Highlights from Week 8:
- All three of the American Athletic Conference’s top-25 teams moved up in the rankings this week after all three won key conference road games.
- Temple, which is ranked No. 21/22 this week, got things started Thursday as the Owls clamped down in the second half to take a 24-14 win at East Carolina. The Owls had the only points in the final 30 minutes, as WR Robby Anderson’s 23-yard touchdown reception gave Temple the lead before a 14-yard TD run by RB Jahad Thomas iced it.
- Temple has outscored its seven opponents 137-29 in the second half this season.
- Temple hosts No. 9/9 Notre Dame Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC at Lincoln Financial Field in a battle of top-25 squads.
- Memphis, ranked No. 16/16 last week, never trailed in its shootout with Tulsa as the Tigers scored a 66-42 win on the road. QB Paxton Lynch continued his remarkable season as he completed 32 of 44 passes for 447 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown to lead a Memphis offense that gained 704 yards and 35 first downs.
- Tulsa’s potent offense kept the Golden Hurricane within a touchdown of the Tigers into the third quarter, thanks in large part to WR Keyarris Garrett, who had 14 receptions for an American Athletic Conference-record 268 yards and three touchdowns.
- Houston, ranked No. 18/19 last week, faced an early deficit against a UCF squad that has gradually been getting key players back from injuries. But the Cougars’ ground game proved to be too much as Houston rushed for 366 yards and had five touchdowns on the ground in a 59-10 win in Orlando. RB Kenneth Farrow led the way with 167 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, while the Cougars were able to turn four UCF turnovers into 24 points.
- Navy kept pace in The American West Division as the Midshipmen remained unbeaten in conference play with a 31-14 win against Tulane at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy found its patented ground game stymied by a stout Green Wave defensive line, but the Midshipmen were able to put the game away by capitalizing on three Tulane turnovers in the second half. QB Keenan Reynolds had two rushing touchdowns for Navy, leaving him two shy of the NCAA’s career record of 76.
- USF is one of the hottest teams in The American as the Bulls moved into second place in the East Division with a 38-14 win against SMU at Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls, who have won three straight for the first time since 2011, were led by QB Quinton Flowers, who rushed for three touchdowns and 201 yards — the most by an FBS player this season and an American Athletic Conference record for a quarterback.
- Cincinnati picked up its first conference win as the Bearcats reeled off 612 yards of offense in a 37-13 win against UConn at Nippert Stadium. QB Gunner Kiel made his return to the starting lineup, after he had missed the last two games due to injury, and threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns, while RB Hosey Williams (140 yards) and RB Mike Boone (117 yards) both rushed for more than 100 yards.
