2022 American Athletic Conference football season

Last updated

2022 American Athletic Conference
football season
American Athletic Conference logo.svg
League NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport Football
DurationSeptember 1, 2022January 31, 2023
Number of teams11
TV partner(s) ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and CBS Sports Network
2023 NFL draft
Top draft pickWR Rashee Rice, SMU
Picked by Kansas City Chiefs, 55th overall
Regular season
Season champions Tulane
  Runners-up UCF
American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game
ChampionsTulane
  Runners-upUCF
Finals MVP Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
Seasons
2022 American Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 9 Tulane y$  7 1   12 2  
UCF y  6 2   9 5  
Cincinnati  6 2   9 4  
SMU  5 3   7 6  
Houston  5 3   8 5  
East Carolina  4 4   8 5  
Navy  4 4   4 8  
Memphis  3 5   7 6  
Tulsa  3 5   5 7  
Temple  1 7   3 9  
South Florida  0 8   1 11  
Championship: Tulane 45, UCF 28
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2022 American Athletic Conference football season is the 31st NCAA Division I FBS Football season of the American Athletic Conference (The American). The season is the tenth since the former Big East Conference dissolved and became the American Athletic Conference and the ninth season of the College Football Playoff in place. The American is considered a member of the Group of Five (G5) together with Conference USA, the MAC, Mountain West Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. In September 2021, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF accepted invitations to join the Big 12 Conference. [1] The three schools had been contractually required to remain with The American through 2024, but the conference and its departing members reached a buyout agreement that allowed those schools to leave in 2023. [2]

Contents

Previous season

Cincinnati finished with a 131 (80 AAC) record, winning the AAC Championship Game against Houston. It was the second consecutive AAC championship and third consecutive AAC Championship game appearance in program history. The Bearcats were ranked fourth in the final College Football Playoff rankings, thus becoming the first Group of Five team to make the playoffs. [3] After the Bearcats loss to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, Cincinnati finished fourth in the final AP Poll marking the best finish in program history.

Seven AAC teams participated in bowl games during the 2021 season; the league finished 41.

Tulsa defeated Old Dominion 3017 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. With the win, Tulsa concluded their season with an 76 record. [4] With the win, Tulsa achieved their first bowl win since the 2016 Miami Beach Bowl [5] In the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl, UCF defeated Florida 2917, behind standout performances by wide receiver, and game MVP, Ryan O'Keefe and running back Isiah Bowser. [6] In the Birmingham Bowl, No. 20 Houston defeated Auburn 1713. [7] Cincinnati was selected to participate in the Cotton Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff against Alabama. The Bearcats lost to the Crimson Tide 276. [8]

Three bowl games involving American teams were cancelled due to COVID-19: Memphis was slated to play in the Hawaii Bowl versus Hawaii. Hawaii had to withdraw from the bowl due to a shortage of available players, stemming from a combination of a COVID-19 outbreak within the team, players already out with injury, and players who transferred away from the school at the conclusion of the regular season. [9] East Carolina was slated to play in the Military Bowl versus Boston College, the game was cancelled after Boston College said it did not have enough players to field a team because of coronavirus issues, season-ending injuries, opt-outs and transfers. [10] SMU was originally slated to play in the Fenway Bowl versus Virginia. Virginia had to withdraw from the game due to a number of COVID cases impacting its roster. [11]

Preseason

Recruiting classes

Rankings
TeamESPN [12] Rivals [13] 24/7 [14]
Cincinnati4142
East Carolina7884
Houston5249
Memphis4762
Navy92104
SMU8580
South Florida8387
Temple108
Tulane6874
Tulsa111
UCF5352

American Athletic Conference media day

The 2022 American Media day was held virtually on July 28, 2022 [15]

Preseason poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at AAC Media Day on July 28, 2022. [16]

Media poll
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Houston243 (7)
2Cincinnati242 (10)
3UCF225 (7)
4SMU187
5Memphis162
6East Carolina157
7Tulane115
8Tulsa93
9South Florida71
10Navy61
11Temple28

Award watch lists

All−American Teams

AP 1st TeamAP 2nd TeamWCFF 1st TeamWCFF 2nd TeamTSN 1st TeamTSN 2nd TeamESPNCBS 1st TeamCBS 2nd TeamCFN 1st TeamCFN 2nd TeamCFN HMPFF 1st TeamPFF 2nd TeamPFF HM

