American Athletic Conference
FormerlyBig East (1979–2013)
AssociationNCAA
FoundedMay 31, 1979 (1979-05-31) (de jure)
July 1, 2013 (2013-07-01) (de facto)[note 1]
CommissionerMichael Aresco (since 2012)
Sports fielded
  • 22
    • men's: 10
    • women's: 12
DivisionDivision I
SubdivisionFBS
No. of teams14 (full) + 8 (affiliate)
HeadquartersIrving, Texas
Official websitewww.theamerican.org
Locations
States with full members (blue) and affiliate members (red)States with full members (blue) and affiliate members (red)

The American Athletic Conference (AAC), also known as the American, is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States featuring 14 full member universities and 8 affiliate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I, with its football teams competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Member universities represent a range of private and public universities of various enrollment sizes located primarily in urban metropolitan areas in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States.[1][2]

The American's legal predecessor, the original Big East Conference, was considered one of the six collegiate power conferences of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) era in college football, and The American inherited that status in the BCS's final season.[3] With the advent of the College Football Playoff in 2014, The American became a "Group of Five" conference, which shares one automatic spot in the New Year's Six bowl games.[note 2][4]

The league is the product of substantial turmoil in the old Big East during the 2010–14 conference realignment period. It is one of two conferences to emerge from the all-sports Big East in 2013. While the other successor, which does not sponsor football, purchased the Big East Conference name, The American inherited the old Big East's structure and is that conference's legal successor.[5] However, both conferences claim 1979 as their founding date, and the same history up to 2013.[6][7] The American is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and led by Commissioner Michael Aresco.[2][8]

History

The Big East

The Big East Conference was founded in 1979 as a basketball conference and included the colleges of Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, and Syracuse, which in turn invited Connecticut (UConn), Holy Cross, Rutgers, and Boston College to be members.[9][10] UConn and Boston College would accept the invitation, while Holy Cross soon thereafter declined the invitation, and Rutgers eventually declined and remained in the Atlantic 10 Conference (then known as the Eastern 8 Conference). Seton Hall was then invited as a replacement and the conference started play with seven members.[10]

Villanova and Pittsburgh joined shortly thereafter under the leadership of the first Big East commissioner, Dave Gavitt.[11][12][13]

The conference remained largely unchanged until 1991, when it began to sponsor football, adding Miami as a full member, and Rutgers, Temple, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia as football-only members.[14] Rutgers and West Virginia were offered full all-sports membership in 1995, while Virginia Tech waited until 2000 for the same offer. Temple football was kicked out after the 2004 season, but rejoined in 2012 and intended to become a full member in 2013.

The unusual structure of the Big East, with the "football" and "non-football" schools, led to instability in the conference.[15] The waves of defection and replacement brought about by the conference realignments of 2005 and the early 2010s revealed tension between the football-sponsoring and non-football schools that eventually led to the split of the conference in 2013.[16]

Realignment and reorganization

– All-sports member
– All-sports member - Departing for ACC
– Full, non-football member
– Affiliate member (football)
– Affiliate member (football) - Arriving 2024
– Affiliate member (other)

The conference was reorganized following the tumultuous period of realignment that hobbled the Big East between 2010 and 2013. The Big East was one of the most severely impacted conferences during the early-2010s conference realignment period. In all, 14 member schools announced their departure for other conferences, and 15 other schools announced plans to join the conference (eight as all-sports members, and four for football only). Three of the latter group later backed out of their plans to join (one for all sports, and the other two for football only).

On December 15, 2012, the Big East's seven remaining non-FBS schools, all Catholic institutions consisting of DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova announced that they voted unanimously to leave the Big East Conference effective June 30, 2015.[17][18] The "Catholic 7", by leaving, were looking for a more lucrative television deal than the one they would receive by remaining with the football schools.[19] In March 2013, representatives of the Catholic 7 announced they would leave the conference effective June 30, 2013, retaining the Big East name, $10 million, and the right to hold the conference's basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden.[3][20]

Following the announcement of the departure of the Catholic 7 universities, the remaining ten football-playing members started the process of selecting a new name for the conference and choosing a new site to hold its basketball tournament.[21][22] Various names were considered, with the "America 12" conference reportedly one of the finalists until rejected by college presidents sensitive of adding a number to the end of the conference name.[23] On April 3, 2013, the conference announced that it had chosen a new name: American Athletic Conference.[1] The conference also revealed that it prefers the nickname "The American" because it was thought "AAC" would cause too much confusion with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[24]

