College Football keeps getting closer. We at KnupSports will bring to you previews of all the Division 1 teams by conference affiliation. This is our fourth preview. This week we focus on the American Athletic Conference.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC: EAST
The schedule isn’t pretty from the start as they open in UCLA and only have two home games in the first seven. They have a tough stretch with Navy, USF, and UCF. Looks to be 6-6.
Schedule
Sept. 1 at UCLA
Sept. 8 at Miami Univ. (in Cin)
Sept. 15 Alabama A&M
Sept. 22 Ohio
Sept. 29 at UConn
Oct. 6 Tulane
Oct. 13 OPEN DATE
Oct. 20 at Temple
Oct. 27 at SMU
Nov. 3 Navy
Nov. 10 USF
Nov. 17 at UCF
Nov. 23 East Carolina
Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies have a tough schedule from the start with UCF and Boise State to be followed by Memphis and USF. They don’t get to the .500 mark and finish 5-7.
Schedule
Aug. 30 UCF
Sept. 8 at Boise State
Sept. 15 Rhode Island
Sept. 22 at Syracuse
Sept. 29 Cincinnati
Oct. 6 at Memphis
Oct. 13 OPEN DATE
Oct. 20 at USF
Oct. 27 UMass
Nov. 3 at Tulsa
Nov. 10 SMU
Nov. 17 at East Carolina
Nov. 24 Temple
Not many winnable games for the Pirates with road trips to Virginia Tech and the Bulls of USF. They may get a few wins but not many and end 4-8 for the year.
Schedule
Sept. 1 North Carolina A&T
Sept. 8 North Carolina
Sept. 15 at Virginia Tech
Sept. 22 at USF
Sept. 29 Old Dominion
Oct. 6 at Temple
Oct. 13 Houston
Oct. 20 UCF
Oct. 27 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 Memphis
Nov. 10 at Tulane
Nov. 17 UConn
Nov. 23 at Cincinnati
South Florida Bulls
The Bulls have a stretch of road games that will prove vital to their success. They get Georgia Tech and Illinois early in the season but end at home against the UCF Knights. This team could fluctuate quite a bit in wins but look for them to finish 8-4 on the season.
Schedule
Sept. 1 Elon
Sept. 8 Georgia Tech
Sept. 15 at Illinois
Sept. 22 East Carolina
Sept. 29 OPEN DATE
Oct. 6 at UMass
Oct. 12 at Tulsa
Oct. 20 UConn
Oct. 27 at Houston
Nov. 3 Tulane
Nov. 10 at Cincinnati
Nov. 17 at Temple
Nov. 23 UCF
Temple Owls
The Owls have a chance to get to a bowl this year as the early part of their schedule will have several teams that didn’t make it bowling in 2017. They have tough road contests in Orlando and Houston to set them straight. Even record at 6-6 for Temple.
Schedule
Sept. 1 Villanova
Sept. 8 Buffalo
Sept. 15 at Maryland
Sept. 20 Tulsa
Sept. 29 at Boston College
Oct. 6 East Carolina
Oct. 13 at Navy
Oct. 20 Cincinnati
Oct. 27 OPEN DATE
Nov. 1 at UCF
Nov. 10 at Houston
Nov. 17 USF
Nov. 24 at UConn
UCF Knights
It is not likely to repeat what they did last season. Scott Frost is gone as the coach to Nebraska and Missouri assistant Josh Heupel has the job. One thing that is for sure, is the Knights must find a way to beat FAU or the boo birds will find the new coach. Another fine season as UCF goes 10-2 this year.
Schedule
Aug. 30 at UConn
Sept. 8 South Carolina State
Sept. 15 at North Carolina
Sept. 21 Florida Atlantic
Sept. 29 Pitt
Oct. 6 SMU
Oct. 13 at Memphis
Oct. 20 at East Carolina
Oct. 27 OPEN DATE
Nov. 1 Temple
Nov. 10 Navy
Nov. 17 Cincinnati
Nov. 23 at USF
AMERICAN ATHLETIC: WEST
The Cougars have a good setup as they don’t face the UCF Knights out of the East and they play many games in their home state of Texas. Look for a good 9-3 record from Houston.
