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How does Army to AAC impact Rice Football? October Q&A

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The American Conference is adding Army as a football-only member. What does that mean for Rice football?

On Tuesday morning, news broke that Army would be joining the American Conference as a football-only member. That is particularly notable for Rice football, given the Owls’ current non-conference scheduling. Rice is under contract to play Army in 2024 as a non-conference game which begs the question, what is happening with that game in light of these new developments?

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Given the nature of this news, a portion of this Q&A will be open to everyone this month, specifically the conference-wide updates AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco shared on Tuesday afternoon, a day which Aresco called “a great day for Army and the American Athletic Conference.”

On expansion, Aresco said the league “has no interest in expanding beyond 14” at this time and intends to stay put with its current 14 football members with eight conference games. Army and Navy will not be scheduled as regular season opponents and the annual Army-Navy game will remain a non-conference game the weekend following conference championship games as it currently is played.

Aresco deferred to Army Athletic Director Mike Buddie when asked for specifics on how Army would handle getting out of several game contracts to be available for a full conference schedule in 2024. As part of those plans, though, Aresco did say the conference would be providing financial support to Army to help facilitate that transition.

“We are going to help Army,” Aresco said, in response to a question regarding the AAC’s willingness to help Army get out of those contracts. Beyond that, Aresco declined to specify what size of a revenue share Army would be receiving. He was only willing to go as far as to say everyone was “happy with what we worked out.”

Due in part to some of these challenges, Army will not simply be slotted into the schedule in place of departing member SMU. That means future AAC schedules will have to be reworked. “You don’t just put Army in place of SMU,” Aresco said, adding that he anticipates a resolution on scheduling “within a month or so.”

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AAC Football 2023: Week 8 Roundup

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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.

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AAC Football 2023: Week 7 Roundup

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AAC Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 7.

Team Record  This Week Result Up Next
Charlotte 1-5 (o-2) vs Navy L, 14-0 at ECU
ECU 1-5 (0-2) vs SMU L, 31-10 vs Charlotte
FAU 3-3 (2-0) vs USF W, 56-14 vs UTSA
Memphis 4-2 (1-1) vs Tulane L, 31-21 at UAB
Navy 3-3 (2-2) at Charlotte W, 14-0 vs Air Force
North Texas 3-3 (1-1) vs Temple W, 45-14 at Tulane
Rice 3-3 (1-1)  —  — at Tulsa
SMU 4-2 (2-0) at ECU W, 31-10 at Temple
Temple 2-4 (0-3) at North Texas L, 41-14 vs SMU
Tulane 5-1 (2-0) at Memphis W, 31-21 vs North Texas
Tulsa 3-3 (1-1)  —  — vs Rice
UAB 2-4 (1-2) at UTSA L, 41-20 vs Memphis
USF 3-4 (2-2) at FAU L, 56-14 at UConn
UTSA 2-3 (2-0) vs UAB W, 41-20 at FAU

Notable Results (Standings)

The wave roll

Tulane edged out Memphis in a battle of AAC heavyweights on Friday night, outlasting the Tigers in a very close game, proving the Green Wave is still the team to beat in this league until further notice. That said, the performance from the Tigers was impressive. If they continue to play that well, a rematch in a few months is well within the range of possibilities.

The usual suspects

As recently as a few weeks ago, there looked to be some upheaval near the top of the standings. Entering the second half, though, it’s a not-so-surprising cast at the top of the standings. Tulane, SMU, FAU and UTSA are all undefeated in conference play. Add in Memphis, whose only loss was the aforementioned nailbiter to Tulane, and you have the top five teams of the AAC preseason media poll.

Charlotte is down bad

The 49ers became the first AAC team to be shut out this season, failing to score any points against Navy. The conference has faced a rigorous nonconference slate, but to this point, every team in the AAC had scored at least some points in each game… until Charlotte delivered the first goose egg. It was always going to be a tough transition for Biff Poggi in year one, but it’s looking even more arduous now.