Louisville and Rutgers spent one season in the newly renamed conference. On July 1, 2014, Louisville joined the ACC[25] and Rutgers joined the Big Ten Conference.[26] On that same day, East Carolina, Tulane, and Tulsa joined The American for all sports, while Sacramento State and San Diego State joined as affiliate members for women's rowing.[27][28] Navy joined as an affiliate member in football on July 1, 2015.[27]

Addition of Wichita State

For the next several years, The American did not discuss the addition of any new members. However, in March 2017, media reports indicated that the conference was seriously considering adding one or more new members specifically as basketball upgrades. Wichita State, Dayton, and VCU were reportedly considered, with Wichita State being seen as the strongest candidate.[29] By the end of that month, it was reported that talks between the American and Wichita State had advanced to the point that the two sides were discussing a timeline for membership, with the possibility of the Shockers joining as a full but non-football member as early as the 2017–18 school year. The report indicated that a final decision would be made in April.[30][31][32] The conference's board of directors voted unanimously on April 7 to add Wichita State effective in July 2017, making the Shockers the league's first full non-football member since the Big East split.[33]

Departure of UConn

On June 21, 2019, a Boston-area sports news website, Digital Sports Desk, revealed that UConn was expected to announce by the end of the month that it would leave the American for the Big East Conference in 2020.[34] The story was picked up by multiple national media outlets the next day. The main issue that reportedly had to be resolved prior to any official announcement was the future of UConn football, as the Big East does not sponsor that sport, and sources indicated that the American had no interest in retaining UConn as a football-only member. Reportedly, American Athletic Conference insiders were not surprised by UConn's prospective move, as that school had been vigorously opposed to that league's most recently announced television deal.[35][36]

National media believed that should UConn leave the American, the conference's likeliest response would be to bring in two new schools—one for football only and a second in non-football sports, similar to the American's sequential additions of Navy and Wichita State. The most likely prospects for football-only membership were seen as Army (currently an FBS independent, with most of its other sports in the Patriot League), and Air Force (currently an all-sports member of the Mountain West Conference). Any of several schools could potentially fill the non-football slot, with Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports considering VCU to be "the most logical target there." Thamel dismissed the prospect of the American adding a new all-sports member, saying "there's no obvious candidate who could add value in both basketball and football."[35][36]

On June 24, 2019, it was reported that the Big East had formally approved an invitation for UConn to join the conference.[37] On June 26, 2019, the UConn Board of Trustees accepted the invitation.[38] On July 26, media reports indicated that UConn and The American had reached a buyout agreement that confirmed UConn's Big East arrival date as July 1, 2020, paying the American a $17 million exit fee.[39]

It was widely reported that UConn was "rejoining" the Big East, given that the Huskies would be reunited with many of the schools against which it played for three decades in the original Big East. Indeed, UConn was the last charter member of the old Big East still playing in The American.

Added stability

The American took a number of steps to stabilize the conference after the departure of UConn. The first move was the addition of Old Dominion University as an affiliate member in women's lacrosse for the 2020–21 season. Old Dominion was previously added to The American for women's rowing beginning in the 2018–19 season.[40]

The American moved their headquarters from Providence, Rhode Island to Irving, Texas. This was a planned move, to better centralize the conference offices with the member schools. Irving is in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, which is also home to the headquarters of the Big 12 Conference, College Football Playoff, and the National Football Foundation.[41] The conference also moved the men's basketball tournament to the region, to be played at the new Dickies Arena until 2022.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some member schools have eliminated sports due to budget constraints. The University of Cincinnati eliminated its men's soccer program[42] while East Carolina University canceled men and women's swimming and diving teams and tennis teams.[43] Women's rowing member San Diego State University dropped that sport effective with the end of the 2020–21 season.[44]

Big 12 raid and subsequent invitations to the conference

In late July 2021, founding Big 12 members Oklahoma and Texas jointly announced that they planned to leave the conference no later than 2025, and formally requested an invitation from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Shortly thereafter, The American became a peripheral player in this saga when the Big 12 sent a cease and desist letter to current broadcast partner ESPN, charging the network with conspiring to damage the league by luring Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC, and also alleging that the network encouraged an unnamed conference to raid the Big 12 to pave the way for an earlier departure by Oklahoma and Texas. A later media report identified that other conference as The American. ESPN issued an official denial of the Big 12 charges, and officials from The American declined to comment.[45][46]

