American Athletic Conference football

CFN Preseason All-American Athletic Conference Football Team, Top 30 Players: Preview 2022

Who are the best players in the American Athletic Conference going into the 2022 college football season? They’re highlighted in the CFN 2022 Preseason All-American Athletic Conference team and top 30 players.

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2022 Preseason CFN American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year

QB Clayton Tune, Sr. Houston

Can Tune be for Houston what Desmond Ridder was for Cincinnati last year? The numbers should be strong – SMU QB Tanner Mordecai might have the better passing season, though – but it’s more than that. Tune is the veteran leader on what should be the best team in the American Athletic Conference – and the stats aren’t bad, either.

He hit 68% of his passes for 3,546 yards and 30 touchdowns and ten picks, ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and led the way to a terrific 12-win season with a bowl victory. Now Houston is looking for even more.

2022 Preseason CFN American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year

LB Deshawn Pace, Jr. Cincinnati

Call this a projection that Pace takes his game up a few notches and becomes an even bigger terror for offenses.

An underappreciated all-around hybrid linebacker – he only earned Honorable Mention All-AAC honors last year – the 6-2, 215-pounder was all over the field making 95 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss and four picks, highlighted by a huge one against Indiana. It’s not really his role, but if he becomes more of a pass rusher, he’ll be a gamewrecker.

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-American Athletic Conference Team: Offense

QB Clayton Tune, Sr. Houston

RB Isaiah Bowser, Sr. UCF

RB Keaton Mitchell, Soph. East Carolina

WR Nathaniel Dell, Jr. Houston

WR Rashee Rice, Sr. SMU

TE Josh Whyle, Jr. Cincinnati

OT Dylan O’Quinn, Sr. Cincinnati

OG Lorenz Metz, Sr. Cincinnati

C Jake Renfro, Jr. Cincinnati

OG Lokahi Pauole, Sr. UCF

OT Jaylon Thomas, Sr. SMU

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-American Athletic Conference Team: Defense

DE Elijah Chatman, Sr. SMU

DT/DE Malik Vann, Sr. Cincinnati

DT Ricky Barber, Jr. UCF

DE Derek Parish, Sr. Houston

LB Antonio Grier, Sr. USF

LB Deshawn Pace, Jr. Cincinnati

LB Donavan Mutin, Jr. Houston

CB Davonte Brown, Jr.

S Quindell Johnson, Sr. Memphis

S Gervarrius Owens, Sr. Houston

CB Arquon Bush, Sr. Cincinnati

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-American Athletic Conference Team: Special Teams

PK Owen Daffer, Soph. East Carolina

P Laine Wilkins, Soph. Houston

KR Bryan Massey, Jr. SMU

PR Ryan Montgomery, Sr. Cincinnati

College Football News 2022 Preseason Top 30 American Athletic Conference Players

30. Holton Ahlers, QB Sr. East Carolina

29. Isaac Moore, OT Sr. Temple

28. Quadric Bullard, S Jr. UCF

27. John Marshall, S Sr. Navy

26. Ja’von Hicks, S Sr. Cincinnati

25. Elijah Chatman, DE Sr. SMU

24. Patrick Paul, OT Soph. Houston

23. Justin Wright, LB Sr. Tulsa

22. Lokahi Pauole, OG Sr. UCF

21. Seth Henigan, QB Soph. Memphis

20. Dwayne Boyles, LB Sr. USF

19. Dorian Williams, LB Jr. Tulane

18. Divaad Wilson, S Sr. UCF

17. Gervarrius Owens, S Sr. Houston

16. Donavan Mutin, LB Jr. Houston

15. Quindell Johnson, S Sr. Memphis

14. Jaylon Thomas, OT Sr. SMU

13. Dylan O’Quinn, OT Sr. Cincinnati

12. Ryan O’Keefe, WR Sr. UCF

11. Lorenz Metz, OG Sr. Cincinnati

10. Antonio Grier, LB Sr. USF

9. Tanner Mordecai, QB Jr. SMU

8. Rashee Rice, WR, Sr. SMU

7. Derek Parish, DE Sr. Houston

6. Deshawn Pace, LB Jr. Cincinnati

5. Jake Renfro, C Jr. Cincinnati

4. Keaton Mitchell, RB, Soph. East Carolina

3. Isaiah Bowser, RB Sr. UCF

2. Nathaniel Dell, WR Jr. Houston

1. Clayton Tune, QB Sr. Houston

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UCF Football Schedule 2022: 3 Things To Know

UCF football schedule. The 2022 schedule with 3 things to know

UCF football schedule 2022: Who does UCF miss on the American Athletic Conference schedule and what are 3 things to know?