Coaches

Coaching changes

The American will enter the 2022 season with two new head football coaches:

Coaches

Head coaching records

TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolAAC Record
Cincinnati Luke Fickell 654–22 (.711)48–15 (.762)29–9 (.763)
East Carolina Mike Houston 494–44 (.681)14–19 (.424)9–15 (.375)
Houston Dana Holgorsen 480–56 (.588)19–15 (.559)13–9 (.591)
Memphis Ryan Silverfield 314–10 (.583)14–10 (.583)8–8 (.500)
Navy Ken Niumatalolo 15105–75 (.583)105–75 (.583)33–22 (.600)
SMU Rhett Lashlee 00–0 (–)0–0 (–)0–0 (–)
South Florida Jeff Scott 33–18 (.143)3–18 (.143)1–14 (.067)
Temple Stan Drayton 00–0 (–)0–0 (–)0–0 (–)
Tulane Willie Fritz 7185–112 (.623)31–43 (.419)16–32 (.333)
Tulsa Philip Montgomery 838–46 (.452)38–46 (.452)24–29 (.453)
UCF Gus Malzahn 286–42 (.672)9–4 (.692)5–3 (.625)

Note:

Source: [44]

Mid-season changes

Post-season changes

Rankings

Legend
  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
 No change in ranking from previous week
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
тTied with team above or below also with this symbol
 PreWk
2
Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Wk
15
Final
CincinnatiAP23RVRVRVRV24212120RVRV2221RVRVRV
C22RVRVRVRVRV211919RVRV2121RVRVRV
CFPNot released2524
East CarolinaAPRV
CRV
CFPNot released
HoustonAP2425
C25RVRV
CFPNot released
MemphisAP
C
CFPNot released
NavyAP
C
CFPNot released
SMUAP
CRV
CFPNot released
South FloridaAP
C
CFPNot released
TempleAP
C
CFPNot released
TulaneAPRVRVRV25231916211918149
CRVRV25242117222018179
CFPNot released191721191816
TulsaAP
C
CFPNot released
UCFAPRVRVRV2522172522RV
CRVRVRVRVRVRV252118RV23RVRV
CFPNot released2522202222

Schedule

The 2022 American Athletic Conference football schedule was released on February 17, 2022. [52] The regular season begins on Thursday September 1, 2022 and will end on Saturday December 15, 2022. The American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game is scheduled to be played on Saturday December 3, 2022 at the site of the regular season champion.

Index to colors and formatting
AAC member won
AAC member lost
AAC teams in bold

All times Eastern time.

Regular season schedule

Week one

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17:00 p.m. South Carolina State UCF FBC Mortgage StadiumOrlando, FL ESPN+ W 56–10  43,810
September 27:30 p.m. Temple Duke Wallace Wade StadiumDurham, NC ACCN L 0–30  20,722
September 3NoonNo. 13  NC State East Carolina Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC ESPNL 20–21  51,711
September 3NoonNo. 19 (FCS)  Delaware Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD CBSSNL 7–14  30,542
September 33:30 p.m.No. 23  Cincinnati No. 19  Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR ESPN L 24–31  74,751
September 33:30 p.m.No. 24  Houston UTSA AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX CBSSN W 37–35 3OT 37,526
September 33:30 p.m. Tulsa Wyoming War Memorial StadiumLaramie, WY FS1 L 37–40 2OT 20,574
September 34:00 p.m.No. 25  BYU South Florida Raymond James StadiumTampa, FL ESPNUL 21–50  31,521
September 37:00 p.m. UMass Tulane Yulman StadiumNew Orleans, LA ESPN+W 42–10  15,101
September 37:30 p.m. Memphis Mississippi State Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS ESPNU L 23–49  54,360
September 37:30 p.m. SMU North Texas Apogee StadiumDenton, TX (Safeway Bowl)CBSSNW 48–10  25,306
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week two

