AAC Week 9 Preview: UTSA Rests as FAU Visits North Texas and Army Heads to Memphis
UTSA finally gets a week off. After eight straight Saturdays (and one Thursday), this is the Roadrunners’ first bye of the season. The 7-1 Roadrunners are still the only team without a loss in American Conference play (4-0), and they get to put their feet up while the teams chasing them play each other. That includes both of UTSA’s next two opponents: Florida Atlantic visits North Texas on Thursday night (American Conference; UTSA schedule).
Week 9 has five league games across three nights, plus Navy’s non-conference meeting with No. 5 Notre Dame. Rice and Tulsa are also off. If you missed it, here’s our Week 8 recap and power rankings. All times are Central.
UTSA bye week: rest up, then FAU
UTSA’s 42-19 win at Tulane was its fifth straight, and the 7-1 start is the program’s best since 2021. The Roadrunners forced six turnovers in New Orleans, tied for the most by any team in a league game this season. Linebacker Owen Pewee had three sacks and was honored by the American Conference on Monday, and CBS Sports named Jeff Traylor and Jess Loepp its American Conference head coach and coordinator of the week (American Conference).
Next up: at Florida Atlantic on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. That kickoff was moved up 30 minutes from the original 7 p.m. CT. FAU leads the series 3-2, but UTSA won both meetings as American members, 36-10 in Boca Raton in 2023 and 38-24 at the Alamodome in 2024. North Texas comes to the Alamodome on Nov. 14 (UTSA Athletics; FAU Athletics).
Florida Atlantic (5-2, 2-1) at North Texas (5-2, 3-0): UTSA’s next two opponents, head to head
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN, from DATCU Stadium in Denton. It’s FAU’s first live game on the main ESPN channel since the 2020 Montgomery Bowl. FAU leads the all-time series 8-7 (American Conference; FAU Athletics).
This could be the shootout of the week. North Texas averages 43.1 points (second in FBS) and 525.7 yards (fourth) per game, and FAU throws for 311.9 yards per game (eighth). Both defenses have been leaky. FAU allows 258.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks 137th nationally, and North Texas gives up 30.6 points per game. North Texas opened as a 10.5-point favorite (AP/ESPN preview). Both teams played Saturday, so it’s a short week on both sides. Can the Owls’ defense, which just gave up 49 points to Rice, slow down a Mean Green offense that has scored 40-plus in four straight?
Players to watch
- Tayven Jackson, QB, North Texas: 2,173 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 72.4% completion rate. He was 17-of-23 for 305 yards and three touchdowns at Navy (ESPN).
- Jahiem White, RB, North Texas: 861 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 116 carries. That’s a big number to bring against the nation’s 137th-ranked run defense.
- Justin Stevenson, WR, North Texas: 41 catches for 662 yards and seven touchdowns, including eight for 209 at Navy.
- Caden Veltkamp, QB, FAU: 2,082 yards, 18 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 73.0% completion rate (ESPN).
- Easton Messer, WR, FAU: 56 catches for 702 yards, coming off a five-touchdown day against Rice (two rushing, two receiving and an 82-yard punt return) (FAU Athletics).
Tulane (3-4, 1-2) at Charlotte (1-6, 1-2): Friday night in the Queen City
Friday, 6 p.m. CT, ESPN2, from Jerry Richardson Stadium. It’s Military Appreciation night in Charlotte. Tulane is 2-0 all-time against the 49ers and won 34-3 in 2024 and 27-0 last season (Charlotte Athletics; Tulane Athletics).
Tulane went from six takeaways against Memphis to six giveaways against UTSA. The Green Wave have lost all four road games, but Charlotte’s defense allows 40.6 points and 465.1 yards per game, and its -11 turnover margin is last in FBS (138th). Tulane opened as a 10.5-point favorite. Charlotte comes in off a 38-31 win over Temple and a bye (AP/ESPN preview). The big question is at quarterback. Kadin Semonza leads the team in passing yards, but Trace Johnson started against Memphis and led Tulane in passing at UTSA, according to ESPN. Who gets the call Friday?