2022 UCF Football Schedule

Sept 1 South Carolina State

Sept 9 Louisville

Sept 17 at Florida Atlantic

Sept 24 Georgia Tech

Oct 1 SMU

Oct 8 OPEN DATE

Oct 13 Temple

Oct 22 at East Carolina

Oct 29 Cincinnati

Nov 5 at Memphis

Nov 12 at Tulane

Nov 19 Navy

Nov 26 at USF

2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

UCF Football Schedule What To Know: Who do the Knights miss from the American Athletic Conference slate?

It’s an interesting final run in the American Athletic Conference for UCF, and it’s helped by not having to deal with a dangerous Houston team and what should be a plucky Tulsa.

There’s Cincinnati on the slate, and the possible first preview of the AAC Championship game is in the Bounce House. Again, though, missing Houston is the big deal because …

UCF Football Schedule What To Know: The AAC is going UCF a giant solid

Again, no Houston and Cincinnati at home are the two biggest plusses, but that’s not all. SMU is always dangerous – that’s a home game.

Navy is always funky with that offense – that’s a home game.

Temple has to be a layup at home, and East Carolina, Tulane, and USF are all very, very winnable road games. Yeah, three of the final four games are on the road, but Memphis is also gettable and that trip to USF is just down the road a bit.

In other words, the conference slate just isn’t that bad. And …

UCF Football Schedule What To Know: What does it all really mean?

The schedule isn’t really that bad.

UCF needs a few showcase wins over Power Five teams, and it’ll get a shot with Louisville and Georgia Tech at least bringing the big league brand to the show. Best of all, both of those ACC teams have to come to Orlando.

Throw in the date at Florida Atlantic, and UCF doesn’t have to leave the Sunshine State until October 22nd. Even better, there’s just the road game at East Carolina before the second trip outside of the state coming in November.

In all, UCF leaves Florida just three times. It’s a workable schedule if the team can come together fast.

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2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

East Carolina Football Schedule 2022: 3 Things To Know

East Carolina football schedule. The 2022 schedule with 3 things to know

East Carolina football schedule 2022: Who does East Carolina miss on the American Athletic Conference schedule and what are 3 things to know?

2022 East Carolina Football Schedule

Sept 3 NC State

Sept 10 Old Dominion

Sept 17 Campbell

Sept 24 Navy

Oct 1 at USF

Oct 8 at Tulane

Oct 15 Memphis

Oct 22 UCF

Oct 29 at BYU

Nov 5 OPEN DATE

Oct 11 at Cincinnati

Oct 19 Houston

Nov 26 at Temple

2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

East Carolina Football Schedule What To Know: Who do the Pirates miss from the American Athletic Conference slate?

The Pirates might have to play all of the likely big boys – as in, it has to play the Big 12 defectors Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF – but not having to play SMU isn’t a bad deal and missing Tulsa might be a plus.

Again, though, that means East Carolina has to deal with the big guys, and that includes having to go on the road to face Cincinnati. On the plus side, Houston and UCF have to come to Dowdy-Ficklen.

East Carolina Football Schedule What To Know: That’s one nice start, but …

That’s one bear of a finish.

East Carolina gets four straight home games to start the season, and it’s followed up by road games against USF and Tulane teams that didn’t go bowling last season.

Granted, NC State isn’t a layup, but this program has been able to come up with fun upsets from time to time at home.

If this is going to be any sort of a big year, the win total damage has to be before October 15th because …

East Carolina Football Schedule What To Know: What does it all really mean?