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 97:30 p.m. Louisville UCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLESPN2L 14–20  44,412
September 102:00 p.m. Lafayette Temple Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA ESPN+W 30–14  18,430
September 103:30 p.m.No. 19 (FCS)  Kennesaw State Cincinnati Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH ESPN+W 63–10  37,014
September 103:30 p.m.MemphisNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDCBSSN MEM 37–13  30,082
September 104:00 p.m.No. 25 Houston Texas Tech Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, TX FS1L 30–33 2OT 56,271
September 106:00 p.m. Old Dominion East CarolinaDowdy–Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NCESPN+W 39–21  36,853
September 107:00 p.m. Alcorn State TulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAESPN+W 52–0  14,501
September 107:00 p.m. Lamar SMU Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX ESPN+W 45–16  26,509
September 107:00 p.m. Howard South FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPN+W 42–20  28,554
September 107:00 p.m. Northern Illinois Tulsa H.A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK ESPN+W 38–35  22,113
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week three

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17NoonCincinnati Miami (OH) Paycor Stadium • Cincinnati, OH (Victory Bell)ESPNUW 38–17  30,109
September 172:00 p.m. Rutgers TempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAESPN+L 14–16  33,297
September 173:00 p.m.Tulane Kansas State Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS ESPN+/B12NW 17–10  50,887
September 174:00 p.m. Kansas Houston TDECU StadiumHouston, TX ESPNUL 30–48  30,317
September 176:00 p.m. Campbell East CarolinaDowdy–Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NCESPN+W 49–10  43,036
September 177:00 p.m. Arkansas State MemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN (Paint Bucket Bowl)ESPN+W 44–32  32,620
September 177:00 p.m. Jacksonville State TulsaH.A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OKESPN+W 54–17  17,311
September 177:30 p.m.SMU Maryland Maryland StadiumCollege Park, MD FS1L 27–34  31,194
September 177:30 p.m.South FloridaNo. 18  Florida Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL SECNL 28–31  88,496
September 177:30 p.m.UCF Florida Atlantic FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL CBSSNW 40–14  30,991
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
September 17Navy

Week four

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 24Noon TCU SMUGerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, TX (rivalry)ESPNUL 34–42  35,569
September 24NoonSouth FloridaLouisville Cardinal StadiumLouisville, KY ACC RSN/ESPN3 L 3–41  41,217
September 242:00 p.m.UMassTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAESPN+W 28–0  14,033
September 243:30 p.m. Indiana CincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHESPN2W 45–24  38,464
September 243:30 p.m.North TexasMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNESPN+W 44–34  23,203
September 244:00 p.m.TulsaNo. 16  Ole Miss Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS SECNL 27–35  60,641
September 244:00 p.m. Georgia Tech UCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLESPNUW 27–10  44,220
September 246:00 p.m.NavyEast CarolinaDowdy–Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NCESPN+ NAVY 23–20 2OT 39,227
September 246:00 p.m. Rice HoustonTDECU Stadium • Houston, TX (rivalry)ESPN+W 34–27  26,377
September 247:00 p.m. Southern Miss TulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Bell)ESPN+L 24–27  20,422
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week five

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 307:00 p.m.TulaneHoustonTDECU Stadium • Houston, TXESPN TULN 27–24 OT 24,319
October 1NoonTempleMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNESPNU MEM 24–3  23,239
October 1NoonNavy Air Force Falcon StadiumColorado Springs, CO CBS L 10–13  36,947
October 12:30 p.m.East CarolinaSouth Florida FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL [lower-alpha 1] ESPN+ ECU 48–28  3,708
October 17:00 p.m.CincinnatiTulsaH.A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OKESPNU CIN 31–21  21,111
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 1SMUUCF

Week six

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 5 [lower-alpha 2] 7:00 p.m.SMUUCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLESPN2 UCF 41–19  27,495
October 77:30 p.m.HoustonMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNESPN2 HOU 33–32  28,126
October 82:30 p.m.South FloridaNo. 24 CincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHESPN+ CIN 28–24  38,557
October 83:30 p.m.TulsaNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDCBSSN NAVY 53–21  30,658
October 83:30 p.m.East CarolinaTulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAESPNU TULN 24–9  14,193
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 8Temple

Week seven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 137:00 p.m.TempleUCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLESPN UCF 70–13  41,729
October 147:30 p.m.NavySMUGerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, TX (Gansz Trophy)ESPN SMU 40–34  24,583
October 154:00 p.m.TulaneSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPNU TULN 45–31  31,053
October 157:30 p.m.MemphisEast CarolinaDowdy-Ficklin Stadium • Greenville, NCESPNU ECU 47–45 4OT 38,059
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 15No. 21 CincinnatiHoustonTulsa

