Conference play in The American begins in earnest this week with five intraconference games among the seven matchups on the docket.
 
Through four weeks of the 2023 season, American Athletic Conference teams have played 13 games against teams ranked in this week’s Associated Press top 25, including a combined eight games against the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, 12 and 14 teams.
 
Tulane has won six consecutive road games, which ranks as the fourth-longest active streak nationally, while Navy ranks second nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.0)

South Florida QB Byrum Brown leads all FBS quarterbacks in rushing at 87.8 yards per game. Brown has 351 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 79 carries. Bull safety Daquan Evans leads all FBS players in tackles for loss with an average of 2.2 per game.

North Texas has seen 18 of its 20 kickoffs go for touchbacks. The Mean Green has allowed a net of five yards on kickoff returns through three games.

Navy S Rayuan Lane is the national FBS leader in passes defended (2.7 per game). Lane has two interceptions and six pass breakups.

Florida Atlantic WR Lajohntay Wester is averaging 10.8 receptions per game, ranking second among FBS players nationally.

UAB is one of four teams nationally that has not allowed a fourth-down conversion (Georgia Southern, Michigan, Virginia Tech). QB Jacob Zeno ranks fourth nationally in total offense (330.5 ypg) and safety Damien Miller is second nationally forced fumbles with an average of 0.75 per game (three in four games).

Below is the schedule for Week 5, which will see both FAU and UTSA on bye periods:


Thursday, September 28

Temple at Tulsa * (7:30 p.m., ESPN)


Saturday, September 30

UAB at Tulane * (Noon, ESPN2)

South Florida at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)

Boise State at Memphis (4 p.m., ESPN2)

East Carolina at Rice * (7 p.m., ESPN+)

Abilene Christian at North Texas (7 p.m., ESPN+)

Charlotte at SMU * (7:30 p.m., ESPNU)

How did Tulsa vs Temple draw a bid to appear on ESPN? Probably the worst two teams in the AAC so far, because from all of the games I have watched or monitored the three squads picked below them both (USF, UNCC, Rice) are better. Must be the Thursday thing.

 

FINAL:

Temple 26  Tulsa 48

Cardell Williams passed for 244 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 90 yards and a score as Tulsa took a 48-26 win against Temple in both teams' American Athletic Conference opener Thursday night at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

"League favorite" Tulane in a dog fight against UAB at home.

ONE point game at 21-20 midway through the 3rd and the Blazers are on the move.

With all of the injuries and everything else that has been observed thus far, this league is up for grabs, just throw away the poll.

UAB just fumbled the ball in the endzone, negating a touchdown.

Happens to all of us.

😭

FINAL:

UAB 23  Tulane 35

The fumble in the endzone proves costly - changing momentum permanently - and UAB can not complete the upset.

They were 21.5 underdogs.

FINAL:

 USF 44  Navy 30

The Bulls notch the road upset with another week of solid offense.

The way things are going FAU is going to have a tall order to fill in Tampa.

FINAL:

Boise State 32  Memphis 35

Bit of a see saw battle that started in favor of the Broncos but ends with the Tigers.

BSU took nearly every single stat, aside from the most important one - points.

FINAL:

Abilene Christian 31  North Texas 45

FINAL:

ECU 17  Rice 24