The AAC: It’s stronger than it looks.
The American Athletic Conference is as strong as it has ever been. Cincinatti, UCF, and SMU have moved up to the power five, but this conference still has teeth. Strong teeth at that. The question is whether this conference will produce one elite team or let the parity at the top beat each other out of the playoff conversation. Let’s take a dip into this underrated conference and see if the answer lies within.
Current AAC Standings:
- Navy 3-0
- Bye
- Memphis 3-0
- vs (2-1) Arkansas
- North Texas 3-0
- at (1-2) Army
- Tulane 3-0
- at (3-0) Mississippi
- East Carolina 2-1
- vs (2-0) BYU
- Rice 2-1
- at (1-2) Charlotte on Thursday Night
- South Florida 2-1
- vs South Carolina St
- Temple 2-1
- UAB 2-1
- at (2-1) Tennessee
There are zero winless teams in this conference. Tulsa is technically the bottom at 1-2. South Florida has the strongest resume with wins over Boise St and Florida and their one loss coming at Miami.
Tulane has the next best resume after beating a Big10 and an ACC opponent along with winning at feisty South Alabama.
North Texas is at Army who lost to Tarleton St then beat Kansas St. Who knows what to expect there. I will say that the Mean Green need to run the table to make the playoff as they lack a P4 opponent on the schedule. They did impressively dismantle Washington St this past week, but the Cougars are without a conference and will struggle to win more than five games this year.
Memphis has three wins but against Chattanooga and two Sun Belt bottom feeders on the road. Tough wins in Atlanta and Troy but they are wins that will not carry weight in a playoff resume conversation. This is their weekend to massively improve their national status. By season’s end Memphis will have played Tulane, Navy, and South Florida so as always, the on-field action will decide the results.
The best-case scenario for the conference is that one team carries the torch and wins at least 11 games and the conference title game. Only then will this conference produce the Group of Five’s representative in the playoff. The worst-case scenario is that the top-level teams in this strong conference beat each other and lose their resume building games, but let’s not hope for that. This site will root for the Hometown Tigers to run the table.
11-1 was their preseason prediction and that is certainly on the table as is the case for Tulane, Navy, and of course South Florida.
Memphis and Tulane are at risk this weekend against SEC opponents, but both should compete and have the potential to pull the upset. South Florida is playing a ‘get-right’ game against SC St. Navy is resting this weekend and will host Rice off the bye.
In my opinion, no other conference outside the Power 4 is as strong as the AAC, and I will further argue that it is as strong as the ACC. At least the AAC doesn’t have 0-3 Virginia Tech and 1-2 Clemson dragging it down. Tongue in cheek I’ll admit, but the Hokies truly are in need of some serious help. I’ll throw my hat in the ring to help them on the defensive strategy side. I’ll work for all expenses paid and $1/ month for one season. Again, tongue in cheek mostly, but I do see a serious need in that program and would love to help rebuild the house that Beamer built. The legendary Frank Beamer deserves better.
I digress; this is about the AAC. This conference is healthy and gaining popularity and strength with every unpredictable win. I won’t be surprised in the slightest if one of the precious twelve chosen at season’s end will be a representative of the AAC. I’ll be elated if it’s Memphis.
Keep grinding out the tough wins in this conference and that is exactly what the result will be.
“Is this off the record Daddio? Good. In that case, let me sum it up real quick”- Dean Andrews
Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’
Whit W.