While the supposed game of the week proved to be a letdown, we still had plenty to celebrate as American Conference fans. One team beat a Power Four team; another made a statement against the PAC-2. Perhaps more importantly, some offenses began to find their rhythms just in time for conference play. Weeks like this one show the country that the American Conference remains the class of the Group of Five.
Returning to Michie on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/bqED0tkgO5
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 15, 2025
Miami Ends USF’s Unbeaten Start
Many across the country wondered if USF could continue its magical season after beating Boise State and Florida to start the year. Alas, Miami derailed the USF hype train, beating USF 49-12. The Bulls’ stout defense had no answers for a balanced Hurricanes offensive attack that posted 545 total yards. Miami QB Carson Beck got the better of this much-anticipated quarterback battle against USF’s Byrum Brown. Beck threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for a score, too. By comparison, Brown threw for a respectable 274 yards, but he was a non-factor rushing. He gained just 18 yards on 11 non-sack carries.
Though USF might still be in the hunt for the College Football Playoff, they’re no longer the Group of 5’s frontrunner. Thankfully, after an arduous three-game gauntlet to start the season, they’ll get some relief this week when they host FCS South Carolina State.
Tulane Notches Second Power Four Win
Facing former QB Darian Mensah, Tulane won a second game against the Power Four. This week, they beat Duke, 34-27. Green Wave QB Jake Retzlaff continued his stellar start with 245 passing yards, 111 rushing yards, and a staggering four total touchdowns. Retzlaff now has 288 rushing yards and six touchdowns through the Green Wave’s first three games. He should be a bona fide Heisman sleeper candidate.
Mensah played well enough against his former team, but he was far less efficient. The Blue Devils abandoned the running game after falling behind 24-3, forcing Mensah to throw a whopping 51 passes.
Coupled with USF’s loss, Tulane’s win makes the Green Wave a College Football Playoff frontrunner, though they face their toughest test next week against Ole Miss. A win distances them even further from the rest of the Group of Five and strengthens Jake Retzlaff’s Heisman case.
QB1 is racking up the weekly honors! #UptownFootball pic.twitter.com/Wl1djtR0Ue
— Tulane Football (@GreenWaveFB) September 15, 2025
North Texas Embarrasses Washington State
The week’s most surprising result came out of Denton, Texas. UNT not only scored in droves, they also shut down a usually proficient Washington State offense in a 59-10 massacre. UNT QB Drew Mestemaker played near perfect football, throwing nearly as many touchdowns (four) as incompletions (five).
UNT’s defense might’ve been even more impressive. The Mean Green have long had a reputation for prolific offenses, but their defenses have too often been a liability over the last three years. This week, though, North Texas held Washington State to just 275 yards of total offense, including 64 yards rushing, while forcing five turnovers. With the revelation of this possibly elite defense, the Mean Green may have become one of the scariest teams in the American.
Glory To The Green:
— UNT Football (@MeanGreenFB) September 15, 2025
Welcome to The Desert#GMG🦅 pic.twitter.com/ssIgWFnUKY
Navy Overcomes Early Mistakes Against Tulsa
For a while, it seemed the Navy hype would come to a crashing halt against Tulsa. The Midshipmen turned the ball over on their first three drives to fall behind 14-0. However, the Midshipmen soon settled in and went on a 42-9 run to end the game, finishing with a convincing 42-23 win. QB Blake Horvath had another standout performance despite throwing two interceptions, rushing for 159 yards and a touchdown while throwing for 94 yards.
Although the turnovers could become concerning, the Midshipmen showed impressive composure by overcoming their mistakes and taking control of the game. The game’s early stages resembled the 2024 Notre Dame and Rice games, but the Midshipmen seem to have learned from those setbacks.
The American Takes Care of Business Against the FCS
The American went 3-0 against the FCS this week. UTSA RB Robert Henry had his third-straight 100-yard game for the Roadrunners in a 48-20 win over crosstown rival Incarnate Word. Henry is averaging 160 yards per game through the first three and is an early Doak Walker Award frontrunner.
Charlotte survived a shootout with Monmouth thanks to 382 yards from QB Connor Harrell. Harrell benefitted from an electric performance from WR E. Jai Mason, who had 10 catches for 228 yards. Quarterback play has slowed Charlotte down in the last couple of years, but the 49ers could surprise some folks if Harrell continues to have nights like this.
Finally, Rice’s option offense clicked this week in a 38-17 win over Prairie View A&M. The Owls ran for a season-high 347 yards, led by QB Chase Jenkins. Jenkins posted his first career 100-yard rushing game with 124 yards.
Shad Banks Jr. had a fumble recovery and an interception, while Robert Henry Jr. registered his fifth straight 100-yard rushing game to help the Roadrunners roll past UIW, 48-20, on Saturday at the Alamodome.#210TriangleOfToughness | #210wned https://t.co/a8gBKEDGfh
— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) September 14, 2025
Other Notes from Around the League
Temple lost to Oklahoma, 42-3, in the American’s other game against a ranked Power Four team. QB Evan Simon and the Owls offense mustered just 105 yards of total offense and fell behind 28-3 at halftime. Perhaps worse, Lincoln Financial Field boasted just 24,927 in attendance despite having Oklahoma in the house. This kind of total fan apathy serves as perhaps the most severe indictment of the Owls’ program.
East Carolina dominated Coastal Carolina, 38-0, on the road. WR Anthony Smith caught 11 passes for 136 yards. The Pirates held Coastal Carolina to 239 yards of offense.
UAB let Akron score its first points of the season but still escaped with a 31-28 win at home. QB Jalen Kitna put in another quality performance with 345 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
FAU lost the Shula Bowl to FIU for the first time since 2016, allowing FIU RB Kejon Owens to rush for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 38-28 win. FAU QB Caden Veltkamp threw for 343 yards but had three costly interceptions.
Finally, Memphis held Troy to just 12 completions and 72 yards on 32 passing attempts en route to an easy 28-7 win. RB Sutton Smith looked like the many Memphis backs in recent memory with 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Go Army! Beat North Texas!!!