Week eight

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 217:30 p.m.TulsaTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAESPN2 TLSA 27–16  13,607
October 22NoonNo. 21 CincinnatiSMUGerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, TXESPN CIN 29–27  23,566
October 22NoonHoustonNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDESPNU HOU 38–20  32,443
October 223:30 p.m.MemphisNo. 25 TulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAESPN2 TULN 38–28  30,100
October 227:30 p.m.UCFEast CarolinaDowdy–Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NCESPNU ECU 34–14  38,245
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 22South Florida

Week nine

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 288:00 p.m.East CarolinaBYU LaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UT ESPN2W 27–24  55,525
October 29NoonSouth FloridaHoustonTDECU Stadium • Houston, TXESPN2 HOU 42–27  24,228
October 293:30 p.m.TempleNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDCBSSN NAVY 27–20 OT 31,141
October 293:30 p.m.SMUTulsaH.A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OKESPN+ SMU 45–34  22,993
October 293:30 p.m.No. 20 CincinnatiUCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLESPN UCF 25–21  44,313
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 29MemphisNo. 23 Tulane

Week ten

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 5NoonNo. 19 TulaneTulsaH.A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OKESPNU TULN 27–13  15,122
November 52:00 p.m.South FloridaTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAESPN+ TEM 54–28  13,862
November 54:00 p.m.NavyCincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHESPNU CIN 20–10  38,461
November 53:30 p.m.No. 25 UCFMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNESPN2 UCF 35–28  28,048
November 57:00 p.m.HoustonSMUGerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, TX NFLN  SMU 77–63  23,841
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 5East Carolina

Week eleven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 107:30 p.m.TulsaMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNESPN MEM 26–10  23,980
November 118:00 p.m.East CarolinaCincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHESPN2 CIN 27–25  38,199
November 1212:00 p.m.No. 20  Notre Dame Navy M&T Bank StadiumBaltimore, MD (Rip Miller Trophy)ABCL 32–35  62,124
November 1212:00 p.m.SMUSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPNU SMU 41–23  24,907
November 123:00 p.m.TempleHoustonTDECU Stadium • Houston, TXESPN+ HOU 43–36  21,731
November 123:30 p.m.No. 22 UCFNo. 17 TulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAESPN2 UCF 38–31  27,317
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week twelve

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 177:30 p.m.SMUNo. 21 TulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAESPN TULN 59–24  20,894
November 189:00 p.m.South FloridaTulsaH.A. Champman Stadium • Tulsa, OKESPN2 TLSA 48–42  13,819
November 1911:00 a.m.NavyNo. 20 UCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLESPN2 NAVY 17–14  44,813
November 192:00 p.m. North Alabama MemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNESPN+W 59–0  24,154
November 192:00 p.m.HoustonEast CarolinaDowdy-Ficklin Stadium • Greenville, NCESPN+ HOU 42–3  42,475
November 194:00 p.m.No. 25 CincinnatiTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAESPNU CIN 23–3  14,673
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week thirteen

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 2512:00 p.m.No. 19 TulaneNo. 24 CincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHABC TULN 27–24  37,989
November 261:00 p.m.East CarolinaTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAESPN+ ECU 49–46  13,037
November 263:30 p.m.MemphisSMUGerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, TXESPN2 SMU 34–31  15,759
November 267:00 p.m.No. 22 UCFSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL (War on I-4)ESPN2 UCF 46–39  32,217
November 267:30 p.m.TulsaHoustonTDECU Stadium • Houston, TX (rivalry)ESPNU TLSA 37–30  21,785
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 26Navy

Championship Game

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
December 34:00 p.m.No. 22 UCFNo. 18 TulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LA (American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game)ABC TULN 45–28  30,118
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week fifteen

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
December 103:00 p.m.Navy Army Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA (123rd Army–Navy Game, Commander-in-Chief's Trophy) CBS L 17–20 2OT 69,117
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Eastern Time.

The American vs other conferences

AAC vs Power Five matchups

The following games include AAC teams competing against Power Five conferences teams from the (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, BYU/Notre Dame, Pac-12, and SEC). All rankings are from the AP Poll at the time of the game.


DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 2ACCTempleDukeWallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NCL 0–30
September 3SECNo. 23 CincinnatiNo. 19 ArkansasDonald W. Reynolds Stadium • Fayetteville, ARL 24–31
September 3ACCNo. 13 NC StateEast CarolinaDowdy-Ficklin Stadium • Greenville, NCL 20–21
September 3SECMemphisMississippi StateDavis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MSL 23–49
September 3IndependentNo. 25 BYUSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLL 21–50
September 9ACCLouisvilleUCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLL 14–20
September 10Big 12No. 25 HoustonTexas TechJones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TXL 30–33 2OT
September 17Big 12KansasHoustonTDECU Stadium • Houston, TXL 30–48
September 17Big TenSMUMarylandMaryland Stadium • College Park, MDL 27–34
September 17SECSouth FloridaFloridaBen Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FLL 28–31
September 17Big TenRutgersTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAL 14–16
September 17Big 12TulaneKansas StateBill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, KSW 17–10
September 24Big TenIndianaCincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHW 45–24
September 24Big 12TCUSMUGerald R. Ford Stadium • University Park, TXL 34–42
September 24ACCSouth FloridaLouisvilleCardinal Stadium • Louisville, KYL 3–41
September 24SECTulsaNo. 16 Ole MissVaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MSL 27–35
September 24ACCGeorgia TechUCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLW 27–10
October 29IndependentEast CarolinaBYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTW 27–24
November 12IndependentNotre DameNavyM&T Bank Stadium • Baltimore, MD†L 32–35

AAC vs Group of Five matchups

The following games include AAC teams competing against "Group of Five" teams from C-USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt.

DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 3C-USANo. 24 HoustonUTSAAlamodome • San Antonio, TXW 37–35 3OT
September 3C-USASMUNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TXW 48–10
September 3Mountain WestTulsaWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WYL 37–40 2OT
September 10C-USAOld DominionEast CarolinaDowdy-Ficklin Stadium • Greenville, NCW 39–21
September 10MACNorthern IllinoisTulsaH.A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OKW 38–35
September 17MACCincinnatiMiami (OH)Paul Brown Stadium† • Cincinnati, OHW 38–17
September 17Sun BeltArkansas StateMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNW 44–32
September 17C-USAUCFFlorida AtlanticFAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FLW 40–14
September 24C-USARiceHoustonTDECU Stadium • Houston, TXW 34–27
September 24C-USANorth TexasMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNW 44–34
September 24C-USASouthern MissTulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAL 24–27
October 1Mountain WestNavyAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, COL 10–13

AAC vs FBS independents matchups

The following games include AAC teams competing against FBS Independents, which includes Army, Liberty, New Mexico State, UConn and UMass.

DateVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 3UMassTulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAW 42–10
September 24UMassTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAW 28–0
December 10NavyArmyLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA†L 17–20 2OT

AAC vs FCS matchups

The following games include AAC teams competing against Football Championship Subdivision teams, which comprises 14 conferences and two independent programs.

DateVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 1South Carolina StateUCFFBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FLW 56–10
September 3DelawareNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDL 7–14
September 10Kennesaw StateCincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHW 63–10
September 10LamarSMUGerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, TXW 45–16
September 10HowardSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLW 42–20
September 10LafayetteTempleLincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PAW 30–14
September 10Alcorn StateTulaneYulman Stadium • New Orleans, LAW 52–0
September 17CampbellEast CarolinaDowdy-Ficklin Stadium • Greenville, NCW 49–10
September 17Jacksonville StateTulsaH.A. Champman Stadium • Tulsa, OKW 54–17
November 19North AlabamaMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNW 59–0

Note:† Denotes Neutral Site Game

AAC Records against other conferences

2022–2023 records against non-conference foes:

Postseason

Bowl games

Bowl games will begin on December 17, 2022, and will end with the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 9, 2023.

For the 2020–2025 bowl cycle, The American will annually send teams to the Military Bowl, Fenway Bowl, and a third annual spot alternating between the Armed Forces Bowl and Hawaii Bowl annually. The American will have annually four appearances in the following bowls: Birmingham Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, Boca Raton Bowl, Frisco Bowl, Cure Bowl, First Responder Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl and New Mexico Bowl. The American champion will go to a New Year's Six bowl if a team finishes higher than the champions of Group of Five conferences in the final College Football Playoff rankings, American teams are also eligible for the College Football Playoff if they're among the top four teams in the final CFP ranking. [55]

