After a brief preview last weekend, the American Conference launches the 2026 season with a schedule this week. Memphis’s climactic 27-21 win over UNLV set the stage for what we all hope will be another banner season. A solid start to non-conference play should go a long way toward the American maintaining its reputation as the preeminent Group of Six league.
We’ve truly got something for everyone this week, whether you like Group of Six/Power Four crossovers, FCS games, or even traditional rivalries.
The American Conference Takes on the Power Four
— UAB at Illinois, Thursday, 9 PM ET, Big Ten Network
— North Texas at Indiana, Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX
— East Carolina at Alabama, Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC
— Tulane at Duke, Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ACC Network
— Oklahoma State at Tulsa, Saturday, 3:45 PM ET, ESPNU
— Florida Atlantic at Florida, Saturday, 7:45 PM ET, SEC Network
Several American Conference teams will get their shot at signature wins against the Power Four this week.
On Thursday, UAB looks for its first win over a Power Four program since 2004 when it faces Illinois. Familiar face QB Katin Houser will lead the Illini after leading East Carolina to back-to-back bowl appearances. UAB QB Burton will look to add another signature upset to his belt after leading the Blazers’ win over Memphis last season.
North Texas takes on the defending national champions Indiana on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff. This could potentially serve as a payback game for Mean Green starting QB Tayven Jackson. Jackson threw for 1,263 yards and six touchdowns as a Hoosier from 2023 to 2024 before transferring. This should also answer some curiosities many have had about a North Texas team decimated by the Transfer Portal after last season.
East Carolina faces Alabama in its first ABC appearance since 2015 and second since 1976. Like North Texas, the Pirates will start a new, former Power Four transfer in QB Mitch Griffis. Griffis is a seventh-year senior with experience at Wake Forest and Texas Tech. He threw for 1,553 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023 as the Demon Deacons’ starter.
East Carolina’s defense should keep them in the game. The Pirates return significant front seven experience from a defense that allowed just 20 points per game last season. ECU seeks its first win against an SEC school since 1999.
Florida Atlantic travels to Florida seeking its first win in sixteen tries against the SEC. The Owls’ explosive passing game faces an average Florida pass defense that allowed 222 yards per game last year. A win over the Gators would give the American wins over Florida in consecutive years and put FAU in the very-early College Football Playoff conversation.
The American’s two best chances at Power Four wins come against Oklahoma State and Duke. Tulane travels to defending ACC champion Duke seeking a repeat of 2025’s thrilling victory. The Green Wave will face a Blue Devil team that once again starts a Group of Six transfer at quarterback. Unlike last year, that transfer is not a former Tulane starter but QB Walker Eget, who replaces former starter Darian Mensah.
The Green Wave have arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the American with two Power Four opponents. A win over Duke would once again build their College Football Playoff resume immensely, just as it did last season.
Tulsa hosts Oklahoma State one year after the Golden Hurricane snapped a 10-game, 24-year losing streak to the Cowboys. Many of North Texas’ key players followed former North Texas Head Coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, including QB Drew Mestkemaker, RB Caleb Hawkins, and WR Wyatt Young.
Although this team should improve from the 1-11 outfit we saw in 2025, Tulsa still has a very real chance to surprise the Cowboys. A win would give Tulsa consecutive wins in the series for the first time since 1952.
Tulsa returns last year’s freshman wunderkind QB Baylor Hayes, who threw for 2,158 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025. CB Elijah Green leads the defense and is an All-American candidate after intercepting five passes last year. He is one of seven from the Golden Hurricane with at least 35 tackles in 2025 returning this season.
Game Week is finally here! 🏴☠️#ItTakesAllOfUs pic.twitter.com/3p0e9xcSR5
— ECU Football (@ECUPiratesFB) August 30, 2026
Non-Conference Rivalries Renewed
— Arkansas State at Memphis, Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN+
— FIU at South Florida, Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN+
Memphis plays Arkansas State in the 63rd edition of the Paint Bucket Bowl, a rivalry that dates back to 1914. The Tigers earned a crucial victory for their College Football Playoff resume against Mountain West frontrunner UNLV last week. QB Marcus Stokes had a solid game in his Memphis debut, throwing for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding 45 yards on the ground. RB Jaylin Carter nearly matched his 2025 yardage total with 97 rushing yards.