Yeah, Memphis and UCF have to come to Greenville, but neither of those games will be a given. Combine that with the brutal run of at BYU, at Cincinnati, and Houston before closing out at Temple, and three of the final our games are on the road.

That five game stretch before getting the Owls is a problem. However, it’s a manageable enough overall schedule to get to at least six wins.

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2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

Houston Football Schedule 2022: 3 Things To Know

Houston football schedule. The 2022 schedule with 3 things to know

Houston football schedule 2022: Who does Houston miss on the American Athletic Conference schedule and what are 3 things to know?

2022 Houston Football Schedule

Sept 3 at UTSA

Sept 10 at Texas Tech

Sept 17 Kansas

Sept 24 Rice

Oct 29 Tulane

Oct 7 at Memphis

Oct 15 OPEN DATE

Oct 22 at Navy

Oct 29 USF

Nov 5 at SMU

Nov 12 Temple

Nov 19 at East Carolina

Nov 26 Tulsa

2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

Houston Football Schedule What To Know: Who do the Cougars miss from the American Athletic Conference slate?

It’s a curious move that should turn into a HUGE help for Houston.

No UCF. No Cincinnati. Merry Christmas.

The not playing the other two Big 12 defectors is a huge deal. It makes the path to getting back to the AAC Championship relatively easy, and it doesn’t give the Big 12 something to look forward to.

Houston Football Schedule What To Know: Enjoy Texas, Houston

It’s a big place so obviously leaving the state line doesn’t matter all that much if you’re going a gajillion miles to play. However, with the road games at UTSA and Texas Tech, the Cougars don’t leave Texas until October 7th and are only out of the stat three times all season.

However, there’s a run of three road games in four weeks with Memphis, Navy, and SMU as part of a tough stretch that offsets missing UCF and Cincinnati just a wee bit.

Houston Football Schedule What To Know: What does it all really mean?

It’s going to be entertaining.

Just how good is Houston going to be? If it’s worthy of truly being in the mix for the AAC Championship, it should be able to get by UTSA on the road to start the season, it needs to be able to handle Kansas at home, and Texas Tech in Lubbock has to be at least a 50/50 game.

In conference play, Memphis, Navy, SMU, East Carolina. Those are the road games, and again, any team worthy of winning the conference championship needs to be able to roll through a schedule like this.

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2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

Cincinnati Football Schedule 2022: 3 Things To Know

Cincinnati football schedule. The 2022 schedule with 3 things to know

Cincinnati football schedule 2022: Who does Cincinnati miss on the American Athletic Conference schedule and what are 3 things to know?

2022 Cincinnati Football Schedule

Sept 3 at Arkansas

Sept 10 Kennesaw State

Sept 17 vs Miami University (in Cincinnati)

Sept 24 Indiana

Oct 1 at Tulsa

Oct 8 USF

Oct 15 OPEN DATE

Oct 22 at SMU

Oct 29 at UCF

Nov 5 Navy

Nov 12 East Carolina

Nov 19 at Temple

Nov 26 Tulane

2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

Cincinnati Football Schedule What To Know: Who do the Bearcats miss from the American Athletic Conference slate?

The American Athletic Conference is getting a tad cheeky. Cincinnati is leaving for the Big 12 after this season, and so is Houston – the two don’t play.

The Bearcats are also missing Memphis, keeping alive the possibility for the conference championship to be between two teams that haven’t played.

On the flip side, the league needs its marquee games, and UC going to UCF is going to be a blast.

Cincinnati Football Schedule What To Know: This might not be the 2021 Cincinnati team, but …

The drama around whether or not Cincinnati can get back to the College Football Playoff will either be launched or ended right out of the gate with a trip to Arkansas. Win that, and look out. Lose, and 2021 was fun.

Of course there could be a slip somewhere along the way, but with Indiana coming to Nippert, it’s all about the dates at Arkansas and UCF. That’s about it – the team likely won’t be the underdog the rest of the way.

Cincinnati Football Schedule What To Know: What does it all really mean?

There’s no real complaint.

The program has never been all that worried about traveling and taking on the big boys – the Arkansas game can’t be in the way if this is going to be another special season.