On September 3, Sports Illustrated reported that the Big 12 Conference was on the verge of inviting four schools— including American Athletic Conference members Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF.[47][48] Later that month, all three schools received and accepted membership offers on the date of the presidents' meeting, with the official announcement stating only that they would join the Big 12 no later than 2024–25.[49] On June 10, 2022, The American and the three departing schools announced a buyout agreement had been reached, confirming those schools' 2023 departure date.[50] At the time, it was possible that Cincinnati and UCF could remain in the conference as affiliate members for women's lacrosse and men's soccer, respectively, as the Big 12 does not sponsor those sports, though no formal announcement was made. UCF would later accept an offer of men's soccer membership from the Sun Belt Conference effective in 2023, aligning its men's soccer program with that of West Virginia, the only pre-2023 Big 12 member sponsoring men's soccer. Cincinnati would remain in The American as a women's lacrosse affiliate,[51] but will leave after the 2024 season when the Big 12 adds that sport.[52]

Subsequent moves

In late September 2021, several national media outlets reported that Mountain West Conference (MW) members Air Force and Colorado State had approached The American regarding a possible move to that league.[53] However, on October 1, the MW announced that its current membership would remain intact for the foreseeable future, removing its 12 football members (including football-only member Hawaiʻi) from the list of potential new members for The American. For its part, The American officially denied extending invitations to the two Colorado schools.[54]

Later that month on October 18, 2021, Yahoo Sports reported that The American was preparing to receive applications from six of the 14 members of Conference USA—Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA. This would make The American a 14-full-member conference.[55] The next day, ESPN reported that all six schools had submitted applications, and that each would receive a formal letter by the end of that week (October 22) detailing the terms of conference expansion.[56] All six schools were accepted on October 21,[57] and the conference confirmed their 2023 entry date on June 16, 2022.[58]

Expansion in men's soccer and women's swimming & diving

A series of further realignment moves centering on the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) led to The American's men's soccer league expanding earlier than planned. This sequence began in November 2021 when James Madison announced its departure from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA; since renamed the Coastal Athletic Association) to join the SBC in 2023.[59] The CAA responded by invoking a provision of its bylaws to ban JMU from further conference championship events.[lower-alpha 1] The SBC responded by pushing JMU's entry forward to 2022.[60]

Soon after this, the other three CUSA members set to move to the SBC in 2023 (Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss, with Marshall and ODU sponsoring men's soccer) announced that they would instead leave in 2022. Following a brief legal dispute, CUSA and the three schools reached a settlement that allowed those schools to join the SBC in 2022.[61] With three men's soccer schools now joining in 2022 instead of 2023, the SBC announced it would reinstate men's soccer at that time. The new full members were joined by three full SBC members and three new associate members. Coastal Carolina played the 2021 season in CUSA. The other two full SBC members, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, played in the MAC. The new associates were Kentucky and South Carolina, which had been single-sport CUSA members since 2005; and West Virginia, which had previously announced that it would move men's soccer from the Mid-American Conference to CUSA in 2022.[62][63]

CUSA was then left with only four men's soccer programs for 2022 (Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, and UAB), with all but FIU set to become full American members in 2023. The American accordingly brought all four schools in as new men's soccer members for 2022, with FIU remaining an affiliate after the others fully joined The American.[64]

Similar changes came to women's swimming & diving, again due in part to SBC expansion. Of the schools leaving CUSA for the SBC in 2022, Marshall and Old Dominion sponsor that sport, and incoming American members Florida Atlantic, North Texas, and Rice also sponsor the sport (although Rice fields swimmers only, with no divers). The American brought the aforementioned future full members, plus FIU, into its women's swimming & diving league. As with men's soccer, FIU remained a women's swimming & diving affiliate after the other schools fully joined The American.[64]

Departure of SMU

On September 1, 2023, SMU accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2024–25 season.[65] With this the American was now down one team.

