AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL REPORT 2018 Season • Week 8 @American_FB Contact: Chuck Sullivan, Assistant Commissioner for Communications [email protected] • 401.453.0660 • @ChuckSullivan15 15 Park Row West • Providence, RI 02903

AMERICAN OVERALL

SCHOOL AP/Coaches W-L PCT PF PA H A W-L PCT PF PA H A N STREAK UCF 10/9 3-0 1.000 135 67 1-0 2-0 6-0 1.000 274 117 4-0 2-0 0-0 Won 19 TEMPLE 3-0 1.000 104 40 2-0 1-0 4-3 .571 220 154 2-2 2-1 0-0 Won 2 CINCINNATI 20/21 2-0 1.000 86 28 1-0 1-0 6-0 1.000 230 82 3-0 2-0 1-0 Won 7

21/20 EAST USF 2-0 1.000 45 37 1-0 1-0 6-0 1.000 211 150 3-0 3-0 0-0 Won 7 ECU 0-3 .000 39 111 0-1 0-2 2-4 .333 140 193 2-2 0-2 0-0 Lost 2 UCONN 0-3 .000 38 160 0-2 0-1 1-5 .167 122 322 1-2 0-3 0-0 Lost 3

SCHOOL AP/Coaches W-L PCT PF PA H A W-L PCT PF PA H A N STREAK

HOUSTON rv/rv 2-0 1.000 83 46 1-0 1-0 5-1 .833 292 168 3-0 2-1 0-0 Won 3 SMU 1-1 .500 51 78 1-0 0-1 2-4 .333 169 238 2-1 0-3 0-0 Lost 1 TULANE 1-1 1.000 61 61 1-0 0-1 2-4 .333 150 181 1-2 0-3 0-0 Lost 1

WEST NAVY 1-2 .333 69 76 1-1 0-1 2-4 .333 168 191 2-1 0-3 0-0 Lost 3 MEMPHIS 1-3 .250 130 107 1-1 0-2 4-3 .571 307 178 4-1 0-2 0-0 Lost 1 TULSA 0-3 .000 67 97 0-1 0-2 1-5 .167 146 181 1-2 0-3 0-0 Lost 5

THIS WEEK WEEKLY HONORS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Cincinnati at Temple *...... Noon McKenzie Milton • UCF • Jr. • QB • Kapolei, Hawaii Television: ESPNU Milton kept UCF unbeaten and led the Knights to their 19th consecutive victory, a 31-30 come-from- Series: Temple leads, 12-7-1 behind win at Memphis. He completed 17 of 29 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown and capped UCF’s Last Meeting: NOv. 10, 2017 (Temple, 35-24) comeback from a 30-17 halftime deficit with a 7-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that stood up as the gamewinner. Milton has thrown 16 touchdown passes and has a team-high six rushing TDs in 2018. Tulsa at Arkansas...... Noon Television: SEC Network DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Series: Arkansas leads, 53-16-3 Last Meeting: Nov. 3, 2012 (Arkansas, 19-15) Ed Oliver • Houston • Jr. • DT • Houston, Texas Oliver tied The American’s single-game record with 5.0 tackles for loss to go with 2.0 sacks, a quarterback Houston at Navy *...... 3:30 p.m. hurry and a forced fumble that produced a Houston touchdown in the Cougars’ 42-20 win at ECU. Oliver led Television: CBS Sports Network a defense that held ECU to 41 rushing yards as the Cougars remain alone in first place in The American’s Series: Houston leads, 3-1 West Division. Oliver has registered 11.5 tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries this season. Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2017 (Houston, 24-14) SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK SMU at Tulane *...... 3:30 p.m. Matthew Wright • UCF • Sr. • K • Lancaster, Pa. Television: ESPNU Wright scored seven points, including a key 44-yard field goal at the halftime gun and went 4-for-4 on Series: Tulane leads, 13-11 Last Meeting: Nov. 25, 2017 (SMU, 41-38) PATs in UCF’s 31-30 win at Memphis. Wright’s field goal brought UCF within two scores of the Tigers, while his final PAT, in the fourth quarter, accounted for the winning point. Memphis at Missouri...... 4 p.m. Television: SEC Network Coby Weiss • USF • So. • K • Gainesville, Fla. Series: Missouri leads, 2-1 Weiss scored seven points, including the game-winning field goal with two seconds left, to lift USF to Last Meeting: Oct. 2, 1999 (Missouri, 27-17) a 25-24 win at Tulsa. Weiss accounted for USF’s first and last points as he connected from 22 yards in the first quarter before hitting his gamewinner from the same distance. UCF at ECU *...... 7 p.m. Television: ESPN2 HONOR ROLL Series: ECU leads, 10-8 Last Meeting: Oct. 14, 2017 (UCF, 63-21) Brendon Hayes • UCF • Jr. • DE Had five tackles, including a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss, in a 31-30 win at Memphis. UConn at USF *...... 7 p.m. Television: CBS Sports Network Darrell Henderson • Memphis • Jr. • RB Series: USF leads, 10-5 Rushed for 199 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 31 carries in a 31-30 loss to UCF. Last Meeting: Nov. 4, 2017 (USF, 37-20) Riley Patterson • Memphis • So. • K Scored 12 points, including field goals of 43, 45 and 21 yards, in a 31-30 loss to UCF.