Legend
 AAC win
 AAC loss
Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)AAC teamOpponentScoreAttendance
Fenway Bowl December 17 Fenway ParkBoston, MA ESPN 11:00 a.m.Cincinnati Louisville L 7–2415,000
New Mexico Bowl December 17 University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM ESPN7:30 p.m.SMU BYU L 23–2422,209
Independence Bowl December 23 Independence StadiumShreveport, LA ESPN3:00 p.m.Houston Louisiana W 23–1623,410
First Responder Bowl December 27 Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas, TX ESPN3:15 p.m.Memphis Utah State W 38–10
Birmingham Bowl December 27 Protective StadiumBirmingham, AL ESPN6:45 p.m.East Carolina Coastal Carolina W 53–2915,901
Military Bowl December 28 Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD ESPN2:00 p.m.UCF Duke L 13–3017,974
New Year's Six Bowl
Cotton Bowl Classic January 2, 2023 AT&T StadiumArlington, TX ESPN1:00 p.m.No. 16 TulaneNo. 10 USC W 46–4555,329

Rankings are from CFP Poll • All times Eastern Time Zone.

Selection of teams

Awards and honors

Player of the week honors

WeekOffensiveDefensiveSpecialist
PlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPosition
Week 1 [56] Clayton Tune HoustonQB Macon Clark TulaneSBubba BaxaHoustonK
Week 2 [57] Davis Brin TulsaQB Derek Parish HoustonDEDe'Von FoxTempleWR
Week 3 [58] John Rhys Plumlee UCFQB Nick Anderson TulaneLBMason FletcherCincinnatiP
Week 4 [59] Tyler Scott CincinnatiWR Ivan Pace Jr. CincinnatiLBDaniel DaviesNavyK
Week 5 [60] Holton Ahlers East CarolinaQBNick Anderson (2)TulaneLBJoe DoyleMemphisP
Week 6 [61] Clayton Tune (2)HoustonQBMacon Clark (2)TulaneSJayce RogersHoustonDB
Week 7 [62] John Rhys Plumlee (2)UCFQBJulius WoodEast CarolinaSChris HowardMemphisK
Week 8 [63] Clayton Tune (3)HoustonQBJireh WilsonEast CarolinaSMason Fletcher (2)CincinnatiP
Week 9 [64] Clayton Tune (4)HoustonQBJosh CeliscarUCFDEAndrew ConradEast CarolinaK
Week 10 [65] Tanner Mordecai SMUQBDorian WilliamsTulaneLBCamden PriceTempleK
Week 11 [66] John Rhys Plumlee (3)UCFQBJustin WrightTulsaLBChris Howard (2)MemphisK
Week 12 [67] Michael Pratt TulaneQBJohn MarshallNavyLB/SRyan CoeCincinnatiK
Week 13 [68] Tyjae Spears TulaneRBBrandon CrossleySMUSJsi HatfieldEast CarolinaWR

American Athletic Individual Awards

The following individuals received postseason honors as chosen by the league's head coaches. [69]

AwardPlayerSchool
Offensive Player of the Year Tyjae Spears Tulane
Defensive Player of the Year Ivan Pace Jr. Cincinnati
Special Teams Player of the YearMason FletcherCincinnati
Rookie of the Year E. J. Warner Temple
Coach of the Year Willie Fritz *Tulane

All-Conference Teams

The following players were selected part of the All-Conference teams. [69]

* Denotes Unanimous Selection

All Conference Honorable Mentions:

All-Americans

The 2022 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following College Football All-American first teams chosen by the following selector organizations: Associated Press (AP), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Walter Camp Foundation (WCFF), Sporting News (TSN, from its historic name of The Sporting News), Sports Illustrated (SI), The Athletic (Athletic), USA Today (USAT) ESPN, CBS Sports (CBS), College Football News (CFN), Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, and Fox Sports (FOX).

