The American enters October with a slate that should bring clarity to the conference race. Multiple teams try to keep up with the contenders, while two of the league’s best will look to rebound from lackluster performances last weekend. Additionally, the push for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy begins.
Storylines abound, friends. Let’s not waste any more time. Let’s go #AroundTheAmerican.
Tulsa and North Texas Headline Thursday Night Showcase
Tulsa and North Texas kick off the fun in a Thursday night matchup on ESPN (9 PM ET). Tulsa’s College Football Playoff hopes took a substantial hit after their 34-6 blowout loss to SEC bottom-feeder Arkansas. The offense struggled behind veteran backup QB Dexter Williams II. Luckily, Tulsa’s starting QB Baylor Hayes will return from injury this week.
Even with Hayes back, the Golden Hurricane must reinvigorate its running game. Arkansas held Tulsa to 65 yards last week. But Tulsa should have less trouble against North Texas’ run defense. The Mean Green allowed 337 rushing yards against Texas State on September 12.
On the other side, North Texas QB Tayven Jackson could thrive against a Golden Hurricane pass defense that’s allowing 257 yards per game. Jackson threw for 492 yards in the aforementioned Texas State game. Many have written off the defending conference runners-up, but the Mean Green can reinsert themselves into the championship conversation with a win tonight.
GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY! GAMEDAY!#GMG🦅 pic.twitter.com/GbPUVNBwmn
— UNT Football (@MeanGreenFB) October 1, 2026
Navy Faces Air Force in the First Leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy
The race for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy begins Saturday when Navy travels to the Air Force Academy (Saturday, 12 PM ET, CBS). Both teams will be hard-pressed to replicate last year’s all-time classic, which Navy won 34-31 thanks to 339 passing yards and 130 rushing yards from QB Blake Horvath. Still, we’re looking at what should be an exciting contest this weekend.
This year’s Navy offense has not reached the heights it hit last season. Navy allowed six sacks in their loss to UAB last Friday. QB Jackson Gutierrez was steady, running for 134 yards, but those yards came on a whopping 34 carries. The Midshipmen will need a consistent second option against the Falcons.
The Falcons are also looking for some answers. Air Force needed a double-overtime score from SB Rocco Conti to survive a Nevada squad that lost to FCS Montana State and Conference USA also-ran Middle Tennessee.
Aside from the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, the American Conference as a whole needs Navy to play well. This is one of the few games that the conference has on broadcast television. An embarrassing loss to Air Force, like the 2023 setback, could harm the league’s national reputation.
BEAT AIR FORCE WEEK#GoNavy | #RollGoats pic.twitter.com/BCdfJJhdC0
— Navy Football (@NavyFB) September 28, 2026
Charlotte Looks to Shock Memphis
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. An American Conference team with little reason for hope hosts Memphis and ruins the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes. This happened last year when #22 Memphis, then 6-0, traveled to Birmingham to face 2-4 UAB. The Tigers lost, marking a possible turning point for a then-downtrodden UAB program.
Charlotte hopes for a similar result when it hosts 4-1 Memphis (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN+) this weekend. Many will laugh at the thought of the winless 49ers upsetting the mighty Tigers, but series history gives Charlotte hope. In 2023, 3-9 Charlotte nearly beat 10-3 Memphis, losing 44-38. The following year, the 5-7 49ers again came within one score of Memphis, this time losing 33-28 to the 11-2 Tigers.
While this Memphis team is stellar, it has not been dominant. FCS UT-Martin only trailed Memphis by 17 until the closing moments of the 4th quarter earlier this year. Additionally, Arkansas State’s Trey Owens threw for 325 yards in a 42-24 loss to Memphis.
Like UAB last year, Charlotte desperately needs a turning point. A win over Memphis could provide it. The 49ers may make their upset bid with a new quarterback. 2025 part-time starter Conner Harrell supplanted incumbent QB Cole Gonzales last week. Harrell had some highs last season, including a 382-yard game against Monmouth, before suffering a season-ending injury in their fourth game.