Jordan Cronkrite • USF • Jr. • RB Rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown (66) on 25 carries in a 25-24 win at Tulsa.

Ventell Bryant • Temple • Jr. • WR Had eight receptions for 147 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown, in a 24-17 win at Navy. AMERICAN NOTEBOOK

Pow6rful Stuff Keep It Low The American has 33 nonconference victories against Cincinnati ranks third nationally in scoring defense. The Fifth Anniversary Team other Power 6 opponents (including Notre Dame) since Bearcats have allowed an average of 13.7 points per the start of the 2015 season, the first year of The Ameri- game, trailing only Mississippi State (12.7 ppg) and Fresno Twenty-two players on NFL ros- can’s current membership. American teams have seven State (13.5 ppg). ters are among the 30 current Power 6 wins this season. and former American Athletic Ground And Pound Conference players who have Beasts In The East Navy is third the nation in rushing offense at 303.7 yards been named to the American The American’s East Division has three unbeaten teams per game, trailing only Georgia Tech (352.4 ypg) and Army Athletic Conference Fifth An- through seven weeks of the season — UCF, Cincinnati and (313.5 ypg). niversary Football Team. USF are all 6-0. The American is the only conference in FBS football with three unbeaten teams. Only one other con- Ground And Pound (Part II) Voting for the team was conducted in late June and early ference (the ACC) has as many as two undefeated teams. Memphis RB Darrell Henderson leads the nation in rush- July. The team was selected based on three components ing yards, averaging 161.9 yards per game. USF RB Jordan – a fan vote, a vote of local and national media members, Power 6 Indeed Cronkrite is third at 151.4 ypg. and a vote of the conference’s 12 football programs. American Athletic Conference teams have seven noncon- ference wins against other Power 6 conferences in the Follow The Leader OFFENSE 2018 season. Six American schools have contributed to In addition to his rushing rankings, Darrell Henderson Quarterback this year’s wins: leads the nation in all-purpose yards (205.0 ypg). Keenan Reynolds, Navy (2015) Cincinnati 26, UCLA 17 Houston 45, Arizona 18 At A Loss Running Backs USF 49, Georgia Tech 38 ECU DE Nate Harvey leads the nation in both sacks (1.42 D’Angelo Brewer, Tulsa (2014-16) ECU 41, North Carolina 19 Marlon Mack, USF (2013-16) Temple 35, Maryland 14 per game) and tackles for loss (2.9 per game). Harvey has USF 25, Illinois 19 9.5 sacks and 17.0 tackles for loss in six games. UCF 45, Pitt 14 Wide Receivers Zay Jones, ECU (2014-16) Move The Chains Anthony Miller, Memphis (2014-17) Conference Calls UCF leads the nation in third down conversion percent- Courtland Sutton, SMU (2015-17) The American Athletic Conference has a 25-17 nonconfer- age (62.0 percent). ence record in 2018. The .595 winning percentage ranks sixth among the 10 FBS conferences. Tight End Road Sweet Road Conference...... Nonconference Record , UCF (2014-17) 1. SEC...... 34-5...... 872 Visiting teams went 4-0 in American Athletic Conference 2. Big 12...... 21-7...... 750 games in Week 7. Offensive Tackles 3. ACC...... 32-13...... 711 Kofi Amichia, USF (2013-16) 4. Pac-12...... 23-11...... 676 Bullies 5. Big Ten...... 27-13...... 675 Dion Dawkins, Temple (2013-16) UCF has gone 23-0 as a nationally ranked team as a Eric Lefeld, Cincinnati (2013) 6. American...... 25-17...... 595 member of the American Athletic Conference. 7. Mountain West...... 25-22...... 532 8. Sun Belt...... 18-18...... 500 Offensive Guards 9. Conference USA...... 21-28...... 429 Separation Of Powers E.K. Binns, Navy (2015) 10. MAC...... 17-27...... 