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 | 9-0 (7-0) | at North Texas | W, 14-3 | — OFF — |
| Charlotte | 3-6 (2-3) | — OFF — | — | vs USF |
| ECU | 5-4 (3-2) | vs FAU | W, 49-14 | at Tulsa |
| FAU | 2-7 (0-5) | at ECU | L, 49-14 | at Temple |
| Memphis | 8-2 (4-2) | vs Rice | W, 27-20 | vs UAB |
| Navy | 7-2 (5-1) | at USF | W, 28-7 | vs Tulane |
| North Texas | 5-4 (2-3) | vs Army | L, 14-3 | at UTSA |
| Rice | 3-7 (2-5) | at Memphis | L, 27-20 | — OFF — |
| Temple | 2-7 (1-4) | at Tulane | L, 52-6 | vs FAU |
| Tulane | 8-2 (6-0) | vs Temple | W, 52-6 | at Navy |
| Tulsa | 3-6 (1-4) | — OFF — | — | vs ECU |
| UAB | 2-7 (1-4) | vs UConn | L, 31-28 | at Memphis |
| USF | 4-5 (2-3) | vs Navy | L, 28-7 | at Charlotte |
| UTSA | 4-5 (2-3) | — OFF — | — | vs North Texas |
Notable Results and Storylines // (Standings)
Home for Christmas
Four AAC teams saw their hopes of postseason play die this weekend. Rice, Florida Atlantic, Temple and UAB each picked up loss number seven, eliminating them from traditional forms of bowl eligibility. Rice has gone bowling as a 5-win team in recent memory, but even if that scenario were still on the table, this isn’t the kind of season any of these programs envisioned and as a result, Rice has already made a head coaching change. Could any of these others follow suit?
Not done yet
East Carolina didn’t get the memo their season was over. Despite firing head coach Mike Houston ECU in mid-October, the Pirates are one win away from bowl eligibility after obliterating Florida Atlantic at home this week as quarterback Katin Houser threw for 343 yards and accounted for five touchdowns. Interim head coach Blake Harrell improved to 2-0.
You can’t stop the troops
Owners of the nation’s longest winning streak, Army has won 13 in a row and is one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the nation. They topped North Texas on Saturday in a game that included a jaw-dropping 21-play, 13:54 minute touchdown drive. When The Black Knights are rolling, they’re hard to stop.
Looking ahead – Key storylines
AAC Game of the Year?
One of the unintended consequences of large conferences without divisions was the uneven scheduling that we’re just now starting to see. Add in the unique circumstances surrounding the Army/Navy Game and you get a regular season devoid of many marquee matchups between the top teams, until next Saturday at least when 5-1 Navy hosts 6-0 Tulane, essentially for a spot in the conference championship game against Army. This one will be appointment viewing.
Last chance
South Florida and UTSA need to win two of their final three games to reach the postseason. That task looks easier, on paper, for USF which doesn’t play a team with a winning record for the remainder of the year. UTSA hosts Temple, but also draws North Texas and Army. Both programs would rather have a win this weekend to make that dream more plausible.
For last place
There’s a heated battle for the bottom spot in the league standings, but it’s entirely possible Florida Atlantic can take pole position with one more loss next weekend against fellow cellar dweller Temple. FAU currently holds the bottom spot and is the only AAC team without a conference win. If they can’t get it done against Temple it’s hard to envision any more wins coming.
