AAC Week 6 Preview: USF Visits the Alamodome Thursday, UAB and Memphis Battle for the Bones
Week 5 shook up the American Conference standings. Week 6 could do it again. Five teams are 1-0 in league play, the league’s last unbeaten team just took its first loss, and two of the unbeaten teams meet Saturday night in Memphis. It all starts Thursday night in San Antonio, where UTSA hosts South Florida on ESPN with ESPN’s SportsCenter on Campus broadcasting live from the Alamodome (UTSA Athletics).
Six of the seven games are league matchups. Florida Atlantic has the week off.
Week 6 schedule
All times Central. Records are overall, then American Conference (theamerican.org; ESPN; UAB Athletics).
| Date | Matchup | Kickoff (CT) | TV | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 8 | South Florida (4-1, 1-1) at UTSA (4-1, 1-0) | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN | Alamodome, San Antonio |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | Tulane (2-2, 0-0) at Army (2-2, 1-1) | 11 a.m. | CBSSN | Michie Stadium, West Point, N.Y. |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | Charlotte (0-5, 0-1) at North Texas (3-2, 1-0) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+ | DATCU Stadium, Denton |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | Tulsa (3-2, 0-1) at Navy (1-3, 0-2) | 2:30 p.m. | CBSSN | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md. |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | UConn (2-3) at Temple (2-3, 1-1)* | 2:45 p.m. | ESPNU | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | Rice (1-4, 0-1) at East Carolina (2-2, 0-0) | 3 p.m. | ESPN+ | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, N.C. |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | UAB (3-2, 1-0) at Memphis (4-1, 1-0) | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis |
*Nonconference. Idle: Florida Atlantic (4-1, 1-0), which plays at Army on Oct. 17.
A note on the numbers: season stats below come from ESPN’s team leaders entering Week 6. Win percentages are from ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, and the betting lines are DraftKings numbers listed by ESPN as of Sunday, Oct. 4. Lines move, so check before kickoff.
Thursday: South Florida at UTSA, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
The setup: USF came into Week 5 as the league’s last unbeaten team. Temple ended that run with a 96-yard drive and Ajani Sheppard’s 34-yard touchdown run in the final minutes. Now the Bulls (4-1, 1-1) have a short week and a trip to the Alamodome. UTSA (4-1, 1-0) had a short turnaround too after a 16-14 grind at Rice, a game won by a defense that made a season-high 10 tackles for loss and finished it with sacks on Rice’s final drive (UTSA Athletics; theamerican.org).
The series: It’s 1-1. UTSA won the first meeting 49-21 at the Alamodome in 2023, when Frank Harris piled up 523 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. USF evened it last November in Tampa with a 55-23 rout (USF Athletics; UTSA Athletics). That loss should give the Roadrunners some extra motivation.
Players to watch: UTSA’s Owen McCown has thrown for 1,010 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Will Henderson III has 398 rushing yards and three scores, and DJ Allen Jr. leads the team with 18 catches for 269 yards. For USF, Michael Van Buren Jr. has thrown for 896 yards and three touchdowns. D.J. Crowther has 393 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and Joshua Porter has 18 catches for 240 yards. On defense, UTSA’s Brandon Tucker leads with 44 tackles and USF’s Michael Williams II has 2.5 sacks (ESPN).
What to watch: Can UTSA’s front keep up last week’s pace? Rice’s Jacurri Brown ran for 96 yards and two scores, so containing the quarterback is still a work in progress. USF managed just 319 yards against Temple and lost a fumble on its final drive, so the Bulls’ offense needs a rebound too (ESPN box score).
By the numbers: UTSA is a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5 (DraftKings via ESPN), and ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives the Roadrunners a 61.4% chance to win (ESPN).
Before kickoff: ESPN’s SportsCenter on Campus airs live at 4 p.m. from Rowdy Town Live at the Alamodome’s H-E-B Plaza. Rowdy Town Live opens at 3 p.m., and Spirit Walk moves there for this game at about 3:45 p.m. (UTSA Athletics). If you’re in San Antonio, get there early.
UAB at Memphis, 6 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2: Battle for the Bones
The setup: This is the week’s biggest Saturday game. Both teams are 1-0 in league play, and the Bones trophy is on the line. UAB leads the series 11-7 heading into the 19th meeting. Last season the Blazers beat then-No. 22 Memphis 31-24 at Protective Stadium, bringing the trophy back to Birmingham for the first time since 2011 (UAB Athletics via BVM Sports).
Players to watch: Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes has thrown for 1,371 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, and five of those touchdowns came in last week’s 59-8 rout at Charlotte. Hunter Tipton has 367 receiving yards and five scores, Jaylin Carter has run for 513 yards and six touchdowns, and Elijah Kinsler has 3.5 sacks. UAB’s Ryder Burton has 791 passing yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Rod Robinson II leads the Blazers with 338 rushing yards, and Marlin Dean, an offensive lineman turned defensive lineman, has five sacks (ESPN; The American on Dean).
What to watch: Can Dean and the UAB pass rush get to Stokes? Memphis has put up big numbers, but UAB has won two straight, and its defense picked off Samford three times last week (AP). ESPN’s Matchup Predictor likes Memphis at 91.8%. A UAB win on the road would scramble the top of the standings (ESPN).