386 In the last four regular seasons (2015-18), the American Adam West, Navy (2015-16) Athletic Conference is a combined 36-13 against teams Play On from Conference USA, the MAC, the Mountain West and Center The American has three bowl-eligible teams (UCF, Cincin- the Sun Belt. Kyle Friend, Temple (2013-16) nati, USF), which is more than the combined total of the ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12. Repeat Performances For the second consecutive season, The American is the DEFENSE Pac Mentality only FBS conference to return its players of the year on Defensive Linemen American Athletic Conference teams are a combined 4-0 offense (UCF QB McKenzie Milton), defense (Houston DT Matt Ioannidis, Temple (2013-16) against the Pac-12 since the start of last season. Ed Oliver) and special teams (Memphis WR Tony Pollard). Justin Lawler, SMU (2013-17) Ed Oliver, Houston (2016-present) We’re Streaking Heisman Hopefuls Haason Reddick, Temple (2013-16) UCF’s 19-game winning streak is the longest active win- UCF and Houston have launched formal Marcus Smith, Louisville (2013) ning streak nationally and is the longest in American campaigns on behalf of their most prominent players. Athletic Conference history. UCF broke the old record of Here is a look at how each has fared in 2018. Linebackers 15-game winning streak set by Memphis from Oct. 25, Genard Avery, Memphis (2014-17) 2014, to Nov. 7, 2015. McKenzie Milton • QB • UCF , UCF (2013-17) Finished eighth in the Heisman voting in 2017. Of the Tyler Matakevich, Temple (2013-16) The Big Stage seven players who finished higher in the voting, only Auggie Sanchez, USF (2013-17) UCF’s 34-27 win against Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Stanford RB Bryce Love (second) and Wisconsin RB Bowl last season improved American Athletic Conference Jonathan Taylor (sixth) return in 2018 Cornerbacks teams to 3-0 all-time in New Year’s Six Bowls. Jacoby Glenn, UCF (2013-14) Season Bowl...... Score Has completed 119 of 200 passes (59.5 percent) for 2013 Fiesta...... UCF 52, Baylor 42 Mike Hughes, UCF (2017) 1,797 yards and 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. Parry Nickerson, Tulane (2014-17) 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach...... Houston 38, Florida State 24 Has rushed for six touchdowns and 204 yards. 2017 Chick-fil-A Peach...... UCF 34, Auburn 27 Safeties Has accounted for at least five touchdowns in three of Three For Three Clayton Geathers, UCF (2013-14) the Knights’ six games. Had had back-to-back games The American Athletic Conference, the Big Ten and the Big Obi Melifonwu, UConn (2013-16) with six total touchdowns in wins against Florida 12 are the only conferences that have had at least three Atlantic and Pitt. 10-win teams in each of the last two seasons. SPECIAL TEAMS Ed Oliver • DT • Houston Perfect 10 Kicker Consensus All-America and Outland Trophy winner The American Athletic Conference has had three 10-win Jake Elliott, Memphis (2013-16) in 2017. teams in each of the last two seasons. USF, Temple, Tulsa hit double figures in 2016, while UCF, Memphis and USF Punter Tabbed as the No. 1 player in college football by ESPN, won at least 10 games each in 2017. Tom Hornsey, Memphis (2013) CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated Offensive Outbursts Return Specialist Has 46 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks nine The American Athletic Conference has two of the top Tony Pollard, Memphis (2016-present) quarterback hurries and one pass defended. four teams nationally in total offense. UCF is third the nation at 555.5 yards per game, while Houston is fourth Had 13 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss in a win against at 552.8 ypg. Tulsa. Had 5.0 tackles for loss against ECU.