The Tigers will not play a Power Four opponent this year for the first time since 2020 and just the second time since at least the start of the BCS. Memphis must therefore win games against fellow Group of Six schools in dominant fashion to separate itself as a College Football Playoff contender.
USF plays FIU for the first time since 2008 and just the third time ever. Mississippi State and LSU transfer QB Michael Van Buren starts for the Bulls after beating out Florida State transfer Luke Kroemenhoek. Van Buren hopes to make Bulls fans forget about former USF QB Byrum Brown, who tallied over 10,000 yards of total offense over the last four years.
USF faces an FIU team fresh off its first bowl appearance since 2019, but one that’s rebuilding after losing plenty of key pieces. The Panthers must replace both 2025 quarterbacks, Keyone Jenkins and Joe Pesansky. They also lost 1,300-yard rusher Kejon Owens.
✈️ @Huntertipton03 #GoTigersGo | #CloseTheGap pic.twitter.com/ToQPhnQUBe
— Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) September 2, 2026
FCS Games
— Rhode Island at Temple, Saturday, 2 PM ET, ESPN+
— The Citadel at Charlotte, Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN+
— UT-Rio Grande Valley at UTSA, Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN+
— Towson at Navy, Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBSSN
— Houston Christian at Rice, Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN+
Surprisingly, the American faces multiple formidable FCS squads to open the season on Saturday. Temple opens the year against its former Atlantic 10 basketball rival Rhode Island. Although Temple has high expectations, this Rhode Island team will be competitive. The Rams went 11-3 in 2025 and are ranked #6 in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 and 7th in the Redshirt Sports Top 25.
Rhode Island easily dispatched Merrimack, 34-7, last week without its starting QB Devin Farrell, who threw for 3,745 yards last year. They also feature one of the best pro prospects in the FCS in WR Marquis Buchanan, who has had consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Make no mistake, Temple is on upset alert.
Rice faces a Houston Christian squad fresh off a win over a preseason-ranked FCS team. The Wildcats beat preseason #19 Southeastern Louisiana, 34-28. However, Houston Christian struggled defending the run, allowing 248 rushing yards. Rice’s shotgun option offense should therefore thrive in this crosstown battle.
UTSA hosts a UT-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) program in its second year of existence. However, the Roadrunners will have their usual home-field advantage diminished. UTRGV has already sold out its ticket allotment and requested more tickets earlier this week.
On the field, the Vaqueros will be tough as well. After finishing their inaugural season 9-3, UTRGV rolled up 675 yards of offense against Division II UT-Permian Basin to open the season last week. With their early success and the similarities in the communities of San Antonio and Edinburg, this is arguably the most intriguing American/FCS crossover game of this new season.
Please take your seats… the show is about to begin🎭#210TriangleOfToughness | #BirdsUp🤙 pic.twitter.com/gHNSl6tk6a
— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) September 2, 2026
Navy plays fellow Maryland school Towson for just the second time ever. How Navy would replace its whole backfield was one of the most pressing questions of the offseason. The Midshipmen may have some early troubles against a Towson defense that held Maine to 139 rushing yards and under four yards per carry last week. Luckily, the offense may not have to do much. Towson scored just 18 points and allowed six sacks in their loss to Maine last week.
Finally, Charlotte hosts The Citadel. The Bulldogs lost their season opener last week to Wofford, 42-14. But they could still give the porous 49ers’ run defense fits. The Bulldogs’ spread option scheme averaged 211 rushing yards per game last season and ran for 227 yards this past week. Former Air Force QB Quentin Hayes leads the Bulldogs. He ran for 91 yards last week and 682 in 2025.
This one could actually be a game. Charlotte allowed 200 rushing yards per game on five yards per carry in 2025. But Charlotte starting QB Cole Gonzalez is quite familiar with The Citadel, having thrown for 690 yards and four touchdowns in his three games against the Bulldogs during his time with Western Carolina.
Enjoy the games this weekend. We’ll see you out there.
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