East Carolina and South Florida each fit that bill. The 4-4 teams couldn’t have taken much different paths to their current state, but getting to six wins is within reach. That sure would be easier with a fifth win next week. ECU gets FAU. USF draws Navy.
