American Conference 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTSA | 5-1 (2-0) | vs USF (THU) | W, 31-24 | vs Navy |
| Memphis | 5-1 (2-0) | vs UAB | W, 38-13 | at Tulane (FRI) |
| FAU | 4-1 (1-0) | — OFF — | — | at Army |
| North Texas | 4-2 (2-0) | vs Charlotte | W, 50-10 | — OFF — |
| ECU | 3-2 (1-0) | vs Rice | W, 28-12 | at UAB (THU) |
| Army | 3-2 (2-1) | vs Tulane | W, 20-17 | vs FAU |
| UAB | 3-3 (1-1) | at Memphis | L, 13-38 | vs ECU (THU) |
| Temple | 2-4 (1-1) | vs UConn | L, 20-34 | vs Charlotte |
| USF | 4-2 (1-2) | at UTSA (THU) | L, 24-31 | vs Kent State |
| Navy | 2-3 (1-2) | vs Tulsa | W, 34-26 | at UTSA |
| Tulane | 2-3 (0-1) | at Army | L, 17-20 | at Memphis (FRI) |
| Tulsa | 3-3 (0-2) | at Navy | L, 26-34 | at Rice |
| Rice | 1-5 (0-2) | at ECU | L, 12-28 | vs Tulsa |
| Charlotte | 0-6 (0-2) | at North Texas | L, 10-50 | at Temple |
Storylines // Standings // Preseason Poll
Hartline Gets Harangued
As conferences continue to morph and rosters recycle at a higher rate than ever before, rivalries and smack talk have taken a back seat. So when USF head coach Brian Hartline threw shade at UTSA’s fanbase this week, there were some stakes to the Bulls’ Thursday night trip to the Alamodome. That they left with a loss made the theatre all the more entertaining. Let the teams talk. It creates moments like we saw in San Antonio this week that endure well beyond the week in question.
Green Wave Gut Punch
Few first-year head coaches entered the season on thinner ice than Tulane’s Will Hall. The opening schedule was rigorous and a 2-2 start wasn’t all his doing. Losing at home to an Army team who’s defense has looked suspect for much of the season? That’s one that isn’t easily explained away and it only servers to up the pressure on a coach that hasn’t exactly impressed in the top seat during his career so far.
Memphis Pitches Second Half Shutout Against UAB
For about 30 minutes, UAB was hanging tough with Memphis. In fact, the Blazers led at halftime courtesy of a 57-yard field goal from Jonah Delange. Then the Tigers put their foot on the gas and never looked back. Memphis outscored UAB 28-0 after the break with a pair of touchdowns from quarterback Marcus Stokes. He’s settled in nicely at the helm of the Tigers’ offense.
Looking Ahead
Tulsa Goes All Option
For sometime, Navy was the oddity in the American Conference as the only team that ran an option offense. Then Army joined the league and Rice football turned to Scott Abell to implement a more unique gun-option scheme. The result? Tulsa plays three straight option offenses in the span of three weeks. The Golden Hurricane came up short on their first test. Can they fair better at Rice before they draw Army at home the following week?
Prime Time Pirates and Blazers
Both East Carolina and UAB have shown their flaws throughout the first half of the season. The Pirates’ offense has been hit or miss and the Blazers could stand to find some more consistency on offense. And yet, the winner of this game could be a sneaky conference championship contender if things break the right way. At the very least, this toss up game could help the winning team build some midseason momentum.
Tigers’ Statement Game?
Memphis does not play UTSA in the regular season. They don’t play North Texas, either. While they could meet either of those other 2-0 teams in the conference championship, they’re going to have to look elsewhere for signature wins. Tulane might not be what it once was, but it’s still a brand name in the league and would qualify as a notable road win. Memphis is rolling. They can’t afford to stub their toe here.