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Memphis Collapses, Tulane Escapes, And A New Order In The American
An incredible weekend of college football coming out of the American Conference. A most improbable upset (UAB over Memphis), a few absolute dismantlings (USF over FAU, Temple over Charlotte), and an upheaval in the GSM American Insider Power Rankings.
Biggest Risers: UAB (all +3)
Biggest Drops: Memphis (-4)
Ryder Rises, Memphis Falls: UAB Reclaims the Bones
- #22 Memphis 24 @ UAB 31
I believe my exact words were “Let’s not mince words: There is no way Memphis loses this game.” Well…I guess I don’t know ball. Thankfully, I am in good company as NO ONE saw the -21.5pt favorite Tigers falling to newly Dilfer-less UAB, but the Tigers got burned by the Blazers.
Riding a 10-game win streak dating back to 2024, AP #22 Memphis Tigers went into Birmingham expecting little resistance from UAB and interim HC Alex Mortensen. Instead, they met with overwhelming offense powered by previously unknown freshman QB Ryder Burton, who in his first start threw for 251yrd, 3TD. Burton’s preferred WR of the day, sophomore Iverson Hooks, had himself a day in his own right with 11 catches for 172yrds, and catching each of Burton’s touchdowns. To balance the powerful passing attack, UAB had 219yrds rushing and gave the Tiger defense more than they could handle.
Despite the unexpected offensive prowess of the new-look Blazers, Memphis came within a hairs breath of tying the game in the final minute. After charging to the UAB 1 yard line, Memphis was bit by the penalty bug with two false starts and a delay of game. With 19 seconds to go, facing 4th & Goal from the 11, back-up QB AJ Hill threw a beautiful back shoulder throw to Cortez Braham Jr. Unfortunately, it was too “back shoulder” and not enough “in the field of play” and the senior WR could not get his feet in bounds.
The Battle For The Bones is the football and basketball rivalry between the two schools – the prize is a roughly 100lbs. bronze rack of ribs. For the first time since 2011, spend a year in the Iron City. The rivalry was not played 2013-2022. A truly unbelievable result that should remind us all – why do we play the games? To see who will win.
North Texas Ain’t Pretending And UTSA’s Ain’t Contending
- UTSA 17 @ UNT 55
For the second straight week North Texas put on an offensive display in front of a sold out DATCU Stadium. Thankfully for the Mean Green faithful, there was no lapse on D, no muffed punts, and in fact no turnovers at all. Taking a 24-14 lead into the locker room at halftime, North Texas exploded with a 21pt Q3 before putting up another 10 in Q4. What a way to recover from the 63-36 blowout at the hands of South Florida just a week ago.
Meanwhile, the visiting Roadrunners had been riding high coming following a mid-season turned around. Winning 3 of their last 4 and delivering a brutal 61-13 hammering of Rice last week, UTSA looked ready for primetime. Unfortunately, their passing game could not get off the ground and despite an impressive outing by RB Robert Henry Jr (12 rushes, 138yrds, 1TD), UTSA only managed 115yrds in the air on a collective 15-25. After starting slow, then showing some resurgence, it would appear UTSA is as advertised, not terrible but certainly not contending for the AC title in 2025.
The question of contenders and pretenders has been put to bed, it would appear. North Texas’ shake-off of Week 7’s disastrous outing indicates they are more than a flash in the pan. Specifically, Mean Green QB Drew Mestemaker’s ability to move on from his 3INT performance against USF and put up 277yrds, 4TD, and 0INT on 22/35 speaks to his maturation before our eyes. North Texas is not done, and with shake-ups in the American happening seemingly every week, there’s still a chance the eventual AC Championship runs through Denten.
Potential Shootout Turns Into Absolute Blowout
- FAU 13 @ #18 South Florida 48
Stampeding back to Tampa following last week’s 63-36 drubbing on North Texas, USF stared down the barrel of another potential offensive slugfest. While Florida Atlantic brought a modest 3-3 record into Ray Jay, new HC Zach Kittley had shown a flair for pass-happy offensive dominance scoring over 50 in two of his three wins. The former Texas Tech OC/QB Coach has built the Owls’ offense through the air, and if Western Kentucky transfer QB Caden Veltkamp can perform, FAU can put up scary offensive numbers. This game, however, would not follow that formula.
Bulls QB Byrum Brown almost single handedly decided the game with 256yrds and 3TD passing, and another 111yrds and a TD on the ground. South Florida’s offense hummed as they only punted three times. Meanwhile, the Bulls D gave up only 23 net rushing yards and intercepted Veltkamp early in the fourth to close the door on any potential come back. Following Memphis’ upset at the hands of UAB, USF is squarely in the driver’s seat in the AC. South Florida’s one loss is out of conference, and while their remaining schedule is not patty-cake homecoming fare, they can expect to be favored in every game down the stretch.
Army Plays Army Football But Tulane Survives
For the uninitiated, let me give you some stats from an archetypical Army win – 38:58 TOP, 75 offensive plays, +1 TO margin, +350 yards total offense including 125 passing yards. Unfortunately for the Black Knights, two Green Wave touchdowns in the final 5 minutes meant that even an archetypal stat line can lead to a loss. Army came in with their first true QB1 since Week 3 in Cow Cale Hellums. Behind Hellums’ Herculean effort the Black Knights executed beautifully for 55 minutes…but as we all know, the game is 60 minutes.