Army Enlists

On October 25, 2023, Army announced it would be joining the conference as a football-only member beginning in 2024, joining fellow service academy Navy. The annual Army–Navy Game, typically played at the conclusion of the regular season, will continue to be played annually as a non-conference game and will not count towards conference standings. However, it is possible for the two teams to meet a second time in a season in the American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, should they finish as the top two teams in the conference.[66]

Membership timeline

NCAA Division I FBS independent schoolsArmy Black KnightsConference USAUTSA RoadrunnersConference USAUAB BlazersConference USARice OwlsConference USANorth Texas Mean GreenConference USAFlorida Atlantic OwlsConference USACharlotte 49ersMissouri Valley ConferenceWichita State ShockersNCAA Division I FBS independent schoolsNavy MidshipmenConference USATulsa Golden HurricaneConference USATulane Green WaveConference USAEast Carolina PiratesTemple OwlsSouth Florida BullsMemphis TigersAtlantic Coast ConferenceSMU MustangsBig 12 ConferenceUCF KnightsBig 12 ConferenceHouston CougarsBig 12 ConferenceCincinnati BearcatsNCAA Division I FBS independent schoolsBig East ConferenceConnecticut HuskiesBig Ten ConferenceRutgers Scarlet KnightsAtlantic Coast ConferenceLouisville Cardinals

Full members (all-sports) Full members (non-football) Affiliate members (football-only) Affiliate member (other sport) Other Conference Other Conference

Member universities

The conference currently has 14 full member institutions – and seven affiliate members – in 13 states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Wichita State is the only full member that does not sponsor football.

Current full members

InstitutionLocationFoundedJoinedTypeEnrollmentEndowment
(millions)		NicknameColors
University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama 1969 2023 Public 21,923[67] $712 Blazers    
East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina 1907 2014 28,028[68] $374 Pirates    
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida 1961[69] 2023 30,171[70] $283 Owls    
University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee 1912 2013 21,458[71] $223 Tigers    
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina 1946[72] 2023 30,146[73] $314 49ers    
University of North Texas Denton, Texas 1890[74] 42,375[75] $292[76] Mean Green    
Rice University Houston, Texas 1912[77] Private 7,124[78] $6,480 Owls    
University of South Florida Tampa, Florida 1956 2013 Public 50,830[79] $889 Bulls    
Southern Methodist University University Park, Texas[lower-alpha 2] 1911 2013 Private 11,649[80] $2,000 Mustangs    
Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1884 2013 State related 37,365[81] $873 Owls    
University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas 1969[82] 2023 Public 34,734[83] $277 Roadrunners      
Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana 1834 2014 Private 14,472[84] $2,005 [85] Green Wave    
University of Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma 1894 3,769[86] $1,114 Golden Hurricane      
Wichita State University[lower-alpha 3] Wichita, Kansas 1895 2017 Public 15,778[87] $276 Shockers    
Notes
  1. ↑ Although the 2021 football season was then ongoing, James Madison remained eligible for, and ultimately shared, that season's CAA football title. The CAA football league, officially known as CAA Football, is a separate legal entity from the all-sports CAA, and the CAA Football bylaws lacked said provision.
  2. ↑ Mailing address is Dallas.
  3. ↑ Non-football member.

Affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Colors AAC
sport(s)		 Primary
conference
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 1819 2023[lower-alpha 1] Public 47,914 Bearcats     Women's lacrosse Big 12
University of Florida Gainesville, Florida 1853 2018 Public 51,474 Gators     Women's lacrosse SEC
Florida International University Westchester, Florida[lower-alpha 2] 1965 2022 58,064[88] Panthers     Men's soccer CUSA
Women's swimming & diving
James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia 1908 21,496 Dukes     Women's lacrosse Sun Belt
United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland 1845 2015 Military
academy		 4,400 Midshipmen     Football Patriot
Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia 1930 2018 Public 24,375 Monarchs       Women's rowing Sun Belt
2020 Women's lacrosse
California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California 1947 2015 28,811 Hornets     Women's rowing Big Sky
Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee 1873 2018 Private 12,686 Commodores     Women's lacrosse SEC
Notes
  1. ↑ Measured from Cincinnati's departure from full membership.
  2. ↑ Mailing address is Miami.

Future affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Joining Type Enrollment Nickname Colors AAC
sport(s)		 Primary
conference
United States Military Academy West Point, New York 1802 2024 Federal
(Military)		 4,294 Black Knights       Football Patriot League (FBS independent)

Former full members

Six full members have left the conference. Cincinnati remains an associate member in women's lacrosse in the 2024 season, but will leave after that time when the Big 12 Conference adds that sport.