Looking ahead – Key storylines

Finding the true contenders

At times it’s felt as if UTSA and FAU have had to scratch and claw their way to their respective 3-3 starts to the season. Tough schedules, injuries and poor play have taken some wind out of their respective sails, but both remain alive in the conference title hunt. Even though a loss wouldn’t be a full disqualifier, a win in their upcoming matchup next weekend would keep those aspirations alive.

Sifting through the middle

Rice and Tulsa sit smack dab in the middle of the conference standings at 1-1. They’ve both delivered more impressive outings than the winless teams (Charlotte, ECU and Temple), but they lack the consistency of some of the leagues’ better squads. This feels like a fairly even fight that could boost the winner ever so slightly and help keep bowl dreams alive.

Bottom Bowl

Charlotte and ECU were at the bottom of our midseason power rankings going into the weekend and that’s where they’ll stay until they show some life. That proof could come this week when they face each other in a battle that will likely be the best shot for either of these squads to claim a conference win this season.

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2023 Midseason AAC Football Power Rankings

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Half of the 2023 season is in the books and hierarchies are starting to form in the AAC Football standings. Which teams have separated themselves from the rest so far?

At the risk of stirring the pot, I’m releasing my weekly AAC Football power rankings at roughly the midseason mark, complete with some comments explaining my rationale. The top three spots feel pretty chalky, as do the bottom two. Ranks four through 12, on the other hand, were a mess to sort through. It’s one big middle class as we reach the midway point of the season.

1. Tulane

No Michael Pratt? No problem. The defending AAC champs held serve without their star quarterback on the field, potentially missing out on an upset against Ole Miss, but keeping their conference aspirations intact. They’re the frontrunner until someone can knock them off their perch.

2. Memphis

The only blemish on an otherwise sterling resume for the Tigers was a road loss against a very good Missouri team that entered the weekend 5-0. The Tigers look like a complete team and rank in the top three in the conference in scoring offense and scoring defense.

3. SMU

The Mustangs have more or less held serve through their first five games with their only losses coming against Power 5 opponents, Oklahoma and TCU. They might not be tested for a while longer, but they’ve looked the part thus far, even if its come against the likes of ECU.

4. UTSA

UTSA jumped up in these rankings this week by earning their first AAC win. With a healthy Frank Harris at quarterback, they’ll be able to trade touchdowns with anyone. It’s the defense that has question marks. The Roadrunners don’t look to be the same team they’ve been in years past, but they’re 1-0 in league play.

5. USF

There’s no doubt USF was playing ahead of schedule through their first five games. The Bulls hung with Alabama and won their first conference games of the year shortly after, but a blowout loss to UAB proves they have work to do. That said, the upside is evident.

6. Rice

The only AAC team with a Power 5 win, Rice checks in at six because the Owls’ lows have been as bad as their highs have been good. A loss to a previously winless UConn team at home as a double-digit favorite doesn’t erase the upset win over Houston, but it does lead to some questions regarding which version of this team will show up each week.

7. FAU

FAU kept their season alive with a win over Tulsa this weekend, but an injury to quarterback Casey Thompson earlier in the year keeps realistic expectations in check. They’ve got talent, but it’s going to be an uphill climb with a backup quarterback.

8. Navy

The Midshipmen notched their first AAC win under new head coach Brian Newberry, beating North Texas, but they also looked feisty against USF and Memphis. The defense is a liability at the moment, but the triple option is humming and should help them rack up at least a few more wins.

9. Tulsa

Tulsa is .500, which isn’t all that bad for their first year under head coach Kevin Wilson, but they don’t have any quality wins so far, posting victories over Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Northern Illinois and Temple. A win over Rice in their next game would be their best of the year, but its not as if the Owls have separated themselves too much from the pack.

10. UAB

Beating USF, one of the conference’s more impressive teams thus far, earned UAB some kudos this week, but it isn’t enough to erase a season that has been largely underwhelming. The Blazers have received more attention for the sideline antics of head coach Trent Dilfer than their wins, something that has to change for them to climb this list.

