Week 8 in AAC football saw more dominance from our top two teams, Army and Navy, as they continued their unbeaten runs in conference play. Both teams remain undefeated and have earned spots in the AP Top 25, solidifying their positions as national contenders. The week also featured a thrilling game with AAC title implications between Memphis and North Texas, with multiple lead changes throughout. Meanwhile, Tulane, who had looked unstoppable in recent weeks, showed signs of vulnerability by failing to score 30 points in their win over Rice. As we head into Week 9, Army has a key matchup against Air Force before their much-anticipated showdown with North Texas in Week 10, while Navy faces a critical test on the road against Notre Dame. The AAC race is heating up as the season progresses.
AAC Elite: Power Rankings 1-5
1. Army (7-0): The Black Knights have faced little opposition this season, and their Week 8 matchup with Tulsa was no exception. Army’s 45-24 victory marked the fifth time this season they’ve scored over 40 points in a game. The dominant performance even led to the dismissal of East Carolina’s head coach. With another tune-up game against Air Force in Week 9, Army is gearing up for a major showdown against North Texas on November 2, where the stakes will be even higher.
2. Navy (6-0): The Navy Midshipmen have reached bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019, following a dominant 51-17 victory over the Charlotte 49ers at home. But bowl eligibility is just one milestone—Navy has much bigger goals in mind, with their sights set on a berth in this year’s AAC Championship game. In Week 9, they’ll take a brief detour from conference play to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With both teams performing at a high level, Saturday’s matchup could have major implications for the College Football Playoff race.
3. Memphis (6-1): The Memphis Tigers secured a hard-fought 52-46 victory over North Texas in Week 8, clinching their sixth win of the season and earning bowl eligibility for the 11th consecutive year. However, simply reaching a bowl game isn’t enough for the Tigers—an appearance in the AAC Championship remains their top priority. Since their loss to Navy earlier in the season, Memphis has been in must-win mode as they navigate the remainder of their conference schedule. To keep their AAC title hopes alive, the Tigers must continue winning and leave no room for error moving forward.
4. Tulane (5-2): Tulane drops from third to fourth in our rankings after a less-than-dominant performance against Rice in Week 8. Unlike the previous three weeks, when the Green Wave had their games secured by halftime, they found themselves in a tougher battle against a determined Rice team. It took all four quarters for Tulane to pull away with a 24-10 victory, as the Owls fought to keep their season alive. Looking ahead, there will be no room for error if Tulane wants to remain in the AAC title race. Their Week 9 matchup against North Texas, fresh off a tough loss to Memphis, will be crucial. A win would not only keep Tulane on track but also mark their third straight year that they have reached bowl eligibility.
5. North Texas: (5-2): North Texas missed out on securing bowl eligibility for the second straight week, falling short in a 52-46 loss to Memphis in Week 8. The road to bowl eligibility doesn’t get any easier, as the Mean Green now face back-to-back tough matchups—first against Tulane at home, followed by a showdown with undefeated Army. Securing a sixth win will be a challenge, but North Texas remains in the hunt for another bowl-clinching season.
AAC Football Power Rankings: 6-14
6. South Florida (3-4): The Bulls bounced back with a 35-25 victory over UAB, breaking their losing streak and keeping bowl hopes alive.
7. UTSA (3-4): UTSA secured a solid 38-24 win over Florida Atlantic, pushing them back toward bowl eligibility with key games still to come.
8. East Carolina (3-4): The Pirates couldn’t overcome Army’s offensive onslaught, falling 45-28. They’ll need to regroup quickly with the season winding down.
9. Charlotte (3-4): After showing signs of improvement, Charlotte took a step back with a 51-17 loss to Navy. They still have a chance to salvage their season, but the competition is only getting tougher. A trip to the Bluff City to face Memphis awaits them.
10. Temple (2-5): The Owls snapped their losing streak with a 20-10 win over Tulsa, keeping their slim hopes alive for a bowl berth.
11. Rice (2-5): Rice fought hard but couldn’t keep up with Tulane in a 24-10 loss. They’re on the verge of a lost season as they struggle to find consistency.
12. Florida Atlantic (2-5): Florida Atlantic’s bowl chances took a hit with a 38-24 loss to UTSA, extending their losing streak to three games.
13. Tulsa (2-5): The Golden Hurricane’s woes continued with a 20-10 loss to Temple, marking their second straight defeat in a season where little has gone right.
14. UAB (1-6): UAB’s tough season got worse with a 35-25 loss to South Florida, as the Blazers find themselves with just one win and no clear path to a bowl game.
As we move deeper into the AAC season, it’s clear that the conference is shaping up to be dominated by the service academies, Army and Navy, who continue to separate themselves from the pack. With both teams unbeaten and ranked in the AP Top 25, they are not only the favorites for the AAC Championship but also in the conversation for a potential College Football Playoff spot. Meanwhile, teams like Memphis and Tulane are fighting to keep pace, with each game carrying significant implications for the conference title race. Further down the standings, programs like South Florida and UTSA are battling for bowl eligibility, while others like UAB and Tulsa are seeing their seasons slip away. With key matchups on the horizon, the next few weeks will be pivotal in determining the true contenders and pretenders in the AAC. The race is tightening, and the margin for error is growing thinner by the week.
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