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Colors Current
conference
University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida 1963 2013 2023 Public Knights     Big 12
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 1819 Bearcats    
University of Houston Houston, Texas 1927 Cougars    
Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey 1766 2014 Scarlet Knights   Big Ten
University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky 1798 Cardinals     ACC
University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut 1881 2020 Huskies     Big East
FBS Independent (football)

Former affiliate members

Two affiliate members have left the conference. Five other schools were affiliate members for one year before becoming full conference members.

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Nickname Colors AAC
sport		 Primary
conference		 Conference
in former
AAC sport
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida 1961[69] 2022 2023 Owls     Men's soccer
Women's swimming & diving		 American
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina 1946[72] 49ers     Men's soccer
University of North Texas Denton, Texas 1890[74] Mean Green     Women's swimming & diving
Rice University Houston, Texas 1912[77] Owls     Women's swimming[lower-alpha 1]
San Diego State University San Diego, California 1897 2015 2021 Aztecs     Women's rowing Mountain West Discontinued
University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama 1969 2022 2023 Blazers     Men's soccer American
Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania 1842 2013 2015 Wildcats     Women's rowing Big East CAA
Notes
  1. ↑ Rice's women's aquatics program includes swimmers, but no divers.

Sports

The American currently sponsors championship competition in 10 men's and 12 women's NCAA sanctioned sports. Old Dominion and Sacramento State are affiliate members for women's rowing.[89] Cincinnati, Florida, James Madison, Old Dominion, and Vanderbilt are affiliate members for women's lacrosse.[90][91][92] South Florida and Charlotte will add women's lacrosse teams in the 2024–25 school year,[93][94] coinciding with the departure of Cincinnati women's lacrosse due to the Big 12 adding that sport.

Under NCAA rules reflecting the large number of male scholarship participants in football and attempting to address gender equity concerns (see also Title IX), each member institution is required to provide more women's varsity sports than men's.[note 3]

SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
10
–
Basketball
14
14
Cross Country
12
14
Football
14
–
Golf
12
12
Lacrosse
–
Rowing
–
5
Soccer
9
12
Softball
–
10
Swimming & Diving
2
7
Tennis
12
14
Track and Field (Indoor)
9
14
Track and Field (Outdoor)
10
14
Volleyball
–
14
  1. ↑ South Florida and Charlotte will add the sport in the 2025 season.

Men's sponsored sports by school

Departing members are highlighted in red. Future members are highlighted in gray.

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross
Country		FootballGolfSoccerTennisTrack & Field
(Indoor)		Track & Field
(Outdoor)		Total
CharlotteYesYesYesYesYesYes[lower-alpha 1]YesYesYes9
East CarolinaYesYesYesYesYesNoNo[lower-alpha 2]YesYes7
Florida AtlanticYesYesYesYesYesYes[lower-alpha 1]YesNoNo7
MemphisYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
North TexasNoYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYes6
RiceYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes8
South FloridaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
SMUNoYesNoYesYesYesYesNoNo5
TempleNo[lower-alpha 3]YesYesYesYesYesYesNoNo6
TulaneYesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYes6
TulsaNoYesYesYesNo[lower-alpha 4]YesYesYesYes7
UABYesYesNoYesYesYes[lower-alpha 1]YesNoNo6
UTSAYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes8
Wichita StateYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYes7
Affiliate members
Army[lower-alpha 5]Yes1
FIUYes1
Navy[lower-alpha 5]Yes1
Totals 10 14 12 13+1 12 8+1 12 9 10 102+2
Totals in 2024 10 13 12 12+2 11 7+1 11 9 10 95+3

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by The American which are played by conference schools:

SchoolSportConference
Florida AtlanticSwimming & DivingASUN
MemphisRifle[lower-alpha 6]GARC
SMUSwimming & DivingASUN[lower-alpha 7]
TempleRowingIndependent
  1. 1 2 3 Joined in 2022–23
  2. ↑ ECU sponsored a men's tennis team until the 2019–20 season but discontinued the program after that year.[95]
  3. ↑ Temple sponsored a baseball team during the 2014 season but discontinued the program after that year.[96]
  4. ↑ Tulsa sponsored a men's golf team until the 2015–16 season but discontinued the program after that year.[97]
  5. 1 2 Army and Navy continue to field most of their other sports in the NCAA Division I Patriot League.
  6. ↑ Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Memphis fields a coed team, making it the only current or future American Conference member whose rifle team is open to men.
  7. ↑ The American dropped men's swimming and diving following the 2022-23 season. SMU will house that sport in the ASUN in the 2023-24 season before departing for the Atlantic Coast Conference, which sponsors that sport.

