Looming Questions ahead of AAC Media Days

When the American Athletic Conference assembles a week from today in Arlington, Texas, the league will have a feel like it hasn’t experienced since 2014. On July 1st, three original league members, Central Florida, Houston, and Cincinnati, officially bid the league farewell while six new teams eagerly made their arrival to the conference that has often touted itself to be the top collective among the Group of 5.

AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco will likely use his time early next week as an opportunity to boast of the accomplishments of his current league members rather than longing for what once was, because that’s what great salesmen do. Reigning conference champion Tulane will return to Texas with good vibes after recently knocking off 2022’s Heisman trophy winner in the Cotton Bowl. Conference newcomer UTSA will look to compete for a league title in year one after rolling through Conference USA the last two seasons. Florida Atlantic has high hopes that it can return to its winning ways after a familiar face reunites with the conference in Tom Herman. And while AAC media days won’t draw as many eyes as leagues like the Big 12 and Pac-12, there’s still plenty of intrigue for fans of the conference.

Can Tulane Repeat?

Winning back-to-back championships is often a challenge in any sport. After that championship trophy is hoisted once, the reigning champion can expect to get every opponent’s best shot the following season. In the AAC, however, repeat champions seem to be the norm. Since the league’s formation in 2013, UCF technically went back-to-back in 2013 and 2014, then again in 2017 and 2018. Cincinnati most recently doubled up, winning league titles in 2020 and 2021. Tulane will likely be the preseason favorite to follow suit, but for the first time in a long time, the Green Wave will have the nation’s full attention as a top G5 program. Willie Fritz’s squad lost a lot of talent to the NFL draft and his successful defensive coordinator left for Oregon. In 2023, they’ll get to determine whether they’re a program on the rise or a flash in the pan.

Who’s the New Face of the League?

Unlike any other G5 conference, the American Athletic Conference has proven it can produce nationally-recognized talent. Names like Paxton Lynch, Greg Ward Jr., and Keenan Reynolds rose to fame in the league’s early years. McKenzie Milton, Darrell Henderson, and Shaquem Griffin headlined the AAC Championship games in the late 2010’s. Antonio Gibson, Desmond Ridder, and Michael Pratt are a few names that have most recently found stardom while playing in the AAC. So who’s next? UTSA’s Frank Harris is a name already well-known among college football fans. The Mustangs are loading up with transfer portal talent down in Dallas. Does a dark horse like UAB’s Jermaine Brown Jr. take the AAC by storm in 2023? Regardless of who takes center stage, history shows that players on the league’s best team will certainly garner national attention.

Will the AAC-to-NY6 trend continue?

Since the College Football Playoff was formed in 2014, the American Athletic Conference has sent the top G5 representative to a New Years Six Bowl 7 out of 9 years. While it’s a statistic you’ll most likely hear mentioned next week, teams that were responsible for 5 of those 7 appearances will kick off league play in the Big 12 this season. Can the Mountain West propel Boise State, San Diego State, or Fresno State into that top G5 spot? Does a team like Appalachian State or Troy from the Sun Belt run the gauntlet and secure their league’s first ever NY6 berth? With much-needed bowl money at stake, there’s no question each G5 commissioner will be banging the drum for their top-rated school this December.

Where’s the Rivalry?

Conference realignment is a moving train that no one can stop. An unintended consequence of all the movement has been the loss of several fun annual games and the new formation of some less-than-natural matchups. In what world does Penn State and Ohio State not play on an annual basis? UCLA at Rutgers will surely be a sellout in 2024, right? Yes, conference realignment makes things a little weird for awhile. Memphis has lost its three biggest in-conference rivalries in Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati. What made those games rivalries, you ask? A recent history of competitive games that mattered. UAB joining the league restarts the Battle of the Bones series for the first time since 2012. Perhaps some combination of SMU, North Texas, and UTSA ignites a heated Lone Star State feud? Maybe Tom Herman and Alex Golesh start chirping at one another from across the Florida panhandle? The AAC is admittedly lacking the “hate” at this moment, but with time new feuds will hopefully form. (See the strange Memphis versus FAU Twitter beef)

More Movement to Come?

Next week, six teams will arrive early, dressed in their finest attire, eager to commence their first media days as members of the AAC. Other teams will show up, put a smile on their face, and secretly dream of greener, wealthier pastures elsewhere. Both are okay! Don’t think for a second Oklahoma State wouldn’t prefer to be joining the Sooners in the SEC next year. The eyes of Cincinnati fans were likely glued to Big 12 media days unlike ever before in Bearcat football history. Memphis, very openly, would love nothing more than to finally hear its name called by the Big 12. SMU, Tulane, and even Rice have been mentioned by national writers as potential Pac-12 candidates depending on what happens on the West Coast. Regardless of what’s to come or how each university feels about their status in the AAC, each coach and player in attendance will have their eyes on the first week of September and the chance to hoist a conference championship trophy in the 10th anniversary of the American Athletic Conference.

Love it or hate it, every team in the American is stuck together for at least the 2023 season. So tune in to AAC media days, start beating your chest about how your team is going to put the league on notice this season, (kindly) pick on an opposing team’s fanbase — if you’re feeling crazy, start a (insert favorite player’s name) for Heisman hash tag online. Why? Because that’s what makes college football unlike any other in sports. 39 days, folks.