2 • 2018 American Athletic Conference Football EAST DIVISION TALKING POINTS

UCF UCONN USF 6-0, 3-0 American 1-5, 0-3 American 6-0, 2-0 American

@UCF_Football @UConnFootball @USFFootball Last: Won at Memphis, 31-30 Last: Lost at Memphis, 55-14 Last: Won at Tulsa, 25-24 Next: Oct. 20 at ECU (ESPN2) Next: Oct. 20 at USF (CBSSN) Next: Oct. 20 vs. UConn (CBSSN)

American Ranks American Ranks American Ranks Total Offense...... 555.5...... 1st Total Offense...... 373.8...... 10th Total Offense...... 487.3...... 4th Total Defense...... 378.7...... 5th Total Defense...... 658.2...... 12th Total Defense...... 402.2...... 8th Scoring Offense...... 45.7...... 2nd Scoring Offense...... 20.3...... 12th Scoring Offense...... 35.2...... 5th Scoring Defense...... 19.5...... 2nd Scoring Defense...... 53.7...... 12th Scoring Defense...... 25.0...... 4th

• QB McKenzie Milton’s 7-yard touchdown run • UConn scored a touchdown on its opening • K Coby Weiss’ 22-yard field goal with two sec- early in the fourth quarter stood up as the drive for the second consecutive week, but onds left in regulation capped USF’s comeback gamewinner as UCF overcame a 16-point the Huskies had one touchdown the rest of from a 24-10 deficit in the win at Tulsa. second-half deficit to beat Memphis. the way against Memphis. • USF clinched bowl eligibility for the fourth • UCF has won 19 consecutive games. It is the • The Huskies’ first five opponents were all un- straight year with its sixth win of the season. nation’s longest active winning streak and an beaten at the time of their game with UConn. American Athletic Conference record. • USF scored twice in its first 11 drives against • QB David Pindell leads the Huskies in both rush- Tulsa, but scored on each of its three fourth- • The Knights have also scored at least 30 points ing (76.5 yards per game) and passing (187.0 quarter possessions against the Golden Hur- in 19 straight games, the longest such streak ypg). ricane. in the nation. • S Tyler Cole leads The American in tackles with • Charlie Strong, who is in his second season • UCF has gone 23-0 as a nationally ranked team 10.2 stops per game. Coyle has 61 tackles in with the Bulls, has gone 28-3 in three years as since the formation of The American. six games. an American Athletic Conference head coach. Strong was 12-1 with Louisville in 2013 and • UCF plays its second straight road game with • UConn had an open date in Week 7 and is back went 10-2 with USF last year. Saturday’s contest at ECU. The Knights have in action Oct. 20 at USF. won seven straight road games. • USF has scored at least 20 points in 36 straight games, the longest streak in the nation.

CINCINNATI ECU TEMPLE 6-0, 2-0 American 2-4, 0-3 American 4-3, 3-0 American

@BearcatsFB @ECUPiratesFB @Temple_FB Last: Beat Tulane, 37-21 Last: Lost to Houston, 42-20 Last: Won at Navy, 24-17 Next: Oct. 20 at Temple (ESPNU) Next: Oct. 20 vs. UCF (ESPN2) Next: Oct. 20 vs. Cincinnati (ESPNU)

American Ranks American Ranks American Ranks Total Offense...... 475.7...... 5th Total Offense...... 401.2...... 6th Total Offense...... 380.9...... 8th Total Defense...... 270.3...... 1st Total Defense...... 351.2...... 3rd Total Defense...... 333.3...... 2nd Scoring Offense...... 38.3...... 4th Scoring Offense...... 23.3...... 11th Scoring Offense...... 31.4...... 6th Scoring Defense...... 13.7...... 1st Scoring Defense...... 32.2...... 10th Scoring Defense...... 22.0...... 3rd

• Freshman QB Desmond Ridder threw for 174 • QB Holton Ahlers was the most effective of • QB Anthony Russo threw for a career-high 300 yards and two touchdowns and added 65 rush- three quarterbacks who saw action in the loss yards with a touchdown in the win against Navy. ing yards with a TD in the win against Tulane. to Houston. Ahlers threw for 137 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 45 yards and a TD. • The game against Navy was the first this sea- • RB Michael Warren II rushed for 123 yards and son in which Temple did not register at least a touchdown against Tulane, turning in his third • ECU, which had 11 sacks and 39 tackles for loss one non-offensive touchdown. straight 100-yard game. in the entire 2017 season, has 22 sacks and 61 TFLs in 2018. • Temple is 4-0 when it holds its opponent to 18 • Cincinnati is 6-0 for the first time since the points or fewer and 0-3 when the opponent 2012 season. • The Pirates have registered at least seven scores more than 18 points. tackles for loss in six consecutive games. • Cincinnati had not allowed a touchdown in the • WR Ventell Bryant had eight receptions for 147 fourth quarter this season until Tulane scored • DE Nate Harvey, the national leader in sacks yards and a touchdown against the Midship- with 4:26 left. and tackles for loss entering the game against men. Houston, had 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack • The Bearcats became the second team in FBS against the Cougars. • Temple has won four of its last five games. football to become bowl eligible in 2018, behind only Alabama. • WR Trevon Brown finished with 13 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown against Houston.

