AAC Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 8.
| Team | Record | This Week | Result | Up Next |
| Charlotte | 2-5 (1-2) | at ECU | W, 10-7 | — BYE — |
| ECU | 1-6 (0-3) | vs Charlotte | L, 10-7 | at UTSA |
| FAU | 3-4 (2-1) | vs UTSA | L, 36-10 | — BYE — |
| Memphis | 5-2 (2-1) | at UAB | W, 45-21 | at North Texas |
| Navy | 3-4 (2-3) | vs Air Force | L, 17-6 | — BYE — |
| North Texas | 3-4 (1-2) | at Tulane | L, 35-28 | vs Memphis |
| Rice | 4-3 (2-1) | at Tulsa | W, 42-10 | vs Tulane |
| SMU | 5-2 (3-0) | at Temple | W, 55-0 | vs Tulsa |
| Temple | 2-6 (0-4) | vs SMU | L, 55-0 | — BYE — |
| Tulane | 6-1 (3-0) | vs North Texas | W, 45-21 | at Rice |
| Tulsa | 3-4 (1-2) | vs Rice | L, 41-10 | at SMU |
| UAB | 2-6 (1-3) | vs Memphis | L, 45-21 | — BYE — |
| USF | 4-4 (2-2) | at UConn | W, 24-21 | — BYE — |
| UTSA | 4-3 (3-0) | at FAU | W, 36-10 | vs ECU |
Notable Results (Standings)
Blowouts
If you’re a fan of close games, Week 8 was not for you. SMU walloped Temple by 55, Rice topped Tulsa by 32, UTSA bested FAU by 26 and Memphis beat UAB by 24. Three of those teams (SMU, UTSA and Memphis) were expected be among the best squads in the AAC entering the season. Rice is either an outlier or a team on the rise. We might know more next week.
Somebody had to win?
On the other end of the spectrum, ECU and Charlotte played in a nearly unwatched football game with hopes of avoiding the bottom of the standings (now held by 0-4 Temple). The two teams combined to pass for 232 yards and convert 5-of-29 (17 percent of their third downs). The winning team, Charlotte, committed nine penalties for 90 yards. Gross.
Husky measuring stick
Former AAC member UConn has now played a pair of current AAC teams. They edged out Rice a few weeks ago thanks to very favorable turnover luck before falling to USF, who beat Rice earlier in the year. Perhaps UConn has become a proxy measuring stick for where these current AAC teams rank, but its hard to tell for sure.
Looking ahead – Key storylines
Tulane v Rice
Tulane has looked remarkably underwhelming when compared to the lofty standards they established for themselves last season. They snuck past a mediocre North Texas team this week and had their hands full with UAB two weeks before that. Rice has been erratic all season, but if the good Owls show up on Saturday, things could get interesting if the Green Wave come out lethargic again.
North Texas v Memphis
The other alternative: it’s possible the Tulane malaise could be credited toward a Mean Green resurgence. North Texas has admittedly looked more composed in recent weeks, but the schedule isn’t getting easier. They will draw a talented Memphis team next weekend. If they can tango with the Tigers it might be possible to start contemplating a possible bowl berth in Denton this year.
Time for a break
Six AAC teams are on bye in Week 9, setting up a rather quiet slate apart from the aforementioned set of games. ECU vs UTSA and SMU vs Tulsa don’t promise to be very entertaining, so there’s a lot riding on the Owls and the Mean Green to give us some good football games next weekend.
