The American Athletic Conference saw major shakeups in Week 9, especially among the top contenders, leading to significant movement in the Power Rankings.
The biggest story was Memphis’s thrilling come-from-behind win over a then-ranked South Florida team, which keeps the Tigers firmly in the conference race and gives them a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker. Navy and North Texas continued their winning ways, keeping the pressure on the leaders.
Here are the American Conference Football Power Rankings heading into Week 10, based on Week 9 results:
1. Memphis: Big win (7-1, 3-1 American). The Memphis Tigers’ 34-31 comeback win over the USF Bulls was crucial for conference championship contention. The Tigers are the G5 CFP frontrunner.
Sign Up for the Memphis Tigers on Sports View 360 Newsletter Here.
2. Navy: Undefeated (7-0, 5-0 American). A solid 42-32 win over Florida Atlantic. Their perfect record and outright lead in the conference standings give them the top spot.
3. Tulane: On Bye (6-1, 3-0 American). Remain a serious threat with the best loss (to a Top-10 Ole Miss) and a perfect conference record. Their resume is strong, and they move up following the USF loss.
4. North Texas: Dominant Win (7-1, 3-1 American). Blew out Charlotte 54-20 behind a record-setting passing performance. Redshirt freshman Drew Mestemaker passed for a school-record 608 yards with four touchdowns as North Texas scored 37 unanswered points to beat Charlotte last Friday.
5. South Florida: Tough Loss (6-2, 3-1 American). The loss to Memphis was a brutal collapse, but their overall resume and 6-2 record keep them in the top half. They still control a path to the title game.
6. Temple: Clutch Win (5-3, 3-1 American). They won a dramatic 38-37 overtime thriller on the road against Tulsa. They remain in the thick of the title race with a strong conference record.
7. East Carolina: On Bye (4-3, 2-1 American). Rested up before a crucial stretch of their season. Hold steady based on their good conference mark.
8. Rice: OT Victory (4-4, 1-3 American). Got back to .500 overall with a wild 37-34 double-overtime win against UConn. They needed that win to keep bowl hopes alive.
9. UAB: On Bye (3-4, 1-3 American). Hold their spot, benefiting from teams below them also losing or having minimal movement.
10. Army: On Bye (3-4, 2-3 American). Drop a spot only due to FAU’s competitive showing and holding their ground. Still have a decent conference record.
11. Florida Atlantic: Competitive Loss (3-5, 2-3 American). Put up a fight in a 42-32 road loss to undefeated Navy. They move up due to Army being on a bye and UTSA/Tulsa’s struggles.
12. UTSA: On Bye (3-4, 1-2 American). Remain here as they were on a bye after a blowout loss in Week 8.
13. Tulsa: Heartbreaking Loss (2-6, 0-5 American). Fought hard but lost a tough 38-37 overtime battle at home to Temple. Remain winless in conference play.
14. Charlotte: Blowout Loss (1-7, 0-5 American). Lost badly at home to North Texas, 54-20. Remain at the bottom as the only other winless team in conference play.
Show Your Support
Show your school pride with officially licensed NCAA gear—jerseys, hats, hoodies, and more—available now through our Fanatics affiliate link. Whether you’re tailgating, heading to the game, or watching from home, make sure you’re geared up like a true fan.
Click here to shop NCAA fan gear now and support Sports View 360 with every purchase!
(As an affiliate partner, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases—thank you for supporting independent college football coverage!)