Indiana should be better, but again, that’s at home. As long as the team can maintain its focus, the two tough road games can actually be a positive. It needs resumé wins if it’s going to push for something massive.

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2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

CFN AAC Preview 2020: Top Players, Games, Thoughts On Each Team

The 2020 AAC Preview with the top players, biggest games, most important transfers, and thoughts on each team.

The 2020 AAC Preview with the top players, biggest games, most important transfers, and thoughts on each team.

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5. AAC 2020 Preview

Don’t start worrying about the College Football Playoff – that will be what it’s going to be.

Of course, with the Big Ten and Pac-12 out of the picture, this is the perfect time for a Group of Five team to finally break through the ceiling, but the same unspoken rules are still likely going to apply.

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Fair or not, it still will likely take nothing short of an undefeated championship season to get into the club – and it would help if there’s a multi-loss champ among the Power 5 programs.

But again, don’t use this of all seasons to obsess about that. This could be the year when the national spotlight shines on the conference for more than just one big Saturday night game.

With UConn taking off for life as an independent – it’s postponing football until 2021 – this now becomes a tight 11-team league with a season that should see a whole slew of twists and turns on the way to coming up with the top two.

Tulsa beat UCF last year and almost pulled off wins over Memphis and SMU. This year’s version is better, so if that’s the possible weakest team, look out.

The stars are still the stars. UCF and Memphis are going to be fantastic, Cincinnati has top 25 upside no matter who was going to play this year, and it’s possible that Houston really was on to something last season when it used the campaign as one big practice for this year.

Navy is still fantastic, Temple is going to be a problem for the top teams, the SMU offense isn’t taking any sort of a step back, and Tulane is solid across the board.

East Carolina has a fun, dangerous offense, and USF has a whole lot of talent in place for new head man Jeff Scott.

So yeah, if a team can get through all of that unbeaten and win the American Athletic Conference title, the CFP types really will take notice … maybe.

CFN AAC Preview
Teams: Surprise, Disappointments | Top Games
Players To Watch | One Thought On Each Team
– CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews

NEXT: AAC Teams That Will Surprise, Disappoint

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2020 American Athletic Schedules, Team-By-Team Predictions For Every Game

What’s going to happen this season in the American Athletic Conference? The schedules and predictions for each team and every game.

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What’s going to happen this season in the American Athletic Conference? The schedules and predictions for each team and every game.

Cincinnati Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2020 Preseason AAC Prediction: 6-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2019: 11-3, 2018: 11-2
2020 Cincinnati Preview

Sept. 3 Austin Peay W
Sept. 11 Western Michigan W
Sept. 19 at Miami Univ. W
Sept. 26 at Nebraska W
Oct. 3 USF W
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 at Tulsa W
Oct. 24 at SMU W
Oct. 31 Memphis W
Nov. 7 Houston W
Nov. 12 East Carolina W
Nov. 21 at UCF L
Nov. 28 at Temple L

East Carolina Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2020 Preseason AAC Prediction: 2-6
2019 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2019: 4-8, 2018: 3-9
2020 East Carolina Preview

Sept. 5 Marshall W
Sept. 12 at South Carolina L
Sept. 19 Norfolk State W
Sept. 24 UCF L
Oct. 3 at Georgia State W
Oct. 10 at USF L
Oct. 17 Navy L
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 30 at Tulsa L
Nov. 7 Tulane W
Nov. 12 at Cincinnati L
Nov. 21 at Temple L
Nov. 28 SMU W

CFN in 60 Video: Houston Cougars Preview
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Houston Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2020 Preseason AAC Prediction: 5-3
2019 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2019: 4-8, 2018: 8-5
2020 Houston Preview

Sept. 3 Rice W
Sept. 12 at Washington State L
Sept. 19 at Memphis L
Sept. 26 North Texas W
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 8 Tulane W
Oct. 16 at BYU L
Oct. 24 at Navy L
Oct. 31 UCF W
Nov. 7 at Cincinnati L
Nov. 14 USF W
Nov. 21 at SMU W
Nov. 28 Tulsa W

