Week 9 in the AAC saw a shakeup among our top teams as Navy fell from the unbeaten ranks, suffering a 51-14 defeat to Notre Dame in an out-of-conference matchup. Meanwhile, our top-ranked team, Army, was on a bye and will return to action this week with a pivotal showdown against Air Force. Teams like Memphis and Tulane continued their winning streaks, steadily positioning themselves for a shot at the AAC title. One of the week’s most dramatic storylines came from UTSA, who suffered a stunning second-half collapse, squandering a 28-point lead to fall 46-45 to Tulsa. As we head into Week 10, it’s clear that the AAC has four solid contenders vying for the top spots while the rest of the league struggles to find consistency.
1. Army: (7-0) With Navy’s loss to Notre Dame, the Black Knights now stand as the AAC’s sole undefeated team. They’ll face their fellow service academy rival, Air Force, in Week 10, a matchup that could set the tone for the remainder of their season. Following this showdown, Army will face two critical challenges against North Texas and, in an out-of-conference rematch, Notre Dame.
2. Navy: (6-1) Navy’s playoff hopes were dashed with a 51-14 blowout loss to Notre Dame last Saturday. Fortunately for the Midshipmen, this out-of-conference defeat doesn’t impact their AAC title ambitions. With a perfect 4-0 conference record, Navy remains firmly in the driver’s seat for a spot in the AAC Championship game.
3. Memphis: (7-1) For the second consecutive year, Charlotte came close to derailing Memphis’ AAC title hopes. Down 28-24 with just 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Tigers rallied to pull off a 33-28 victory over the 49ers. This win marks Memphis’ fourth straight and keeps them within striking distance of a conference title berth. In Week 10, they’ll head to San Antonio to face UTSA in another crucial matchup.
Related: Charlotte vs. Memphis: Week 9 Game Recap
4. Tulane: (6-2) Tulane’s early-season losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma now feel like distant memories, as the Green Wave have since strung together five straight victories. Their latest win came in a hard-fought 45-37 road game against North Texas. Looking ahead to Week 10, Tulane will continue their road stretch as they face off against Charlotte, aiming to keep their momentum going.
5. North Texas: (5-3) The Mean Green missed another opportunity to secure bowl eligibility, falling 45-37 to Tulane. Back-to-back losses to Memphis and Tulane have effectively ended their hopes of contending for a conference title this season. North Texas will try again this Saturday to reach bowl eligibility, but they face a formidable challenge against the AAC’s top-ranked team, the undefeated Army Black Knights.
6. East Carolina: (4-4) East Carolina is showing promise under interim head coach Blake Harrell, who took the reins following the dismissal of Mike Houston after a 45-24 loss to Army. In Week 9, the Pirates delivered a strong performance, defeating Temple 56-34. Harrell has quickly instilled a new energy in the team, and East Carolina appears determined to finish the season on a high note.
7. South Florida (3-4): The Bulls had a bye in Week 9, allowing them to regroup as they prepare to face Florida Atlantic this Saturday. In their last outing, South Florida secured a 35-24 victory over UAB and will look to build on that momentum as they return to action.
8. Tulsa (3-5): Tulsa pulled off one of the season’s most dramatic comebacks, rallying from a 28-point deficit to defeat UTSA 46-45. The stunning victory could be the spark Tulsa needs to turn their season around as they head into its final stretch.
9. UTSA (3-5): UTSA suffered a heartbreaking loss to Tulsa after leading by 28 points, casting doubt on their season. With a disappointing 2024 campaign so far, their last chance to salvage their season may come this Saturday when they host the Memphis Tigers in a must-win matchup.
10. Charlotte (3-5): For the second straight year, Charlotte gave Memphis a tough battle but couldn’t close it out, falling just short of an upset. The 49ers continue to improve but remain inconsistent as they seek to find their footing in the AAC.
11. Florida Atlantic (2-5): The Owls had a bye in Week 9 and return to the field this Saturday for a matchup with South Florida. After struggling to find a rhythm this season, they’ll aim for a fresh start in the latter half of their schedule.
12. Temple (2-6): The Owls’ struggles continued with a 56-34 loss to East Carolina in Week 9. With bowl eligibility now a long shot, Temple must find positives to build on as they close out their season.
13. Rice (2-6): Following a 17-10 loss to UConn, Rice decided to part ways with head coach Mike Bloomgren after seven seasons. Bloomgren had led the program to back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2013-2014, but this season never got on track, starting with a loss to Sam Houston State. The Owls now look to regroup under new leadership.
14. UAB (1-6): With only one win on the season and a program in turmoil, UAB head coach Trent Dilfer’s tenure remains in question. The Blazers were on a bye in Week 9, but the pressure continues to build as they look for any semblance of success in a disappointing season.
As the AAC season unfolds, clear frontrunners like Army and Navy continue to assert their dominance, each vying for the conference title and perhaps even a place in the College Football Playoff. Memphis and Tulane remain hot on their heels, stringing together crucial wins to stay in the title race. However, consistency is hard for the rest of the conference. Teams like Tulsa and UTSA have shown flashes of potential but struggle to maintain momentum, while programs like Rice and UAB are at a crossroads with coaching changes and uncertain futures. With critical matchups on the horizon, the AAC title picture is beginning to take shape, though the road ahead will reveal who can truly compete at the highest level.
