Both new storylines and team offenses exploded in Week 8 just when the American seemingly could not get more interesting. The conference saw the upset of the year, and four teams scored 40+ points. Additionally, one of the league’s signal callers continued his path to a historic season.
Without further ado, let’s go Around the American.
UAB Shocks Memphis in the Battle of the Bones
6-0 Memphis entered Saturday’s game with UAB with a 42% chance to make the College Football Playoff according to ESPN analytics. That chance figured to increase after playing a 2-4 UAB team that just fired its head coach and was missing its prolific starting quarterback.
Thankfully, we don’t play games on paper.
UAB shocked Memphis, 31-24, to win the Battle for the Bones for the first time since 2011. UAB backup QB Ryder Burton had a brilliant debut, completing 21/28 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. It helped that WR Iverson Hooks provided an outstanding safety net for the first time starter. Hooks caught an astonishing 11 passes for 172 yards and 3 scores.
Memphis never recovered after losing starting quarterback and Heisman dark horse QB Brendon Lewis in the third quarter. Still, true freshman backup QB AJ Hill nearly brought Memphis back to force overtime. Hill brought Memphis to the UAB 1-yard-line with a goal-to-go try with under a minute remaining in regulation. Alas, the Tigers lost 14 yards on penalties and miscues, and Hill misfired on fourth-and-goal from the UAB 15 to seal the Tigers’ fate.
The Tigers may not be out of the College Football Playoff race, but they cannot afford to lose another game. That looks like a Herculean task with USF, Tulane, and Navy remaining on their schedule. UAB, however, now has a shot at a bowl berth. The Blazers now stand 3-4 with winnable games against UConn, Rice, and Tulsa remaining.
What a difference a day makes.
Offenses Explode Throughout the Conference
Four teams scored 40+ points this weekend in blowout wins. On Thursday night, the electric Katin Houser-to-Anthony Smith connection powered East Carolina’s 41-27 win over Tulsa. Smith caught two touchdown passes of over 60 yards. These touchdowns comprised 129 of Houser’s 300 passing yards. RB London Montgomery added 125 rushing yards to balance the Pirates’ offensive attack.
Temple’s Evan Simon continued his pursuit of a historic year in a 49-14 win over Charlotte. Simon threw three touchdown passes without throwing an interception. This brought his total to 174 passes without an interception to begin the 2025 season. Simon now owns a stunning 16:0 touchdown-interception ratio.
Louisiana Tech QB Colby Cameron set the current FBS record for most consecutive passes without an interception at 428 back in 2012. Simon might not be within striking distance of that one, but he looks in position to become the record holder for most passes attempted in a single completed season without an interception. Virginia’s Matt Blundin set that one way back in 1991. This particular record chase gives us another storyline in a resurgent season for the Owsl.
#19 USF’s QB Byron Brown threw for 256 yards, ran for 111, and scored four touchdowns in USF’s 48-13 thrashing of FAU. Brown could sneak his way into the Heisman race if USF ultimately makes it to the College Football Playoff. The Bulls can effectively eliminate Memphis from Playoff contention with a win in their showdown with the Tigers this weekend.
North Texas WR Wyatt Young caught three of Drew Mestemaker’s four touchdowns in a 55-17 rout of UTSA. North Texas also remains alive for the College Football Playoff, but like Memphis, they must win out. Tough games against Temple and Navy remain ahead for the Mean Green.
What did you watch this week, friends?
Go Army! Beat Air Force!!!