Tulane at Army, 11 a.m. Saturday, CBSSN
The setup: Tulane (2-2) starts league play after a bye. Army (2-2, 1-1) is coming off a 31-29 loss at Louisiana Tech that came down to a failed onside kick. Last year, Tulane beat Army 24-17 in New Orleans when Jake Retzlaff threw two touchdown passes in the final two minutes (AP).
Players to watch: Army quarterback Cale Hellums has 301 rushing yards with six touchdowns and 337 passing yards. Samari Howard ran for 158 yards at Louisiana Tech, including a 54-yard touchdown. Tulane’s Kadin Semonza has thrown for 646 yards and three touchdowns, and Maurice Turner leads the Green Wave with 277 rushing yards (ESPN).
By the numbers: Army is a 6.5-point favorite and the total is 44.5 (DraftKings via ESPN). ESPN’s predictor has it closer, with Army at 55.2%. Expect a low-scoring game that comes down to time of possession (ESPN).
Charlotte at North Texas, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
The setup: North Texas (3-2, 1-0) comes home after a 45-44 overtime win at Tulsa that was Neal Brown’s first American Conference victory as UNT’s coach. Charlotte (0-5, 0-1) is still looking for its first win after a 59-8 loss to Memphis (AP).
Players to watch: Jahiem White leads UNT with 582 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns after his 219-yard night in Tulsa. Tayven Jackson has thrown for 1,519 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Justin Stevenson has 331 receiving yards. Charlotte quarterback Cole Gonzales has seven interceptions, and Henry Rutledge broke a 75-yard touchdown run against Memphis (ESPN).
What to watch: ESPN gives UNT a 96.5% chance. The real question is whether Charlotte can slow down White (ESPN).
Tulsa at Navy, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, CBSSN
The setup: Both teams need their first league win. Navy (1-3, 0-2) has lost three straight by eight points or fewer: 38-30 at FAU, 24-20 at UAB and 14-9 at Air Force. Tulsa (3-2, 0-1) has dropped two in a row, most recently the one-point overtime loss to North Texas. Navy won last year’s meeting 42-23 in Tulsa (ESPN).
Players to watch: For Tulsa, Damari Alston has 292 rushing yards and five touchdowns, Oran Singleton Jr. has 306 receiving yards, and Thomas Davis has four sacks. Navy’s Braxton Woodson has 299 rushing yards and four scores, and MarcAnthony Parker has four sacks to go with 33 tackles. The Midshipmen went just 1-for-11 on third down against Air Force, so that number has to improve (ESPN; AP).
By the numbers: ESPN’s predictor has Tulsa at 51.6%, which is basically a coin flip (ESPN).
Rice at East Carolina, 3 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
The setup: East Carolina (2-2) opens league play after a bye and has won two straight, 20-17 at Old Dominion and 42-9 over NC Central. Rice (1-4, 0-1) nearly upset UTSA last week, putting together a 20-play, 88-yard touchdown drive before UTSA’s defense shut the door (UTSA Athletics).
Players to watch: Rice quarterback Jacurri Brown leads the Owls in both rushing (495 yards, four touchdowns) and passing (410 yards). ECU’s TJ Engleman Jr. leads the Pirates with 250 rushing yards, and Ray Ray Joseph Jr. has 19 catches. ESPN’s predictor gives ECU an 82.8% chance (ESPN).
UConn at Temple, 2:45 p.m. Saturday, ESPNU (nonconference)
The setup: Temple (2-3, 1-1) comes back to Lincoln Financial Field after its upset in Tampa. UConn (2-3) is coming off a 42-41 loss to Syracuse. Huskies quarterback Kalieb Osborne has thrown for 1,164 yards and 10 touchdowns, so Temple’s defense will be tested. Sheppard, who has 631 passing yards and six touchdowns, leads the Owls’ offense, and linebacker Curly Ordonez has 50 tackles. ESPN’s predictor favors Temple at 64% (ESPN).
Three questions for Week 6
- Can UTSA win a big Thursday night game? A win over USF on national TV would move the Roadrunners to 2-0 and further into the title conversation.
- Who leaves Memphis unbeaten in league play? UAB and Memphis can’t both stay 1-0, and the winner keeps the Bones.
- Does anyone get off the mat? Navy, Tulsa, Rice and Charlotte are all looking for their first league win. At least one of Navy and Tulsa will get it Saturday.
Need to catch up first? Read our UTSA-Colorado State recap from Week 4. Birds up!
Sources
- American Conference: Time/TV Updates for Week 6 (Oct. 8-10)
- ESPN Week 6 American Conference scoreboard: game pages for USF-UTSA, Tulane-Army, Charlotte-UNT, Tulsa-Navy, UConn-Temple, Rice-ECU, UAB-Memphis (team leaders, Matchup Predictor, DraftKings lines)
- UAB Athletics via BVM Sports: UAB-Memphis set for 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2 · UAB Athletics: six-day selection
- UTSA Athletics: Roadrunners hold off Owls in league opener (USF game and SportsCenter on Campus details)
- USF Athletics: history vs. UTSA · UTSA Athletics: 2025 USF game notes
- American Conference: Temple Hands South Florida First Loss
- AP: Tulane edges Army 24-17 (2025) · ESPN: Navy 42, Tulsa 23 (2025)
- AP Week 5 recaps via ESPN: UNT-Tulsa, UAB-Samford, Air Force-Navy, Louisiana Tech-Army
Following the Roadrunners and the rest of the American all week? Follow @SASnapcount210 on X for Thursday night updates from the Alamodome.