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasketballCross
Country		GolfLacrosseRowingSoccerSoftballSwimming
& Diving		TennisTrack & Field
(Indoor)		Track & Field
(Outdoor)		VolleyballTotal
CharlotteYesYesYesNo[lower-alpha 1]NoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
East CarolinaYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
Florida AtlanticYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYes[lower-alpha 2]YesYesYesYes10
MemphisYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
North TexasYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYes[lower-alpha 2]YesYesYesYes10
RiceYesYesNoNoNoYesNoYes[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]YesYesYesYes8
South FloridaYesYesYesNo[lower-alpha 4]NoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
SMUYesYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYes10
TempleYesYesNoYesYesYesNo[lower-alpha 5]NoYesYesYesYes9
TulaneYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYes8
TulsaYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes10
UABYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
UTSAYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
Wichita StateYesYesYesNoNoNoYesNoYesYesYesYes8
Affiliate members
CincinnatiYes1
FIUYes1
FloridaYes1
James MadisonYes1
Old DominionYesYes2
Sacramento StateYes1
VanderbiltYes1
Totals 14 14 12 2+5 3+2 12 10 6+1 14 14 14 14 130+8

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by The American which are played by conference schools:

SchoolSport(s)Conference(s)
Florida AtlanticBeach volleyballCUSA[lower-alpha 6]
MemphisRifle[lower-alpha 7]GARC
South Florida Sailing SAISA
Beach volleyball (beginning in 2025–26) TBD
SMU Equestrian[lower-alpha 8] Independent
Temple Fencing NIWFA
Field hockey Big East
Gymnastics EAGL
Tulane Beach volleyball CUSA
Bowling CUSA[lower-alpha 9]
UAB Beach volleyball CUSA[lower-alpha 6]
Bowling MEAC
Rifle SoCon[lower-alpha 10]
Wichita State Bowling (beginning in 2024–25) CUSA[100]
  1. ↑ Charlotte will add a women's lacrosse team beginning in the 2024–25 school year
  2. 1 2 3 Joined in 2022–23
  3. ↑ Rice fields a women's team in swimming but not in diving.
  4. ↑ South Florida will add a women's lacrosse team beginning in the 2024–25 school year
  5. ↑ Temple sponsored a softball team during the 2014 season but discontinued the program after that year.[96]
  6. 1 2 FAU and UAB remain beach volleyball members of Conference USA after otherwise departing that conference.[98]
  7. ↑ Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Memphis fields a coed team.
  8. ↑ mens
  9. ↑ Tulane's former bowling home of the Southland Bowling League merged into CUSA after the 2022–23 season. The new CUSA bowling league includes all of the final SBL members.[99]
  10. ↑ Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. UAB fields a coed team.

Conference champions

Shared titles (ex: 2014 football, 2020 men's basketball) are counted as a full title for each co-champion.

Accurate as of June 14, 2023.

