For the first time in American Athletic Conference history, three teams enter the final week of regular-season play unbeaten in conference play as Tulane, SMU and UTSA all stand at 7-0 in league games.
The American is the only NCAA FBS conference with three unbeaten teams in conference play through Week 12 and is one of two conferences that will have two unbeaten teams in conference play against each other in the final week of the season (Big Ten – Ohio State vs. Michigan).
The participants in the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship Game will be determined by the results of two games in Week 13. The winner of Friday’s matchup between UTSA and Tulane (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) will clinch a spot, while SMU would clinch a spot with a win against Navy Saturday (Noon ET, ESPN2).
Four scenarios remain to determine the 2023 Championship Game participants.
1. Tulane defeats UTSA; SMU defeats Navy
Tulane and SMU would meet in the Championship Game. The home team would be the team that is ranked highest in this Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings.
2. Tulane defeats UTSA; Navy defeats SMU
Tulane would host either SMU or UTSA in the Championship Game. The visiting team would be determined by an average of four computer ratings (Anderson & Hester, Colley, Massey, Wolfe) announced Sunday, Nov. 26.
3. UTSA defeats Tulane; SMU defeats Navy
UTSA and SMU would meet in the Championship Game. The home team would be the team that is ranked highest in this Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings. If neither team is ranked, the home team would be determined by an average of four computer ratings (Anderson & Hester, Colley, Massey, Wolfe) announced Sunday, Nov. 26.
4. UTSA defeats Tulane; Navy defeats SMU
UTSA would host either SMU or Tulane in the Championship Game. The visiting team would be determined by an average of four computer ratings (Anderson & Hester, Colley, Massey, Wolfe) announced Sunday, Nov. 26.
Tulane is 22-3 in the last two seasons, ranking third nationally in wins behind only Georgia (26) and Michigan (23) since 2022.
Tulane has won 10 consecutive road games, trailing only Georgia (14) and Michigan (11) for the longest active streak nationally.
SMU is 7-0 in conference play for the first time since 1982, when the Mustangs were members of the Southwest Conference.
UTSA has won 17 consecutive games against conference opponents (regular season and postseason), dating to the 2021 Conference USA Championship Game.
UTSA set a program record with 643 yards of offense in Friday’s win against South Florida.
UTSA QB Frank Harris became the 15th NCAA FBS player to pass for 400 yards (411) and rush for 100 (112) in the same game in the Roadrunners’ win against South Florida. He is the fourth American Athletic Conference player to accomplish the feat.
400 PASSING YARDS, 100 RUSHING YARDS (AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYERS)
Frank Harris, UTSA vs. South Florida, 11/17, 23 (112 rush, 411 pass)
Clayton Tune, Houston vs. SMU, 11/5/22 (111 rush, 527 pass)
Quinton Flowers, South Florida vs. UCF, 11/24/17 (102 rush, 503 pass)
D’Eriq King, Houston vs. South Florida, 10/27/18 (132 rush, 419 pass)
Navy’s 10-0 win against East Carolina matched the record for the lowest-scoring game in American Athletic Conference history.
FEWEST POINTS – TWO TEAMS
10 UConn (7) at Tulane (3), 11/7/15
Wake Forest (7) vs. Tulane (3), 9/3/16
Navy (10) vs. East Carolina (0), 11/18/22
Navy registered its third shutout of the season and held its fourth opponent without a touchdown this season. Navy is the only NCAA FBS team with three shutouts this season.
East Carolina was shut out for the first time since a 56-0 loss to Syracuse Oct. 4, 1997 – a span of 322 games.
Memphis QB Seth Henigan passed for 402 yards and two touchdowns against SMU, giving him school records with 17 career 300-yard games and five career 400-yard games.
Notable Week 12 Performances
Frank Harris, QB, UTSA
31 of 46, 411 yards, 3 TDs, 10 carries, 112 yards, 3 rush TDs; 523 yards of total offense in 49-21 win against South Florida
Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
21 of 28, 252 yards, 3 TDs in 24-8 win at Florida Atlantic
Preston Stone, QB, SMU
15 of 23, 286 yards, 2 TDs, 1 rush TD in 38-34 win at Memphis
Charles Woods, S, SMU
6 tackles, 4 pass breakups in 38-34 win at Memphis
Colin Ramos, LB, Navy
10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss in 10-0 win against East Carolina
Dean Connors, RB, Rice
19 carries, career-high 184 yards in 28-7 win at Charlotte
Chandler Rogers, QB, North Texas
19 of 31, 294 yards, 3 TDs in 35-28 win at Tulsa
Jermaine Brown Jr., RB, UAB
20 carries, 153 yards, 1 TD in 34-24 win against Temple
Seth Henigan, QB, Memphis
35 of 51, 402 yards, 2 TDs in 38-34 loss to SMU
Demeer Blankumsee, WR, Memphis
9 rec., 114 yards, 2 TDs in 38-34 loss to SMU
E.J. Warner, QB, Temple
25 of 46, 323 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT in 34-24 loss at UAB
Week 12 Results
Friday, November 17
UTSA 49, South Florida 21 *
Saturday, November 18
Navy 10, East Carolina 0 *
Tulane 24, Florida Atlantic 8 *
SMU 38, Memphis 34 *
Rice 28, Charlotte 7 *
UAB 34, Temple 24 *
North Texas 35, Tulsa 28 *
Week 13 Schedule
Friday, November 24
Memphis at Temple * (Noon, ESPN)
UTSA at Tulane * (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Saturday, November 25
Navy at SMU * (Noon, ESPN2)
Florida Atlantic at Rice * (1 p.m., ESPN+)
UAB at North Texas * (2 p.m., ESPN+)
Tulsa at East Carolina * (2 p.m., ESPN+)
Charlotte at South Florida * (7:30 p.m., ESPNU)