Players to watch
- Johnnie Daniels, RB, Tulane: 394 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 66 carries. He ran eight times for 104 yards against UTSA (American Conference).
- Trace Johnson, QB, Tulane: 24-of-44 for 265 yards and two interceptions at UTSA (ESPN).
- Conner Harrell, QB, Charlotte: 23-of-31 for 281 yards and two touchdowns, plus two rushing touchdowns, in the win over Temple.
- Henry Rutledge, RB, Charlotte: 17 carries for 123 yards against Temple. Tulane allows 214.0 rushing yards per game (132nd).
UAB (4-3, 2-1) at USF (5-2, 1-2): Halloween in Tampa
Saturday, 11 a.m. CT, ESPNU, from Raymond James Stadium. Both teams are coming off byes. USF leads the series 3-2 and has won the last two, 35-25 in 2024 and 48-18 last season (USF Athletics; UAB Athletics).
USF’s defense is the story. The Bulls allow 15.1 points per game, 10th nationally, and gave up just two points to Kent State last time out. UAB has the nation’s top-ranked pass defense (126.0 yards per game) but ranks 121st against the run. USF opened as an 8.5-point favorite (AP/ESPN preview). The Bulls are 4-0 outside the league but 1-2 in it. Is this the week they get back into the race?
Players to watch
- Michael Van Buren Jr., QB, USF: six touchdowns and no interceptions, according to ESPN’s preview. He was 22-of-27 against Kent State.
- D.J. Crowther, RB, USF: 518 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 105 carries.
- Ryder Burton, QB, UAB: 1,184 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw for 262 yards and two scores in the overtime win over ECU.
- Muazz Byard, LB, UAB: 69 tackles and four games with 10 or more (American Conference).
Temple (2-5, 1-2) at East Carolina (3-4, 1-2): Two teams that need it
Saturday, 2 p.m. CT, ESPN+, from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville. ECU leads the series 13-9 and has won five straight, including 45-14 last season. Temple’s last win in Greenville was 27-17 in 2019 (Temple Athletics).
ECU has lost two straight in overtime and could not hold a 16-3 halftime lead at Memphis. According to Temple’s game notes, the Pirates have allowed 19 sacks and committed 13 turnovers. Temple has run for at least 100 yards in every game and averages 202.1 rushing yards per game. ECU opened as a 4.5-point favorite (AP/ESPN preview). Emory Williams leads the Pirates in passing, but Mitch Griffis started at Memphis. Will ECU settle on one quarterback this week?
Players to watch
- Ajani Sheppard, QB, Temple: 1,127 passing yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s tied for second nationally with four completions of 60-plus yards (Temple Athletics).
- Keveun Mason, RB, Temple: 513 rushing yards.
- Peter Clarke, TE, Temple: Temple’s career record holder for touchdown catches by a tight end (11), after a 127-yard game against Charlotte.
- Landon Sides, WR, ECU: seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown at Memphis.
- TJ Engleman Jr., RB, ECU: 582 rushing yards and four touchdowns (ESPN).
Army (5-2, 4-1) at Memphis (6-2, 3-1): Halloween night’s main event
Saturday, 7 p.m. CT, ESPNU, from Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. It’s Homecoming and Hero Day in Memphis. Memphis leads the series 4-1, but these teams haven’t met since 2002 (Memphis Athletics; Memphis game center).
This one has real league title stakes. Army leads FBS in rushing at 345.7 yards per game and ranks third in time of possession (34:32). Memphis averages 509.0 yards per game (seventh) but ranks 103rd against the run (171.4 yards allowed per game). Army has won three straight, two of them on walk-off field goals, and kicker Dawson Jones picked up his second league weekly award after the 50-yarder at Tulsa. Memphis opened as a 6.5-point favorite (AP/ESPN preview). Can the Tigers get Army off the field, or does the triple option keep Marcus Stokes on the sideline?
