Week 11 of the AAC season may lack blockbuster matchups. Still, plenty of this week’s games will shape the conference and even the College Football Playoff picture. Two teams look to make their first impressions after the College Football Playoff rankings debuted. In contrast, others will try to build momentum to make bowls and/or overcome rough stretches.
Last night, East Carolina started that work with a statement win over FAU. ECU QB Katin Houser looks like a star in the making for the Pirates. After a five-touchdown performance against Temple two weeks ago, he had another five-touchdown game last night in his team’s 49-14 rout of Florida Atlantic. Hopefully, every other game in the conference this week will be much closer than that one.
Have the BKs still not played anybody, or does ECU count now?
— #18 As For Football (@asforfootball) November 8, 2024
Memphis and Navy Try to Rebound
Two of the league’s top contenders try to avoid second straight upset losses this week. Tonight, Memphis (7-2, 3-2 in the AAC) hosts Rice (3-6, 2-3 in the AAC). These teams had much different Week 10 experiences. UTSA upset Memphis and gave the Tigers their second AAC loss. Rice by contrast upset Navy to give the Midshipmen their first loss in conference play. Memphis is now two conference losses behind AAC favorites Army and Tulane while being a game behind Navy. Since the Mids own the tie-breaker, that’s a tough break.
Still, like Yogi Berra once said, “It’s not over till it’s over.” Memphis can begin its late push with a home game against a struggling — or perhaps, improving — Rice squad. The Owls’ defense has looked solid the past three weeks, allowing just 17 points per game during that stretch. To win, Memphis must return to its balanced offensive style after UTSA held RB Mario Anderson Jr. to a mere 53 yards rushing. On defense, the four touchdown passes that Memphis allowed against UTSA QB Owen McCown does not bode well against experienced Rice QB EJ Warner. Warner hasn’t played consistently this season, but he’s got all the tools and has looked more comfortable in his new offense as the season has progressed. However, Memphis can still position itself for a victory with a fast start, given that Rice has scored a total of just 49 points combined in its last three games.
Like Memphis, Navy also finds itself in a must-win situation. With the conference loss at Rice last week, the Mids must now win the rest of their games, including a November 16th showdown with Tulane, to earn a shot at the conference crown.
Of late, Navy’s offense hasn’t looked like the juggernaut it was in the season’s first six games. The Midshipmen fell behind early last week at Rice and struggled down the stretch in their 24-10 loss. They will need a high-octane performance against a USF squad that has slowly but surely started finding its rhythm with backup QB Bryce Archie at the helm. The good news is for Navy fans is that USF struggled with the run last week against FAU. They allowed 179 yards on nearly five yards/carry.
Other Notes From Around the League
Tulane (7-2, 5-0 in the AAC) faces its 1935 Sugar Bowl opponent, Temple (2-6, 1-3 in the AAC), at home this week. Tulane RB Makhi Hughes eyes a fifth-straight 100-yard game against one of the weakest run defenses in the FBS. Temple allows an average of 213 rushing yards/game.
In our last conference game, UAB (2-6, 1-4 in the AAC) attempts to cool Head Coach Trent Dilfer’s seat against bowl-eligible UConn. The Blazers have improved over the past two games, first nearly upsetting USF, then using a 45-point first half to upset Tulsa, 59-21. Blazer QB Jalen Kitna looks to surpass his 404-yard, six-touchdown performance against a UConn defense allowing less than 200 passing yards per game. UConn also boasts a good running offense, which creates a potential problem for a UAB team that’s given up a lot of rushing yardage this season.
Go Army! Beat North Texas!!!
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