School Years in conference Number of titles Titles by sport Sports played
UCF† 2013–2023 46 Baseball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)
Women's basketball: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament)
Football: 4
Women's golf: 3
Women's rowing: 5
Men's soccer: 4 (3 regular season, 1 tournament)
Women's soccer: 5 (4 regular season, 1 tournament)
Softball: 6 (3 regular season, 3 tournament)
Men's tennis: 1
Women's tennis: 2
Women's track & field: 5 (3 indoor, 2 outdoor)
Volleyball: 8 (5 regular season, 3 tournament)		 16:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's rowing
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Houston† 2013–2023 41 Baseball: 5 (3 regular season, 2 tournament)
Men's basketball: 6 (4 regular season, 2 tournament)
Football: 1
Men's golf: 1
Women's golf: 3
Women's swimming & diving: 7
Men's track & field: 13 (7 indoor, 6 outdoor)
Women's track & field: 4 (2 indoor, 2 outdoor)
Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)		 17:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's soccer
Softball
Women's swimming and diving
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
SMU 2013–present 30 Men's basketball: 4 (2 regular season, 2 tournament)
Women's cross country: 2
Men's golf: 2
Women's golf: 1
Women's rowing: 3
Men's soccer: 5 (2 regular season, 3 tournament)
Men's swimming & diving: 3
Women's swimming & diving: 2
Men's tennis: 2
Women's tennis: 1
Women's track & field: 3 (1 indoor, 2 outdoor)
Volleyball: 2 (2 regular season, 0 tournament)		 16:
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's rowing
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Men's swimming and diving
Women's swimming and diving
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Tulsa 2014–present 28 Men's basketball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)
Men's cross country: 9
Women's cross country: 6
Men's soccer: 5 (1 regular season, 4 tournament)
Softball: 4 (1 regular season, 3 tournament)
Women's tennis: 3		 17:[lower-alpha 1]
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf (until 2015–16)
Women's golf
Women's rowing
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
South Florida 2013–present 27 Baseball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Women's basketball: 3 (2 regular season, 1 tournament)
Men's golf: 5
Men's soccer: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament)
Women's soccer: 6 (3 regular season, 3 tournament)
Softball: 3 (3 regular season, 0 tournament)
Men's tennis: 5
Women's tennis: 2		 18:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
UConn† 2013–2020 26 Baseball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Men's basketball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Women's basketball: 14 (7 regular season, 7 tournament)
Women's cross country: 1
Men's soccer: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)
Women's soccer: 4 (2 regular season, 2 tournament)
Men's track & field: 2 (1 indoor, 1 outdoor)
Women's track & field: 2 (2 indoor, 0 outdoor)		 21:[lower-alpha 2]
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19)
Women's rowing
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball
Men's swimming and diving
Women's swimming and diving
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Cincinnati† 2013–2023 17 Baseball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Men's basketball: 5 (3 regular season, 2 tournament)
Football: 3
Women's soccer: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Men's swimming & diving: 2
Men's track & field: 1 (1 indoor, 0 outdoor)
Women's track & field: 3 (1 indoor, 2 outdoor)
Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)		 18:[lower-alpha 3]
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19)
Men's soccer (until 2019–20)
Women's soccer
Men's swimming and diving
Women's swimming and diving
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
East Carolina 2014–present 12 Baseball: 7 (4 regular season, 3 tournament)
Women's basketball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Men's swimming & diving: 4		 18:[lower-alpha 4]
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19)
Women's soccer
Softball
Men's swimming and diving (until 2019–20)
Women's swimming and diving (on hiatus in 2020–21)
Men's tennis (until 2019–20)
Women's tennis (on hiatus in 2020–21)
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Louisville† 2013–2014 9* Baseball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)
Men's basketball: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament), vacated
Men's cross country: 1
Women's golf: 1
Women's rowing: 1
Men's soccer: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)
Softball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Men's swimming & diving: 1
Women's swimming & diving: 1
Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)		 21:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's rowing
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball
Men's swimming and diving
Women's swimming and diving
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Memphis 2013–present 9 Men's basketball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament)
Football: 2
Men's golf: 1
Women's soccer: 4 (1 regular season, 3 tournament)
Women's tennis: 1		 18:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Wichita State 2017–present 9 Men's basketball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)
Women's cross country: 1
Softball: 3 (2 regular season, 1 tournament)
Men's track & field: 2 (0 indoor, 2 outdoor)
Women's track & field: 1 (0 indoor, 1 outdoor)
Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)		 15:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Men's golf
Women's golf
Softball
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Florida‡ 2018–present 7 Women's lacrosse: 7 (3 regular season, 4 tournament) 1:
Women's lacrosse
Tulane 2014–present 5 Baseball: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament)
Football: 1
Women's golf: 1
Men's tennis: 1		 14:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Women's golf
Women's swimming and diving
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
FIU‡ 2022–present 2 Men's soccer: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament) 2:
Men's soccer
Women's swimming and diving
Temple 2013–present 2 Men's basketball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament)
Football: 1		 15:[lower-alpha 5]
Baseball (until 2013–14)
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19)
Women's rowing
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball (until 2013–14)
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field (until 2013–14)
Men's outdoor track and field (until 2013–14)
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
James Madison‡ 2022–present 1 Women's lacrosse: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) 1:
Women's lacrosse
Navy‡ 2015–present 0 – 1:
Football
Old Dominion‡ 2018–present 0 – 2:[lower-alpha 6]
Women's lacrosse
Women's rowing (beginning in 2020–21)
Sacramento State‡ 2015–present 0 – 1:
Women's rowing
Vanderbilt‡ 2018–present 0 – 1:
Women's lacrosse
Rutgers† 2013–2014 0 – 19:
Baseball
Men's basketball
Women's basketball
Men's cross country
Women's cross country
Football
Men's golf
Women's golf
Women's rowing
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
Softball
Women's swimming and diving
Women's tennis
Men's indoor track and field
Men's outdoor track and field
Women's indoor track and field
Women's outdoor track and field
Volleyball
San Diego State†‡ 2015–2021 0 – 1:
Women's rowing
Villanova†‡ 2013–2015 0 – 1
Women's rowing