Memphis Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2020 Preseason AAC Prediction: 5-3
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 12-2, 2018: 8-6
2020 Memphis Preview

Sept. 5 Arkansas State W
Sept. 12 at Purdue L
Sept. 19 Houston W
Sept. 26 at UTSA W
Oct. 1 at SMU W
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 UCF W
Oct. 24 Temple W
Oct. 31 at Cincinnati L
Nov. 7 USF W
Nov. 14 at Navy L
Nov. 21 UT Martin W
Nov. 28 at Tulane L

– CFN 2020 AAC Preseason Rankings

Navy Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2020 Preseason AAC Prediction: 5-3
2019 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2019: 11-2, 2018: 3-10
2020 Navy Preview

Aug. 29 Notre Dame L
Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 Lafayette W
Sept. 19 at Tulane L
Sept. 26 Temple W
Oct. 3 at Air Force L
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 at East Carolina W
Oct. 24 Houston W
Oct. 31 at SMU L
Nov. 7 Tulsa L
Nov. 14 Memphis W
Nov. 21 at USF W
Dec. 12 Army (in Philadelphia) W

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SMU Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2020 Preseason AAC Prediction: 3-5
2019 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2019: 10-3, 2018: 5-7
2020 SMU Preview

Sept. 5 at Texas State W
Sept. 12 Stephen F. Austin W
Sept. 19 at North Texas W
Sept. 26 TCU L
Oct. 1 Memphis L
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 at Tulane W
Oct. 24 Cincinnati L
Oct. 31 Navy W
Nov. 5 at Temple L
Nov. 14 at Tulsa W
Nov. 21 Houston L
Nov. 28 at East Carolina L

NEXT: 2020 American Athletic Conference Predictions, Part 2

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College Football Group Of Five Conference Rankings: 20 for 2020 Offseason Topics No. 5

20 for 2020 offseason college football topics: How do the Group of Five conferences – AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW, Sun Belt – rank in the offseason?

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20 key offseason topics for 2020: No. 5. How do the college football Group of Five conferences – AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW, Sun Belt – rank in the offseason?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

20 for 2020 Offseason Topics
20. Best Teams To Not Make CFP
19: Teams That Will Rebound Big
18. Teams That Will Fall Back
17: Every Power 5 Team’s Letdown Game
16. Top 5 Instant Impact New Head Coaches
15. 2nd Year Coaches Who’ll Be Better
14. Power 5 Hot Seat Coach Rankings
13. Key Transfers You Forgot About
12. Five Big Power 5 Upset Alerts
11. Great Players About To Go Nuclear
10. Group of 5 Teams In New Year’s Six Chase
9. Power 5 Sleeper Teams
8. Most Interesting Quarterback Battles
7. 5 Teams That Might Disappoint
6. 5 Teams That Might Surprise

We didn’t get spring football to get a better handle on all the teams and conferences, but here’s our look at where all the Group of Five conferences – American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt – appear to be.

If and when the season gets rolling, we’ll reevaluate then.

5. Conference USA

This might seem a bit extreme considering the good teams at the top of the rock, but there’s way too much dead weight dragging down the rest of the league.

Louisiana Tech should be fantastic. Coming off a good year with the Independence Bowl win over Miami to close things out, it should be the star of the show.

Willie Taggart takes over a strong Florida Atlantic team, Marshall – as always – will be solid – and WKU and Southern Miss will be players.

UAB will once again put together a great record as it fattens up on the weak and the sad, North Texas and Middle Tennessee should bounce back a bit after clunkers, and FIU should be back in the battle for a bowl bid.

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And then there’s everyone else.

UTEP is WAY overdue for a wee bit of happy.

It’s been a brutal run for the Miners, but it’s still going to be an uphill climb. Old Dominion and UTSA are starting fresh with new head coaches, and Rice is still trying to turn the corner in Year Three under Mike Bloomgren.

The midsection on down is just too mediocre-to-awful. However, there’s no real argument if you want to move Conference USA up a spot or so and knock down …

NEXT: No. 4 Offseason Group of Five Conference

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