Memphis should win this one easily, but the Tigers cannot afford an embarrassing upset loss for the second year in a row. The Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes are already flagging after their loss to Boise State earlier in the year.
🏈 vs Memphis presented by @harristeeter
— Charlotte Football (@CharlotteFTBL) September 28, 2026
🏟️ Jerry Richardson Stadium
📆 Oct 3rd
🕡 3:30 PM
📺 ESPN+
📻 https://t.co/RnQUrpjRT2
🎟️ https://t.co/XTLbUzWULf pic.twitter.com/KGVGXseg3P
Temple Looks to Stay in Conference Race Against USF
Arguably the most important game of the weekend takes place in Tampa when undefeated USF hosts 1-3 Temple (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ESPNU). The Bulls survived a scare against Bowling Green that would have minimized their College Football Playoff chances. More to the point, USF’s pass protection is on notice after allowing six sacks to a winless Bowling Green team. Temple’s pass rush has three sacks in four games but could significantly add to that total against the Bulls.
The Bulls might be better off depending on their running game against a Temple defense just one week removed from a physical loss to Army. RB DJ Crowther leads USF’s attack with 325 yards and four touchdowns through four games.
Despite their record, the Owls are just a few plays from being 3-1. Temple QB Ajani Sheppard performed admirably in his first career start against Army. Sheppard threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He complements Temple’s well-rounded run game effectively. RBs Keveun Mason and Samuel Brown V spearhead a ground attack averaging 221 yards per game.
Temple needs this game to stay in the conference race. Their narrow loss to Army puts them behind other league favorites. A second loss in league play makes reaching their first conference championship game since 2016 nearly impossible. By comparison, USF needs this win to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Bulls likely need to run the table for the College Football Playoff committee to consider them. This is doubly true given that USF does not play a Power Four team this season.
Take Flight 🌴#TempleTUFF pic.twitter.com/vUyDpnzuhU
— Temple Football (@Temple_FB) September 30, 2026
UTSA and Rice Clash For In-State Bragging Rights
UTSA will try to follow up on its 59-point explosion against Colorado State this week when it travels to Rice (Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN+). This one has the makings of a trap game for the Roadrunners. Rice’s shotgun-option offense broke free for some huge runs last week against Fresno State. RB Ben Grice took an option pitch 88 yards for a touchdown, while QB Jacurri Brown ran for a 50-yard score. In all, the Owls ran for 344 yards in a 38-24 loss.
Rice may surpass that total this week. UTSA enters this game allowing 213 rushing yards per game. Furthermore, the Roadrunners play USF the following Thursday in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal game. Early reports note that the Roadrunners are looking ahead.
Rice (1-3) needs this game to resurrect its slim bowl hopes. This one should be closer than the 11.5-point spread the oddsmakers have given it. UTSA cannot afford losing this one with games against USF and Tulsa looming on the horizon.
UAB and FAU Play FCS Teams
UAB hopes to avoid a hangover after the Navy game when it hosts in-state foe Samford (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN+). Blazer defenders Marlin Dean and Jo’Tavion Pierce should be in the Bulldog backfield often after both tallied 2.5 sacks against Navy last week. Samford has allowed 13 sacks in four games this season. Despite being only 3.2 miles apart, this is only the schools’ second meeting ever and their first since 1992.
FAU hosts Texas Southern this week (Saturday, 6 ET, ESPN+). The Tigers have already played one FBS opponent, losing to UTEP 51-10 while gaining just 211 yards of total offense.
That RED‼️🏎️#WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/RzaNGOCvU6
— Florida Atlantic Football (@FAUFootball) September 30, 2026
The Owls’ run game could lead the charge this week. Texas Southern enters the game allowing 198 yards per game on the ground. While QB Caden Veltkamp and WR Easton Messer stole the show through the air, FAU’s running game quietly wore down ULM last week. RB Ethan Ervin had 139 of FAU’s 234 rushing yards.
This looks like a good week to be an American Conference fan. What are you watching, friends?