Schedule
Sept. 1 at Rice
Sept. 8 Arizona
Sept. 15 at Texas Tech
Sept. 22 Texas Southern
Sept. 29 OPEN DATE
Oct. 4 Tulsa
Oct. 13 at East Carolina
Oct. 20 at Navy
Oct. 27 USF
Nov. 3 at SMU
Nov. 10 Temple
Nov. 15 Tulane
Nov. 23 at Memphis
Memphis Tigers
The West of this conference is loaded and Memphis is another team that will win a ton of games. Back-to-back games with UCF and Missouri along with the finale at home with Houston will be the games that keep the Tigers from an undefeated season. Look for 10-2 on the season.
Schedule
Sept. 1 Mercer
Sept. 8 at Navy
Sept. 14 Georgia State
Sept. 22 South Alabama
Sept. 28 at Tulane
Oct. 6 UConn
Oct. 13 UCF
Oct. 20 at Missouri
Oct. 27 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 at East Carolina
Nov. 10 Tulsa
Nov. 16 at SMU
Nov. 23 Houston
Navy will have to travel with the opener in Hawaii. Road contests with Notre Dame is being played in San Diego and they deal with the Air Force Falcons. Tough road for the Midshipmen as they finish 7-6.
Schedule
Sept. 1 at Hawaii
Sept. 8 Memphis
Sept. 15 Lehigh
Sept. 22 at SMU
Sept. 29 OPEN DATE
Oct. 6 at Air Force
Oct. 13 Temple
Oct. 20 Houston
Oct. 27 Notre Dame (in San Diego)
Nov. 3 at Cincinnati
Nov. 10 at UCF
Nov. 17 Tulsa
Nov. 24 at Tulane
Dec. 1 OPEN DATE
Dec. 8 Army (in Phil)
The Mustangs will be an average team in this tough division. Going to TCU, UCF, and Michigan put them behind the schedule early. SMU finishes at 6-6 on the year.
Schedule
Sept. 1 at North Texas
Sept. 7 TCU
Sept. 15 at Michigan
Sept. 22 Navy
Sept. 29 Houston Baptist
Oct. 6 at UCF
Oct. 13 OPEN DATE
Oct. 20 at Tulane
Oct. 27 Cincinnati
Nov. 3 Houston
Nov. 10 at UConn
Nov. 16 Memphis
Nov. 24 at Tulsa
The wins are not likely to be there as they travel to Ohio State and USF during the season. The Green Wave may have momentum early but fizz out later in the schedule. No bowl here at 5-7.
Schedule
Aug 30 Wake Forest
Sept. 8 Nicholls
Sept. 15 at UAB
Sept. 22 at Ohio State
Sept. 28 Memphis
Oct. 6 at Cincinnati
Oct. 13 OPEN DATE
Oct. 20 SMU
Oct. 27 at Tulsa
Nov. 3 at USF
Nov. 10 East Carolina
Nov. 15 at Houston
Nov. 24 Navy
The schedule for Tulsa just never lightens up with road trips to Texas, Arkansas, Memphis, and Navy. They need to snatch a few home wins. Look for an underachieving Golden Hurricane team to finish 4-8 on the year.
Schedule
Sept. 1 Central Arkansas
Sept. 8 at Texas
Sept. 15 Arkansas State
Sept. 20 at Temple
Sept. 29 OPEN DATE
Oct. 4 at Houston
Oct. 12 USF
Oct. 20 at Arkansas
Oct. 27 Tulane
Nov. 3 UConn
Nov. 10 at Memphis
Nov. 17 at Navy
Nov. 24 SMU
