Tulane and SMU will meet next Saturday in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game after both schools finished 8-0 in conference play. The game will be at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on ABC, with pregame coverage at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
It will be the second American Championship Game between teams that went 8-0 in conference play (Cincinnati vs. Houston in 2021) and the third championship game between conference unbeatens (Cincinnati and Tulsa were 6-0 in 2000).
The American Championship Game will be one of six conference championship games between teams ranked in last week’s USA Today Coaches’ Poll (along with the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC championship games).
The American has six bowl-eligible teams: Tulane, SMU, UTSA, Memphis, Rice and South Florida.
Tulane will be the third school to host the American Athletic Conference Championship Game in back-to-back seasons (UCF in 2017-18, Cincinnati in 2020-21).
Tulane went 8-0 in conference play for the second time in program history and the first time since 1934 in the SEC.
SMU went 8-0 in conference play for the first time in program history.
Two American Athletic Conference games were decided in the final second Saturday. Tulsa defeated East Carolina 29-27 on a Chase Meyer field goal with one second left, and North Texas topped UAB 45-42 on a field goal from Noah Rauschenberg as time expired.
The American’s postseason individual award-winners will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 29.
Notable Week 13 Performances
Makhi Hughes, RB, Tulane
26 att., 166 yards, 1 TD in 29-16 win against UTSA
Kam Pedescleaux, S, Tulane
6 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 pass breakups in 29-16 win against UTSA
Preston Stone, QB, SMU
14 of 19, 322 yards, 3 TDs in 59-14 win against Navy
Kelvontay Dixon, WR, SMU
4 rec., 125 yards, 2 TDs in 59-14 win against Navy
Seth Henigan, QB, Memphis
18 of 28, 250 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT in 45-21 win at Temple
Amad Anderson Jr., WR, Temple
7 rec., 169 yards, 2 TDs in 45-21 loss to Memphis
AJ Padgett, QB, Rice
24 of 37, 255 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT in 24-21 win against Florida Atlantic
Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
12 rec., 141 yards, 1 TD in 24-21 win against Florida Atlantic
Byrum Brown, QB, South Florida
22 of 30, 253 yards, 4 TDs; 43 rush yards, 1 TD in 48-14 win against Charlotte
Chandler Rogers, QB, North Texas
30 of 53, 404 yards, 3 TDs in 45-42 win against UAB
Ayo Adeyi, RB, North Texas
18 att., 132 yards, 2 TDs in 45-42 win against UAB
Noah Rauschenberg, K, North Texas
3-3 FG (34, 24, 32), 13 points, game-winning FG as time expired in 45-42 win against UAB
Kirk Francis, QB, Tulsa
23 of 37, 297 yards, 2 TDs in 29-27 win at East Carolina
Kendarin Ray, S, Tulsa
15 tackles in 29-27 win at East Carolina
Jamal Ligon, LB, UTSA
7 tackles, 1 sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble in a 29-16 loss to No. 18 Tulane
Jermaine Brown Jr., RB, UAB
18 att., 116 yards, 2 TDs; 180 all-purpose yards in 45-42 loss to North Texas
Rahjai Harris, RB, East Carolina
21 att., 145 yards, 1 TD in 29-27 loss to Tulsa
Week 13 Results
Friday, November 24
Memphis 45, Temple 21 * (Noon, ESPN)
UTSA 29, Tulane 16 * (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Saturday, November 25
SMU 59, Navy 14 * (Noon, ESPN2)
Rice 24, Florida Atlantic 21 * (1 p.m., ESPN+)
North Texas 45, UAB 42 * (2 p.m., ESPN+)
Tulsa 29, East Carolina 27 * (2 p.m., ESPN+)
South Florida 48, Charlotte 14 * (7:30 p.m., ESPNU)
Upcoming Games
Saturday, December 2
American Athletic Conference Championship
SMU at Tulane (4 p.m., ABC)
Saturday, December 9
Army vs. Navy (3:30 p.m., CBS)
