The American has seen better weeks. The conference had multiple opportunities for signature moments against the Power Four and struggled against a fast-rising rival conference. Hopefully, the AAC can put this week in their rearview mirror in pursuit of a playoff berth.
The AAC Fights Valiantly Against the Power Four
— #17 Kansas State 34, Tulane 27
— #4 Alabama 42, USF 16
— North Carolina 38, Charlotte 20
After two weeks, the AAC remains in pursuit of its first Power Four win. For the second year in a row, Tulane blew a second-half lead to a ranked Power Four opponent at home. The Green Wave seemed in control with a 20-10 halftime lead until Kansas State stormed back with a 24-7 second-half run.
The loss makes it harder for the Green Wave to make the College Football Playoff over a one-loss NIU after the Huskies’ signature win over Notre Dame. Winning the AAC is no longer the automatic ticket to the New Year’s Six/College Football Playoff it once was. However, Darian Mensah showed that his first-week performance against Southeastern Louisiana was no fluke. He threw for 342 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Heโll have to keep up his performance as Tulane faces what seems like a must-win game against Oklahoma this week.
USF-Alabama was the other much-anticipated Power Four matchup after the Bulls shocked the country in a 17-3 loss to the Crimson Tide at home. The Bulls kept up with Alabama, trailing by only 5 halfway through the fourth quarter. However, the Crimson Tide pulled away with a 21-point explosion in the final seven minutes for a deceiving 42-16 victory. Byrum Brown had some Heisman dark horse hype heading into the season but needed a transcendent performance against the Tide to generate buzz for his campaign. His 108 rushing yards against Alabama’s defense were impressive. Completing 15 of 35 passes for 103 yards was not. Like Tulane, USF has another high-stakes Power Five game soon in Miami to boost their resume.
Charlotte-North Carolina was the overlooked Power Four game on the AAC slate. The 49ers were 21.5-point underdogs in their first meeting with in-state foe, North Carolina. As always, Biff Poggi’s squad showed fight, inching to within a score early in the second quarter, but North Carolina pulled away for a 38-20 win. Lost in the defeat was an improved 49ers passing game. The 49ers nearly doubled their 2023 per-game average with a 309-yard performance between quarterback Max Brown and Deshawn Purdie. Jairus Mack looks like a potential all-conference performer after a five-catch, 118-yard outing against the Tar Heels. Mack averaged 18 yards per reception in 2023 and looks like one of the best deep threats in the conference.
The American Struggles With the Sun Belt
— Memphis 38, Troy 17
— East Carolina 20, Old Dominion 14
— ULM 32, UAB 6
— Arkansas State 28, Tulsa 24
The AAC-Sun Belt battle for supremacy continues to be a storyline early in the season. The Sun Belt gained the upper hand this week with a 3-2 record against the AAC, with a pair of statement wins headlining the weekend. Starting with the good for the American, Memphis easily disposed of 2023 Sun Belt champion Troy 38-17. While the Tigers’ offense usually headlines, the defense stole the show, holding the rebuilding Trojans to 251 yards. Even in Memphis’ 2019 Cotton Bowl season, the defense was mediocre, allowing 26 points per game. An elite Tigers defense would make the Tigers even more of a juggernaut in the AAC race.
East Carolina had much more trouble in the AAC’s other win over the Sun Belt. The Pirates escaped Norfolk with a 20-14 victory over Old Dominion. Quarterback Jake Garcia threw four interceptions to bring his total to seven for the young season. If not for running back Rahjai Harris’ 131 yards on the ground, East Carolina may not have beaten Old Dominion. The Pirates have the tools to be a bowl team, but Jake Garcia must care for the football, especially with games against App State and Liberty on the schedule.
Now, for the losses. Tulsa’s narrow 28-24 loss to Arkansas State was the AAC’s least humiliating loss to the Sun Belt. Golden Hurricane quarterback Kirk Francis was solid with 199 yards and a touchdown, and Arkansas State’s young signal caller Jaylen Raynor outfield him with 328 yards of total offense. A win against a 2023 bowl team in Arkansas State could have built momentum for the Golden Hurricanes, but a favorable schedule still gives them a path to a bowl.
UAB might regret their 2023 head coach search already. The Blazers lost in blowout fashion to ULM, coached by Bryant Vincent, who led UAB to a 7-6 record in 2022 as the interim coach but did not receive the head coaching job. Vincent received a letter of support from UABโs players but did not receive the job.
Vincent got his payback in full on Saturday with a 32-6 win over the Blazers. ULM gradually wore down the UAB front seven with 209 rushing yards. The Warhawksโ ease in running the ball does not bode well for UAB, who gave Army and Navy later this year. The result was concerning for a squad that returned 11 starters this year. However, this was hardly the most embarrassing AAC loss to the Sun Belt.
Texas State Demolishes UTSA in the Battle for I-35
UTSA may be in rebuild mode this year. The Roadrunners had never lost to Texas State until the Bobcats embarrassed the Roadrunners 49-10 in a game with Playoff implications at the start of the year. Frank Harrisโ departure is prevalent. Owen McCown and Eddie Lee Marburger completed less than 50% of their 50 combined passes, with McCown getting benched at halftime. The Roadrunners also continue to struggle on the ground. Their dynamic trio of running backs Kevorian Barnes, Robert Henry, and Rocko Griffin, who combined for over 1700 yards in 2023, combined for 37 yards on 18 carries. In two games this year, the trio only has 101 yards. The struggles against new FBS member Kennesaw State were not a fluke. So far, the Roadrunners look like an average AAC team at best.
Navyโs Offense Shines against Temple
After a successful first week against Bucknell, Navyโs millennial Wing-T faced a tougher opponent in Temple. The offense looked explosive in a 38-11 win with three plays of over 50 yards. Blake Horvath and Alex Tecza each had 60+ yard touchdown runs, while Eli Heidenreich caught a 51-yard touchdown from Horvath. Horvath had exceeded 100 yards both in passing and rushing on his way to AAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
The defense did not disappoint either. Collin Ramos looks poised to follow in the footsteps of past star Navy linebackers and had 15 tackles against the Owls. The Midshipmen look like an early sleeper in a weaker AAC.
Texas Schools Take Care of Business Against the FCS
— Rice 69, Texas Southern 7
— North Texas 35, Stephen F. Austin 20
Rice took out their anger from their upset loss to Sam Houston last week on Texas Southern in a 69-7 win. Dean Connors’ 113 yards and three touchdowns on only nine carries led the way for a run game that averaged over ten yards per carry.
North Texas struggled for a while against Stephen F. Austin, trailing 17-14 at one point, but pulled away for a 35-20 win. Chandler Morris provided excitement once again with 322 yards and four touchdowns but also added three interceptions. The Mean Greenโs 224-pound running back Damashja Harris looks like a juggernaut for AAC defenses after a ten-carry, 142-yard performance. The Mean Green can insert themselves into the Playoff discussion with a win at Texas Tech next week.
Enjoy the games this weekend, everybody!
Cover image via @ECUPiratesFB.
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