11. Temple

The offense is exciting. The defense is not. All that separates Temple from the team directly behind them in this rankings is more productive quarterback play. The Owls’ EJ Warner is third in the conference with 1,741 passing yards and second with 12 touchdown passes. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been enough to lead to wins.

12. North Texas

Just like Temple, North Texas is a team with a fun offense and not much to speak of on the other side of the ball. The Mean Green are allowing 39.8 points per game on defense, the worst mark in the AAC. It’s going to be hard for quarterback Chandler Morris to overcome that, even though he’s generally played well.

13. ECU

The departure of star quarterback Holton Ehlers has sent shockwaves through the ECU offense which remains dysfunctional through the first half of the season. Winners of eight games a year ago, the Pirates will be lucky to reach bowl eligibility at all after a terrible 1-5 start.

14. Charlotte

Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi was irate at AAC Media Days and scolded the assembled media for picking the 49ers to finish last in the league. Here we are halfway through the season and Poggi has already had at least one explosive postgame presser while his team ranks… last in the conference.

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AAC Football 2023: Week 6 Roundup

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AAC Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 6.

Team Record  This Week Result Up Next
Charlotte 1-4 (o-1)  —  — vs Navy
ECU 1-4 (0-1)  —  — vs SMU
FAU 2-3 (1-0) vs Tulsa W, 20-17 vs USF
Memphis 4-1 (1-0)  —  — vs Tulane
Navy 2-3 (1-2) vs North Texas W, 27-24 at Charlotte
North Texas 2-3 (0-1) at Navy L, 27-24 vs Temple
Rice 3-3 (1-1) vs UConn L, 38-31  —
SMU 3-2 (1-0)  —  — at ECU
Temple 2-4 (0-2) vs UTSA L, 49-34 at North Texas
Tulane 4-1 (1-0)  —  — at Memphis
Tulsa 3-3 (1-1) at FAU L, 20-17  —
UAB 2-4 (1-1) vs USF W, 56-35 at UTSA
USF 3-3 (2-1) at UAB L, 56-35 at FAU
UTSA 2-3 (1-0) at Temple W, 49-34 vs UAB

Notable Results (Standings)

This conference is a mess

Through five weeks, the ACC has two four-win teams, two one-win teams and 10 teams logjammed with a game of .500. If it feels hard to figure out who is actually good this season, the current standings reflect that. Rice and Tulsa both had the chance to break into the four-win club, but couldn’t find a way to get it done and fell back to the rest of the pack.

UTSA bounces back

UTSA, one of those middle-of-the-standings programs, notched a much-needed win to opener their AAC slate, outlasting Temple in a high-scoring affair on the road. The Roadrunners were picked to contend in this conference and despite a shaky start to the season, they’re still in position to do that, especially with quarterback Frank Harris leading the offense.

USF comes back to earth

South Florida screamed out to a 2-0 start to conference play before running into a Dragon-sized wall in their third conference game. The Blazers had just one win when the Bulls came to town, serving a slice of humble pie to their upstart visitors. USF might have been ahead of schedule in Alex Golesh’s first season, but still have to feel pretty good about things entering an all-Florida showdown against FAU in Week 6.

Looking ahead – Key storylines

Tipping point

Rice and Tulsa are both 3-3, each dropping what felt like a winnable game before a bye week and a matchup in Tulsa in Week 7. This game isn’t being played for another week and a half, but both programs will face some pressure to get things patched up and ready to go before they play a midweek, prime-time game with the loser falling below .500 in league play.

Danger zone

Charlotte and ECU already trail the rest of the pack entering Week 6 with more conference matchups looming. If it’s not “save-your-season” territory yet, it’s getting pretty close. Neither program can afford to add a fifth loss so early in the year. It’s a little early to start talking about must-win games, but that’s exactly where things stand for these programs.

Who’s No. 1?

Tulane and Memphis each had the week off before a potential conference-deciding matchup between the current frontrunners in Week 6. The Mean Green and Tigers are a combined 8-0 against non-Power 5 opponents and each school came close to pulling off a Power 5 upset already this season. This has the makings of what could be the biggest conference game of the year and it’s still October.

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