USF, UCF Remain Unbeaten
After a wild weekend across the college football landscape last weekend, we are down to eight unbeaten teams nationally, including two from the American Athletic Conference. USF stands at 6-0 as the Bulls take the nation’s longest active winning streak (11 games) into Saturday’s contest at Tulane. UCF is off to a 5-0 start for the first time in its Division I history as the Knights head to Annapolis, Maryland, to face Navy Saturday. The American’s two Florida-based institutions join Alabama, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), Penn State, TCU and Wisconsin as the nation’s unbeaten teams in 2017.
The American On The Midseason All-America Teams
A number of American Athletic Conference players have earned midyear accolades by major media outlets. UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton, who ranks second nationally in pass efficiency rating (203.6), was listed on fourth on the Heisman Trophy straw poll from the staff of The All-American, while Navy offensive guard Evan Martin, who paves the way for the nation’s leading rushing offense, was named to that outlet’s Midseason All-America team. Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and USF kicker Emilio Nadelman were named to the Associated Press Midseason All-America second team.
Three Ranked Teams Again
The American once again has three teams ranked in this week’s national polls, marking the 10th time in the conference’s brief history that at least three teams were ranked in the same week. USF moved up to No. 13 in the Amway Coaches’ Poll, UCF is at No. 20 in both the Associated Press and coaches’ polls, while Memphis checks in at No. 25 in the AP poll.
Memphis Visits Houston For ESPN’s Thursday Prime Time Matchup
All 12 American Athletic Conference teams are in action in Week 8, beginning with a key Thursday-night matchup in the wide open West Division on ESPN as Memphis visits Houston. Both teams are 2-1 in conference play, a half-game behind 3-1 in Navy in the West Division standings. Last year’s game between Memphis and Houston produced four lead changes in the final eight minutes before Memphis came away with a 48-44 win at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Saturday Tripleheader on CBS Sports Network
Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by a tripleheader on CBS Sports Network as a key league game is sandwiched by two nonconference matchups. The conference game has UCF at Navy at 3:30 p.m. ET in a matchup of division leaders. UCF is 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the East Division, while Navy comes in at 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the West. The day begins at noon on CBS Sports Network as Temple visits Army, while ECU has the evening window as the Pirates welcome BYU to Dowdy Ficklen Stadium.
ESPN Networks Have Three Saturday Games
In addition to the three games on CBS Sports Network, three key American Athletic Conference games will be televised on ESPN networks Saturday. ESPN2 has a 7 p.m. ET matchup as USF visits Tulane, while ESPNU has an American doubleheader as Tulsa is at UConn at noon ET and SMU visits Cincinnati at 4 p.m .ET.