Half of the equation for the American Athletic Conference Football Championship is complete as Navy clinched the West Division title with a win at East Carolina. The Midshipmen’s opponent as well as the site of the championship game, will be determined in the final weekend of regular-season play as Temple and USF challenge for the East Division spot.
The Owls hold the inside track in the East based on their October victory against the Bulls. That means that Temple would reach the Championship for the second straight year with a win against East Carolina Saturday or a USF loss to UCF Friday. The Bulls would need to defeat the Knights and see Temple fall to the Pirates in order to grab the East Division pennant.
The week began with Houston’s second win of the year against the No. 3-ranked team in the national polls. The Cougars became the only team in FBS football to register two top-five wins in 2016 with a 36-10 victory against Louisville Thursday at TDECU Stadium. QB Greg Ward Jr. threw two touchdown passes, but the Cougar defense delivered the victory, setting an American Athletic Conference record with 11 sacks. LB Steven Taylor had 14 tackles with 2.5 sacks, while DT Ed Oliver had six tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups.
Navy claimed the crown in the West with a 66-31 victory against East Carolina as the Midshipmen rushed for 480 yards and an American Athletic Conference-record nine touchdowns, including a 159-yard, four-TD effort from QB Will Worth. But Navy wasn’t the only team to rewrite the record book as East Carolina WR Zay Jones became the NCAA career receptions leader with his 12-catch, 212-yard performance. Jones finished the game with 392 career receptions, passing the old mark of 387, held by former teammate Justin Hardy.
Temple maintained control of the East Division race as the Owls took a 31-0 win at Tulane. The Owls limited the Green Wave to eight first downs and 142 yards of offense to register their second consecutive road shutout and hold their opponent below 200 total yards for the third straight game. QB Phillip Walker led the offense with 337 passing yards and two touchdowns.
USF remained tied with Temple atop the East Division and matched its school record for wins as the Bulls improved to 9-2 with a 35-27 win at SMU, the Bulls’ 15th consecutive game with at least 30 points. QB Quinton Flowers accounted for 337 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, while the Bulls withstood career-best performances from SMU WR Courtland Sutton (13 catches, 252 yards, two TDs) and QB Ben Hicks (380 yards, two TDs).
Tulsa pulled away for a 35-20 win at UCF in a game that was tied 14-14 at halftime. RB D’Angelo Brewer rushed for 167 yards and two TDs, while RB James Flanders had 163 yards and a touchdown to pace the Golden Hurricane, which improved to 8-3 overall and 5-2 in The American.
Memphis picked up its seventh win of the season as the Tigers scored the first 34 points of a 34-7 victory against Cincinnati. QB Jason Stewart led the way offensively as he came off the bench in the first quarter to throw for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while the Tigers limited the Bearcats to 244 total yards and forced three turnovers.
UConn dropped a 30-0 decision at Boston College to complete its nonconference schedule. S Obi Melifonwu finished with a game-high 11 tackles for the Huskies.