This is from the SMU Rivals site. It's really odd that they talk about SMU's 2-win season with so much positive outlook toward the future, but then say Tulsa's 6-win season was somehow mediocre and may not have them going in the right direction. Doesn't make sense.
1. Houston (11-1, 7-1).
The 52-31 win over Navy saw Greg Ward Jr. throw for 308 yards while adding three touchdowns, one of which was hauled in by Demarcus Ayers who finished with 161 yards on eight receptions. Although they were upset by Connecticut a few weeks ago, this is still a very talented and dangerous football team that will play for the AAC championship game Saturday against Temple.
2. Temple (10-2, 7-1).
One of the most memorable seasons in recent memory for Temple football as they finish the regular season with 10 wins and a matchup with Houston for the AAC crown on the line. P.J. Walker and Jahad Thomas have carried this offense all season long and in the 27-3 win over the Huskies, there was no exception. Thomas rushed for two scores and 119 yards, while Walker added another touchdown in the air. The Owls should be in for a tough one as they look forward to a great game in store with the Cougars on December 5, 2016.
3. Navy (9-2, 7-1).
Thankfully Navy doesn't have to end their year dealing with the 52-31 whipping they took at the hands of Houston. Next week they will take on an Army team that has been rolling over for opponents in 2015 and hopefully Kennan Reynolds will add to his career rushing marks. Great year for the Midshipmen.
4. USF (8-4, 6-2).
The Bulls ended their season on a very high note as they dispatched the winless UCF Knights 44-3. Quinton Flowers scored five touchdowns and his backfield partner Marlon Mack added another 100 yard rushing game. This team is poised for a very bright future.
5. Cincinnati (7-5, 4-4).
Although this team had a lot of talent and explosiveness to hang with almost anyone that they played, the Bearcats just ended up on the short end too many times this year. Even though they won seven games, dropping four in the AAC is too many and it cost them as they finish the year out of serious conference contention with a 7-5 record.
6. Memphis (9-3, 5-3).
Just to get this out of the way early, Paxton Lynch only needed to complete nine passes in order to throw for 222 yards and seven touchdowns against an SMU defense that has struggled to say the least this year. This game was a formality on the schedule and the Tiger players got to have fun and goof around in their obligatory 63-0 win over the Mustangs.
7. Connecticut (6-6, 4-4).
After playing spoiler to Houston two weeks ago, the Huskies were unable to repeat their actions as the Owls bottled up junior quarterback Tim Boyle for just 121 yards passing in their 27-3 loss. Connecticut will end the year par for the course as they own a .500 mark in both overall win and in AAC play. Hopefully next season can be a bit more assertive.
8. Tulsa (6-6, 3-5).
After pulling out a 45-34 win over Tulane, the Golden Hurricane finish with a .500 overall record and remain average for another season. Not really competitive but not mediocre, not sure where this team will go from here.
9. ECU (5-7, 3-5).
While the word irrelevant doesn't seem appropriate for the ECU Pirates, their 2015 campaign did seem to drag along for way too much time. While there were wins and good moments for this team, they were surrounded by losing streaks and bad losses to bad teams. 5-7 and everybody in Greenville is looking forward to next year.
10. SMU (2-10, 1-7).
The worst is over, the Mustangs went out and took the lumps they knew they had to take and dealt with growing pains all season, but now the worst is over. A 2-10 record in Chad Morris' first year is not indicative of this team's future as every AAC fan should know. The SMU football program will be competitive soon and blowout games like the 63-0 defeat to Memphis will soon be a thing of the past.
11. Tulane (3-9, 1-7).
It is difficult to look worse then the Mustang defense did this year, but somehow Tulane and their coaching staff found a way to do it. A 45-34 loss to Tulsa was the final nail in the coffin for a team that underachieved all season long.
12. UCF (0-12, 0-8).
Against instate rival South Florida, the Knights fell short for just the twelfth time this year in the 44-3 loss. Quarterback Justin Holman completed 10 passes on 26 attempts while turning the ball over twice with two ugly interceptions. A sigh of relief must be passing through the UCF campus this Monday morning as, finally, the students can forget about this season and look forward to basketball.