3 • 2018 American Athletic Conference Football WEST DIVISION TALKING POINTS

HOUSTON NAVY TULANE 5-1, 2-0 American 2-4, 1-2 American 2-4, 1-1 American @UHCougarFB @NavyAthletics @GreenWaveFB Last: Won at ECU, 42-20 Last: Lost to Temple, 24-17 Last: Lost at Cincinnati, 37-21 Next: Oct. 20 at Navy (CBSSN) Next: Oct. 20 vs. Houston (CBSSN) Next: Oct. 20 vs. SMU (ESPNU)

American Ranks American Ranks American Ranks Total Offense...... 550.8...... 2nd Total Offense...... 365.3...... 11th Total Offense...... 377.8...... 9th Total Defense...... 483.5...... 11th Total Defense...... 394.7...... 6th Total Defense...... 450.8...... 10th Scoring Offense...... 48.7...... 1st Scoring Offense...... 28.0...... 8th Scoring Offense...... 24.4...... 9th Scoring Defense...... 28.0...... 6th Scoring Defense...... 31.8...... 9th Scoring Defense...... 30.2...... 7th

• DT Ed Oliver tied the American Athletic Confer- • FB Nelson Smith rushed for a career-high 108 • QB Justin McMillan threw for 130 yards and ence single-game record with 5.0 tackles for yards and a touchdown in the loss to Temple. two touchdowns in the loss at Cincinnati. loss in the win at ECU. Oliver also had 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. • Navy’s three American Athletic Conference • Tulane has rushed for at least 100 yards in 33 games have been decided by a combined nine consecutive games, dating to the end of the • QB D’Eriq King threw for 209 yards and two points. 2015 season. touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown against ECU. • Navy is 2-4 for the first time since the 2014 • Tulane had registered six sacks in its first four season, when the Midshipmen ended up with games, but has eight sacks in its last two. • Houston forced four turnovers that led to 14 an 8-5 record and a Poinsettia Bowl win against points against the Pirates. San Diego State. • RB Darius Bradwell has scored at least one touchdown in four consecutive games. • The Cougars have scored at least 41 points in • The Midshipmen lost at Navy-Marine Corps all six games this season. Memorial Stadium for only the third time in the • DE Jeffery Johnson had six tackles, a sack, a last four years. Navy is 18-3 in its last 21 home forced fumble and a fumble recovery against • Houston takes a three-game winning streak games. Cincinnati. He has registered at least one sack into Saturday’s contest at Navy. in three straight games. • Navy has its second straight home game Sat- urday when the Midshipmen host Houston.

MEMPHIS SMU TULSA 4-3, 1-3 American 2-4, 1-1 American 1-5, 0-3 American @TigersAthletics @SMU_Football @TulsaFootball Last: Lost to UCF, 31-30 Last: Lost to UCF, 48-20 Last: Lost to USF, 25-24 Next: Oct. 20 at Missouri (SEC Network) Next: Oct. 20 at Tulane (ESPNU) Next: Oct. 20 at Arkansas (SEC Network)

American Ranks American Ranks American Ranks Total Offense...... 539.0...... 3rd Total Offense...... 352.3...... 12th Total Offense...... 381.2...... 7th Total Defense...... 364.7...... 4th Total Defense...... 428.7...... 9th Total Defense...... 398.5...... 7th Scoring Offense...... 43.9...... 3rd Scoring Offense...... 28.2...... 8th Scoring Offense...... 24.3...... 10th Scoring Defense...... 25.4...... 4th Scoring Defense...... 39.7...... 12th Scoring Defense...... 30.2...... 7th

• RB Darrell Henderson rushed for 199 yards and • SMU saw a two-game winning streak