Bearcats rise in rankings
With just three weeks left in the regular season, the American Athletic Conference races have heated up.
In the East division, UCF leads Temple and Cincinnati by a game, with a matchup against the Bearcats looming on Nov. 17. And in the West division, Houston holds a one-game lead over SMU and Tulane, in a race that appears wide open.
Here is how the league stacks up, according to power rankings compiled by reporters covering conference schools, heading into Week11:
1. UCF
Previous ranking: 1 Record: 8-0 (5-0 AAC)
Last week: defeated Temple, 52-40
This week: vs. Navy Trajectory: Steady. Quarterback McKenzie Milton returned to the lineup after missing a game with an injury to score four touchdowns as UCF extended its nation-leading winning streak to 21 games. Running back Greg McCrae, a former walk-on, had a career night with 188 yards rushing.
Did you know? UCF also extended a streak of 21 straight games with scoring 30-or-more points and the 52 points against the Owls was the fifth time the Knights have scored 40-or-more points this season. the regular season since 2014, when the Bearcats went 9-3. They finished 9-4 after a 33-17 Military Bowl loss to Virginia Tech.
3. Houston
Previous ranking: 2 Record: 7-2 (4-1 AAC) Last week: lost to SMU, 45-31
Next game: vs. Temple
Trajectory: Skidding. Did you know? Houston is 6-0 all-time against Temple, with one of the victories coming in the 2015 AAC championship game.
4. Temple
Previous ranking: 3 Record: 5-4 (4-1 AAC) Last week: lost to
UCF, 52-40
Next game: at Houston
Trajectory: Skidding. Did you know? In the loss at UCF, Temple broke the record for total offense in program history with 670 yards. The previous record was 622 yards set in 1974 against Southern Illinois.
Record: 4-5 (3-2 in AAC)
Last week: defeated Houston, 45-31
This week: at Connecticut
Trajectory: Surging. Did you know? SMU is 0-18 against the Top 25 in the past seven years.
6. USF
Previous ranking: 4 Record: 7-2 (3-2 AAC) Last week: lost to Tulane, 41-15
This week: at Cincinnati
Trajectory: Skidding. Did you know? The 98 points allowed by USF in consecutive losses to Houston and Tulane are the most surrendered in a two-game stretch in program history.
7. Tulane
Previous ranking: 8 Record: 4-5 (3-2 AAC) Last week: defeated South Florida, 41-15
This week: vs. East Carolina
Trajectory: Surging. Did you know? Tulane is seeking its second above-.500 conference finish in the last 20 years.
8. Memphis
Previous ranking: 7 Record: 5-4 (2-3 AAC) Last week: defeated East Carolina, 59-41
This week: vs. Tulsa Trajectory: Steady. Did you know? Memphis is one win shy of being bowl eligible for five straight seasons, extending a school record. Record: 2-7 (1-4 AAC) Last week: lost to Cincinnati, 42-0
This week: at Central Florida
Trajectory: Skidding. Did you know? Navy was shut out for the first time since losing to San Jose State 12-0 in 2012. The Mids were shut out in the first half in consecutive contests for the first time since 1993.
10. Tulsa
Previous ranking: 11 Record: 2-7 (1-4 AAC) Last week: defeated Connecticut, 49-19
This week: at Memphis
Trajectory: Surging. Did you know? Sophomore RBs Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II have combined for 11 career games with at least 100 rushing yards.
11. East Carolina
Previous ranking: 10 Record: 2-6 (0-5 AAC) Last week: lost to Memphis, 59-41
This week: at Tulane Trajectory: Steady. Did you know? Thirdyear coach Scottie Montgomery is now 3-18 in AAC games, with16 of those losses by double digits.
12. Connecticut
Previous ranking: 12 Record: 1-8 (0-5 AAC) Last week: lost to Tulsa, 49-19
This week: vs. SMU Trajectory: Skidding. Did you know? The Huskies have lost six games this season by at least 30 points.