Players to watch
- Cale Hellums, QB, Army: 840 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on 159 carries. He ran for 121 yards and three scores at Tulsa (ESPN).
- Godspower Nwawuihe, RB, Army: 12 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown at Tulsa (American Conference).
- Marcus Stokes, QB, Memphis: 2,161 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. He accounted for five touchdowns against ECU.
- Jaylin Carter, RB, Memphis: 833 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 128 carries.
Non-conference: Navy (2-5, 1-4) vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (6-1)
Saturday, 11 a.m. CT, ABC, from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. It’s the 99th meeting in the series. Navy last beat the Irish in 2016 (28-27). Jackson Gutierrez has 12 rushing touchdowns and averages 124.6 rushing yards per game, but Notre Dame has the nation’s No. 1 total defense (235 yards per game). The Mids need to win their next four to reach bowl eligibility (Navy Athletics). It doesn’t count in the league standings, so it’s not on our picks list.
American Conference standings
| Team | American | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| UTSA | 4-0 | 7-1 |
| North Texas | 3-0 | 5-2 |
| Army | 4-1 | 5-2 |
| Memphis | 3-1 | 6-2 |
| Florida Atlantic | 2-1 | 5-2 |
| UAB | 2-1 | 4-3 |
| South Florida | 1-2 | 5-2 |
| Tulane | 1-2 | 3-4 |
| East Carolina | 1-2 | 3-4 |
| Temple | 1-2 | 2-5 |
| Charlotte | 1-2 | 1-6 |
| Tulsa | 1-3 | 4-4 |
| Navy | 1-4 | 2-5 |
| Rice | 0-4 | 1-7 |
Standings through Week 8 (American Conference). Our Week 8 Snap Count Power Rankings have UTSA at No. 1, followed by North Texas, Army, Memphis and Florida Atlantic. The full top 10 is in the Week 8 recap.
Snap Count picks (our opinion)
These are our opinions, nothing more. We went 3-1 on winners last week, and yes, the Navy upset pick missed.
- North Texas 45, FAU 34: Messer will get his, but Jahiem White against that run defense is too much. UNT stays unbeaten in league play and sets up a big one at the Alamodome on Nov. 14.
- Tulane 27, Charlotte 17: The Green Wave are 0-4 on the road, but a -11 turnover margin is hard to win with. We’ll take Tulane to bounce back.
- USF 24, UAB 17: The best scoring defense in the league at home on Halloween. The Bulls grind one out.
- Upset alert: Temple 28, ECU 24: ECU keeps losing close ones, and Temple’s run game can shorten this one. We’ll take the Owls to snap the streak in Greenville.
- Army 27, Memphis 24: Memphis has the better offense, but Army has the clock and a kicker who keeps hitting from 50. We’ll ride the Black Knights to a fourth straight win.
Sources
- American Conference: Time/TV updates for Week 9
- American Conference: Week 8 postgame notebook and standings
- UTSA Athletics: UTSA/Florida Atlantic game selected for ESPN
- UTSA Athletics: 2026 football schedule
- FAU Athletics: Florida Atlantic hosts UTSA on ESPN
- FAU Athletics: Florida Atlantic at North Texas to air on ESPN
- FAU Athletics: Messer’s five touchdowns lead Owls
- Charlotte Athletics: Tulane game center
- Tulane Athletics: Charlotte game center
- USF Athletics: Bulls, Blazers to kick off at noon on Halloween
- UAB Athletics: UAB-South Florida selected for ESPNU
- Temple Athletics: Game guide, East Carolina
- Memphis Athletics: Memphis-Army kickoff set for 7 p.m. on ESPNU
- Navy Athletics: Navy and Notre Dame set for 99th meeting
- AP/ESPN game previews: FAU-North Texas, Tulane-Charlotte, UAB-USF, Temple-ECU, Army-Memphis
UTSA is off, but the race for the top of the American isn’t. Want more American Conference coverage all week long? Follow @SASnapcount210 on X.