1. Houston (11-1, 7-1).
The 52-31 win over Navy saw Greg Ward Jr. throw for 308 yards while adding three touchdowns, one of which was hauled in by Demarcus Ayers who finished with 161 yards on eight receptions. Although they were upset by Connecticut a few weeks ago, this is still a very talented and dangerous football team that will play for the AAC championship game Saturday against Temple.
2. Temple (10-2, 7-1).
One of the most memorable seasons in recent memory for Temple football as they finish the regular season with 10 wins and a matchup with Houston for the AAC crown on the line. P.J. Walker and Jahad Thomas have carried this offense all season long and in the 27-3 win over the Huskies, there was no exception. Thomas rushed for two scores and 119 yards, while Walker added another touchdown in the air. The Owls should be in for a tough one as they look forward to a great game in store with the Cougars on December 5, 2016.
3. Navy (9-2, 7-1).
Thankfully Navy doesn't have to end their year dealing with the 52-31 whipping they took at the hands of Houston. Next week they will take on an Army team that has been rolling over for opponents in 2015 and hopefully Kennan Reynolds will add to his career rushing marks. Great year for the Midshipmen.
4. USF (8-4, 6-2).
The Bulls ended their season on a very high note as they dispatched the winless UCF Knights 44-3. Quinton Flowers scored five touchdowns and his backfield partner Marlon Mack added another 100 yard rushing game. This team is poised for a very bright future.
5. Cincinnati (7-5, 4-4).
Although this team had a lot of talent and explosiveness to hang with almost anyone that they played, the Bearcats just ended up on the short end too many times this year. Even though they won seven games, dropping four in the AAC is too many and it cost them as they finish the year out of serious conference contention with a 7-5 record.
6. Memphis (9-3, 5-3).
Just to get this out of the way early, Paxton Lynch only needed to complete nine passes in order to throw for 222 yards and seven touchdowns against an SMU defense that has struggled to say the least this year. This game was a formality on the schedule and the Tiger players got to have fun and goof around in their obligatory 63-0 win over the Mustangs.
7. Connecticut (6-6, 4-4).
After playing spoiler to Houston two weeks ago, the Huskies were unable to repeat their actions as the Owls bottled up junior quarterback Tim Boyle for just 121 yards passing in their 27-3 loss. Connecticut will end the year par for the course as they own a .500 mark in both overall win and in AAC play. Hopefully next season can be a bit more assertive.
8. Tulsa (6-6, 3-5).
After pulling out a 45-34 win over Tulane, the Golden Hurricane finish with a .500 overall record and remain average for another season. Not really competitive but not mediocre, not sure where this team will go from here.
9. ECU (5-7, 3-5).
While the word irrelevant doesn't seem appropriate for the ECU Pirates, their 2015 campaign did seem to drag along for way too much time. While there were wins and good moments for this team, they were surrounded by losing streaks and bad losses to bad teams. 5-7 and everybody in Greenville is looking forward to next year.
10. SMU (2-10, 1-7).
The worst is over, the Mustangs went out and took the lumps they knew they had to take and dealt with growing pains all season, but now the worst is over. A 2-10 record in Chad Morris' first year is not indicative of this team's future as every AAC fan should know. The SMU football program will be competitive soon and blowout games like the 63-0 defeat to Memphis will soon be a thing of the past.
11. Tulane (3-9, 1-7).
It is difficult to look worse then the Mustang defense did this year, but somehow Tulane and their coaching staff found a way to do it. A 45-34 loss to Tulsa was the final nail in the coffin for a team that underachieved all season long.
12. UCF (0-12, 0-8).
Against instate rival South Florida, the Knights fell short for just the twelfth time this year in the 44-3 loss. Quarterback Justin Holman completed 10 passes on 26 attempts while turning the ball over twice with two ugly interceptions. A sigh of relief must be passing through the UCF campus this Monday morning as, finally, the students can forget about this season and look forward to basketball.