Currently, the NCAA compiles consensus all-America teams using a point system computed from All-America teams named by coaches associations or media sources. Players are chosen against other players playing at their position only. To be selected a consensus All-American, players must be chosen to the first team on at least half of the five official selectors as recognized by the NCAA. Second- and third-team honors are used to break ties. Players named first-team by all five selectors are deemed unanimous All-Americans. Currently, the NCAA recognizes All-Americans selected by the AP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, and the WCFF to determine consensus and unanimous All-Americans. [70]

PositionPlayerSchoolSelectorUnanimousConsensus
First Team All-Americans
LB Ivan Pace Jr. Cincinnati(AFCA, AP, CBS, ESPN, FWAA, The Athletic, TSN, USAT, WCFF)**
PositionPlayerSchoolSelector
Second Team All-Americans
WR Nathaniel Dell Houston(AFCA, The Athletic, TSN, USAT, WCFF)
WR Rashee Rice SMU(AP, FWAA, WCFF)
PositionPlayerSchoolSelector
Third Team All-Americans
WR Nathaniel Dell Houston(AP)
DT Dontay Corleone Cincinnati(AP)
PMason FletcherCincinnati(AP)

List of All American Teams

National award winners

NFL Draft

The following list includes all AAC players who were drafted in the 2023 NFL draft.

PlayerPositionSchoolDraft
Round
Round
Pick
Overall
Pick
Team
Rashee Rice WR SMU 22455 Kansas City Chiefs
Nathaniel Dell WR Houston 3669 Houston Texans
Tyjae Spears RB Tulane 31881 Tennessee Titans
Dorian Williams LB Tulane 32891 Buffalo Bills
Tre Tucker WR Cincinnati 337100 Las Vegas Raiders
Tyler Scott WR Cincinnati 431133 Chicago Bears
Clayton Tune QB Houston 54139 Arizona Cardinals
Josh Whyle TE Cincinnati 512147 Tennessee Titans
Derek Parish FB Houston 723240 Jacksonville Jaguars
Gervarrius Owens S Houston 737254 New York Giants

