Media release from the AAC...
Big Win And A Big Audience For Memphis
The combination of a home game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, a top-25 opponent and national television coverage on ABC has been a recipe for success for Memphis, which scored a 48-45 win against UCLA last Saturday to improve to 2-0. The Tigers and Bruins traded the lead six times in a thrilling matchup that was clinched on the sixth touchdown pass of the day by Memphis’ Riley Ferguson. It was the third straight season in which Memphis defeated a nationally ranked opponent at home on ABC, following a 2015 win against Ole Miss and last year’s victory against Houston. This year’s game was seen by roughly 3.3 million viewers nationally and was the most-viewed sports program in its time slot.
East Division Showdown Thursday Night
The Week 4 schedule in college football gets underway Thursday night with what figures to be a key game in the race for The American’s East Division title as No. 21/17 USF visits Temple (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Bulls and Owls finished first in the East Division last year, but it was Temple’s 46-30 win in Tampa that sent the Owls to The American Football Championship and a conference title. USF and coach Charlie Strong enter the game at 3-0 after a 47-23 win against Illinois last week, while the Owls, led by first-year coach Geoff Collins, have won two straight after a season-opening setback at Notre Dame.
The American Shares In Extra Yard For Teachers Week
The American Athletic Conference is proud to once again participate in the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers Week. The initiative is the primary philanthropic effort of the College Football Playoff, which supports secondary school teachers nationally through the member conferences and institutions. On-field presentations of $10,000 each will be made at the home games for Memphis, Navy, SMU and Tulsa this week, while the remaining American schools will make their presentations later in the season. An additional $20,000 will be presented at the 2017 American Football Championship, with $10,000 going to teachers in the participating teams’ communities.
Houston, UCF Face Power 6 Opponents
While this week’s schedule features three key conference games, a pair of nonconference games against Power 6 opponents loom large for The American. Houston looks to extend its winning streak at TDECU Stadium to 17 games when the Cougars host Texas Tech at noon ET/11 a.m. CT on ABC. UCF, which has been idle due to Hurricane Irma since its season-opening win, faces 2-0 Maryland on the road (3 p.m., FS1). The American has a combined 18-10 record in nonconference games this season and has gone 17-5 against teams that are not ranked in the national top 25.
Sunday Matinee
The American announced a revised 2017 schedule last week as games involving seven teams from the conference were adjusted in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The rescheduling has brought about a rare Sunday game as ECU heads to East Hartford, Connecticut, to face UConn in the conference opener for both teams. ECU was slated to have a bye this week, but graciously agreed to take to the road this weekend to help ensure that all 12 teams from The American play eight conference games. Sunday’s game kicks off at noon ET at Pratt & Whitney Stadium and can be seen on ESPNU.
Big Win And A Big Audience For Memphis
The combination of a home game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, a top-25 opponent and national television coverage on ABC has been a recipe for success for Memphis, which scored a 48-45 win against UCLA last Saturday to improve to 2-0. The Tigers and Bruins traded the lead six times in a thrilling matchup that was clinched on the sixth touchdown pass of the day by Memphis’ Riley Ferguson. It was the third straight season in which Memphis defeated a nationally ranked opponent at home on ABC, following a 2015 win against Ole Miss and last year’s victory against Houston. This year’s game was seen by roughly 3.3 million viewers nationally and was the most-viewed sports program in its time slot.
East Division Showdown Thursday Night
The Week 4 schedule in college football gets underway Thursday night with what figures to be a key game in the race for The American’s East Division title as No. 21/17 USF visits Temple (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Bulls and Owls finished first in the East Division last year, but it was Temple’s 46-30 win in Tampa that sent the Owls to The American Football Championship and a conference title. USF and coach Charlie Strong enter the game at 3-0 after a 47-23 win against Illinois last week, while the Owls, led by first-year coach Geoff Collins, have won two straight after a season-opening setback at Notre Dame.
The American Shares In Extra Yard For Teachers Week
The American Athletic Conference is proud to once again participate in the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers Week. The initiative is the primary philanthropic effort of the College Football Playoff, which supports secondary school teachers nationally through the member conferences and institutions. On-field presentations of $10,000 each will be made at the home games for Memphis, Navy, SMU and Tulsa this week, while the remaining American schools will make their presentations later in the season. An additional $20,000 will be presented at the 2017 American Football Championship, with $10,000 going to teachers in the participating teams’ communities.
Houston, UCF Face Power 6 Opponents
While this week’s schedule features three key conference games, a pair of nonconference games against Power 6 opponents loom large for The American. Houston looks to extend its winning streak at TDECU Stadium to 17 games when the Cougars host Texas Tech at noon ET/11 a.m. CT on ABC. UCF, which has been idle due to Hurricane Irma since its season-opening win, faces 2-0 Maryland on the road (3 p.m., FS1). The American has a combined 18-10 record in nonconference games this season and has gone 17-5 against teams that are not ranked in the national top 25.
Sunday Matinee
The American announced a revised 2017 schedule last week as games involving seven teams from the conference were adjusted in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The rescheduling has brought about a rare Sunday game as ECU heads to East Hartford, Connecticut, to face UConn in the conference opener for both teams. ECU was slated to have a bye this week, but graciously agreed to take to the road this weekend to help ensure that all 12 teams from The American play eight conference games. Sunday’s game kicks off at noon ET at Pratt & Whitney Stadium and can be seen on ESPNU.