Army received the opening kick and strung together an 18 play, 11:44 second masterpiece of a drive. Ultimately the masterpeice was cut short by a 15yrd chop blocking penalty and an eventual missed FG. The resulting Tulane drive stretched deep into the Army redzone, before the Black Knights bend-don’t-break defense met Tulane’s “we get bogged down in the redzone” offense and Tulane turned the ball over on downs. After trading FG’s in subsequent possessions, the teams went into halftime tied 3-3, with each team only have 2 meaningful drives.
The chess match continued into the second half as Army opened up its playbook to connect of passes of 32 and 37 yards – not something to write home about, unless you’re Army. Retzlaff shook off an early hip injury to return to game and play well but ended up throwing his first interception of the year, in the endzone no less to Firstie Army safety Casey Larkin. Despite Army’s dominance in TOP, the game stayed close and there was a palpable feeling that whoever had the ball last was going to pull it out. With just over two minutes left and the game tied, Army took over on their own 25. Their first 3-and-out of the game would spell doom as just over a minute later Jr WR Shazz Preston caught a twice-tipped circus ball in the endzone to take the lead, and secure Sportcenter’s Top Play of the Day.
A tale of two QB’s – Retzlaff threw for 261 and 2TD while also running for 62yrds and a TD on an impressive 37yrd scamper on a blown Black Knight defensive assignment. Cale Hellums threw for 125yrd, as well as scoring twice running for 155yrds on 39 carries. Army has found their new Bryson Daily, unfortunately his first year as a starter didn’t result in a bowl game, and if the Black Knights aren’t careful history will repeat itself. Tulane survived, but they are not indominable. They can make it to the AC Championship again, but they need to get more out of their offence then just Jake Retzlaff.
Pirates Plunder An Improving Tulsa
The Thursday night warriors of East Carolina wrapped up their third consecutive and final Thursday night game playing host to the Golden Hurricane and dispatching them as predicted. QB Katin Houser continues to show promise putting up 300yrds and 2TDs in the air, with another QB sneak TD run. The Pirates showed an efficient and balanced offense as the Houser’s strong passing game was complimented by 268yrds and 3TD’s on 53 rushes. Running 91 total plays, ECU was able to wear down the Tulsa D and maintain control wire to wire.
First year Tulsa HC Tre Lamb is doing well to bring the 2024 bottom-dwelling Golden Hurricanes up in play, and Freshman QB Baylor Hayes is starting to come into his own. While his accuracy is still being developed (23/41), he was able to throw for 251yrds and 2TDs. Tulsa tried getting Hayes involved more in the run as well but was sniffed out by the ECU defense as he ran 16 times for only 22 yards. Tulsa had four fumbles on the night but mercifully were able to recover each of them. Rebuilds are slow and steady, and Tulsa will take time. That said, HC Lamb has them playing much better than their 2-5 record would indicate.
Temple Rolls, Charlotte Reels – A Tale of Two Programs
Prior to the season, this looked to be a sure-fire win for Charlotte under new HC Tim Albin. Instead it was a money-line sure thing for the Temple Owls. First year Temple HC KC Keeler has designed an offence around Senior QB Evan Simon, and the execution is something to behold. Now 4-3 (2-1 in AC play) Temple still has yet to commit a turnover in 2025, and they are slowing making their way up the GSM American Insider Power Rankings.
On Saturday, Owls QB Simon threw for 3TD’s and RB Jay Ducker had 9 carries for 114yrds and TD as Temple rolled over Charlotte. Two days before the game, Charlotte asked 7-year Athletic Direction Mike Hill to please clean out his desk. Tough to let a big hire like Tim Albin (2024 MAC Champion Ohio Bobcats HC) get the axe this early into his tenure, but what was hoped would be a rebuild is starting to look more like groundbreaking, complete with photo op and ribbon cut. A change had to be made, and if the HC can’t go, then AD can pay the forfeit. Charlotte still does not have a definite QB1 as Grayson Loftis played into the second half before being replaced by Zach Wilcke, neither of which were effective. I stand by my call of Tim Albin being a quality hire (though maybe not my call that he was the best new HC in the AC this year). Charlotte is facing bare cupboards, lack of football pedigree to build from, and a complete shift in philosophy. From the looks of it, it will get worse before it gets better for the 49ers, but I still think the fanbase needs to be patient. No one’s coming into a program like this and turning water into wine.
Week 8 GSM American Insider Power Rankings
| Week 8 Power Rank | Team | Previous Rank | Rise/Fall |
| 1 | South Florida | 1 | – |
| 2 | Tulane | 3 | +1 |
| 3 | North Texas | 5 | +2 |
| 4 | Navy | 4 | – |
| 5 | Temple | 6 | +1 |
| 6 | Memphis | 2 | -4 |
| 7 | East Carolina | 8 | +1 |
| 8 | Florida Atlantic | 7 | -1 |
| 9 | Army | 10 | +1 |
| 10 | UAB | 13 | +3 |
| 11 | Rice | 11 | – |
| 12 | UTSA | 9 | -3 |
| 13 | Tulsa | 12 | -1 |
| 14 | Charlotte | 14 | – |
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