Notes and references

  1. The East Carolina-South Florida game was moved to Boca Raton, Florida due to Hurricane Ian impact on the west coast of Florida. [53]
  2. Due to Hurricane Ian's impact on Orlando and surrounding areas, the UCF versus SMU football game was moved from Saturday, October 1 to Wednesday, October 5. [54]
  1. "Big 12 Conference Adds Four New Members". Big12Sports.com. Big 12 Conference. September 10, 2021.
  2. "American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  3. Blinder, Alan (December 5, 2021). "Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati Make College Football Playoff". New York Times . Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  4. "2021 Tulsa Football Schedule". tulsahurricane.com. University of Tulsa Athletics.
  5. Johnson, Richard (December 19, 2016). "2016 Miami Beach Bowl final score: Tulsa crushes Central Michigan". SBNation.com. vox media llc.
  6. "Bowser boosts UCF to 29-17 Gasparilla Bowl win over Florida". ESPN.com. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  7. "No. 21 Houston edges Auburn 17-13 in Birmingham Bowl". usatoday.com. December 28, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. "Bearcats Fall to No. 1 Alabama in CFP Semifinals". GoBearcats.com. University of Cincinnati Athletics. December 31, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. "Hawai'i Will Not Participate In EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl". hawaiiathletics.com. University of Hawaii. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  10. Adelson, Andrea (December 26, 2021). "Military, Fenway bowl canceled because of COVID-19 issues". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  11. "Virginia Withdraws from Fenway Bowl Due to COVID-19 Issues". VirginiaSports.com. University of Virginia Athletics. December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  12. "2022 Football Team Rankings". ESPN.com. February 2, 2022.
  13. "2022 Football Team Rankings". rivals.com. rivals.com.
  14. "2022 Composite Football Team Rankings". 247sports.com. 247sports.com.
  15. "The American Holds 2022 Football Media Day". American Athletic Conference. American Athletic Conference. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  16. "Houston Edges Cincinnati as Favorite in 2022 Preseason Media Poll". theAmerican.org. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  17. "LOTT IMPACT® TROPHY ANNOUNCES 2022 WATCH LIST". May 19, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  18. "Dodd Trophy Releases 2022 Preseason Watch List". July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  19. "2022 Maxwell Award Watch List Recipients – Maxwell Football Club". July 30, 2022.
  20. "Davey O'Brien Award Announces 2022 Preseason Watch List - 35 of nation's top returning quarterbacks honored on initial list". July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  21. "2022 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
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  24. "Rimington Trophy Press Release". July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  25. "Butkus Award 38th Season Watch List Announced" (PDF). thebutkusaward.com. The Butkus Award. July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  26. "2022 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST". July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  27. "2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List unveiled". sportswriters.net. FWWA. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  28. "2022 Outland Trophy Watch List unveiled". sportswriters.net. FWWA. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  29. "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2022 Preseason Watch List". July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  30. "2022 Watchlist". July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  31. "52 PLAYERS FROM 10 CONFERENCES, PLUS 3 INDEPENDENTS, NAMED TO 2022 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  32. "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils Watch List For 2022". July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  33. Carbone, Al (July 29, 2022). "Walter Camp 2022 Player of Year Preseason Watch List". waltercamp.org. Walter Camp Football Foundation. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  34. "2022 Bednarik Award Watch List" (PDF). Maxwell Football Club. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  35. "Rotary Lombardi Award®, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston, is pleased to announce the 77 players who will compete for this year's coveted award" (PDF). Rotary Lombardi Award. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  36. "THE PATRICK MANNELLY AWARD 2022 WATCHLIST" . Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  37. "Allstate Sugar Bowl Announces Manning Award Watch List" . Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  38. "Polynesian College Football Player of the Year 2022 watch list". polynesianfootballhof.org. Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  39. "The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Unveils 2022 Watch List" . Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  40. Jeyarajah, Shehan (November 30, 2021). "TCU hires Sonny Dykes: What's next as Horned Frogs tab SMU coach to replace Gary Patterson". CBS Sports.
  41. Rittenberg, Adam (November 29, 2021). "SMU Mustangs hire Miami Hurricanes OC Rhett Lashlee". ESPN.com. ESPN.
  42. "Temple Parts Ways with Head Football Coach Rod Carey". OwlsSports.com. November 29, 2021.
  43. "Stan Drayton Named Head Coach of Temple Football". OwlSports.com. Temple University Athletics. December 15, 2021.
  44. American Athletic Conference Coaches. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved Feb 18, 2021.
  45. "University of South Florida Makes Leadership Changes In Football Program". USF Athletics. November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  46. "Alex Golesh named sixth head coach of USF football". gousfbulls.com. University of South Florida. December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  47. "Wisconsin brings in Cincinnati's Fickell as coach". ESPN.com. November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  48. "Cincinnati Announces Scott Satterfield as Next Head Football Coach". Cincinnati Bearcats. December 5, 2022.
  49. "Tulsa fires coach Philip Montgomery after 8 seasons". espn.com. ESPN. November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  50. "Wilson takes over as Tulsa's new head football coach following six years at Ohio State". tulsahurricane.com. University of Tulsa. December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  51. Baumgartner, Blake (December 11, 2022). "Ken Niumatalolo out as Navy football coach". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  52. "American Announces 2022 Football Schedule". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  53. Gray, Malcolm (September 27, 2022). "ECU-South Florida game moved to Boca Raton, Fla. due to Hurricane Ian". WNCT-TV (Press release).
  54. "UCF Versus SMU Football Game Moved to Wednesday at 7 p.m." UCFKnights.com (Press release). September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  55. "American Athletic Conference Announces 2020-25 Bowl Lineup". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. July 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  56. "Houston's Tune, Baxa Join Tulane's Clark as Football Players of the Week". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  57. "Tulsa's Brin, Houston's Parish, Temple's Fox Take Weekly Football Honors". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  58. "UCF's Plumlee, Tulane's Anderson, Cincinnati's Fletcher Take Weekly Football Honors". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  59. "Cincinnati's Scott, Pace Join Navy's Davies as Weekly Football Honorees". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  60. "ECU's Ahlers, Tulane's Anderson, Memphis' Doyle Earn Weekly Football Honors". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  61. "Houston's Tune, Rogers Join Tulane's Clark as Weekly Football Honorees". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  62. "UCF's Plumlee, ECU's Wood, Memphis' Howard Named American Players of the Week". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  63. "Houston's Tune, ECU's Wilson, Cincinnati's Fletcher Named Football Players of the Week". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  64. "Houston's Tune, UCF's Celiscar, ECU's Conrad Named Players of the Week". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  65. "SMU's Mordecai, Tulane's Williams, Temple's Price Named Players of the Week". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  66. "UCF's Plumlee, Tulsa's Wright, Memphis' Howard Named Players of the Week". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  67. "Tulane's Pratt, Navy's Marshall, Cincinnati's Coe Named Players of the Week". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  68. "Tulane's Spears, SMU's Crossley, ECU's Hatfield Earn Final Weekly Football Honors". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  69. 1 2 "2022 Postseason Football Honors". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  70. "2010-11 NCAA Statistics Policies(updated 9/15/2010)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. September 15, 2010. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.

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