*- Does not include vacated championships

†- No longer a member of the AAC

‡- Affiliate member

  1. ↑ Tulsa had 18 teams compete in AAC play from 2014–16 and 17 in all other years
  2. ↑ UConn had 20 teams compete in AAC play from 2013–18 and 21 in all other years
  3. ↑ Cincinnati had 19 teams compete in AAC play from 2018–20 and 18 in all other years
  4. ↑ ECU had 19 teams compete in AAC play from 2014–18, 20 from 2018–20, 16 in 2020–21, and 18 in all other years
  5. ↑ Temple had 17 teams compete in AAC play in 2013–14, 14 from 2014–18, and 15 in all other years
  6. ↑ Old Dominion had 1 team compete in AAC play from 2018–20 and 2 in all other years

[101]

NCAA national championships

No current American Conference member has won an NCAA-sponsored team championship while a member of the conference. The only national championship in an NCAA-recognized sport by a current member is the 2023 equestrian title won by SMU. The NCAA recognizes equestrian as part of its Emerging Sports for Women program, but championships are organized by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) instead of the NCAA. The only school to have won a fully recognized NCAA title while in The American, UConn, left for the Big East Conference in 2020. Several members have won national titles before joining The American.

Excluded from these lists are all national championships earned outside the scope of NCAA competition, including Division I FBS football titles, Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association titles, women's AIAW titles, NCEA titles, retroactive Helms Athletic Foundation titles, and ITA tennis titles.

Team championships won by current members

School Total Men Women Co-ed Nickname Most successful sport (Titles)
Southern Methodist University (SMU) 4 4 0 0 Mustangs Men's outdoor track & field (2)
University of North Texas 4 4 0 0 Mean Green Men's golf (4)
Temple University 3 1 2 0 Owls Women's lacrosse (2)
University of South Florida 1 0 1 0 Bulls Women's swimming (1)
Tulane University 1 1 0 0 Green Wave Men's tennis (1)
University of Tulsa 1 0 1 0 Golden Hurricane Women's golf (1)
Wichita State University 1 1 0 0 Shockers Baseball (1)
East Carolina University 0 0 0 0 Pirates N/A
Florida Atlantic University 0 0 0 0 Owls N/A
Rice University 1 1 0 0 Owls Baseball (1)
University of Alabama at Birmingham 0 0 0 0 Blazers N/A
University of Memphis 0 0 0 0 Tigers N/A
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 0 0 0 0 49ers N/A
University of Texas at San Antonio 0 0 0 0 Roadrunners N/A
Total 34 30 4 0

[102]

Team championships won as American Athletic Conference members

Includes all titles won while a member of The American, whether or not the conference sponsored that sport at the time.

School Total Men Women Co-ed Nickname Most successful sport (Titles)
University of Connecticut (UConn) 7 1 6 0 Huskies Women's basketball, field hockey (3 each)
Total 7 1 6 0

Individual and relay championships by current members

School Total Men Women Co-ed Nickname Most successful sport (Titles)
Southern Methodist University 122 77 45 0 Mustangs Women's swimming (29)
University of South Florida 21 9 10 2[lower-alpha 1] Bulls Women's swimming (10)
Temple University 17 17 0 0 Owls Men's gymnastics (13)
Tulane University 14 14 0 0 Green Wave Men's tennis (10)
University of Memphis 6 5 0 1[lower-alpha 2] Tigers Men's outdoor track & field (3)
East Carolina University 4 4 0 0 Pirates Men's swimming (4)
Wichita State University 3 3 0 0 Shockers Men's outdoor track & field (2)
University of Tulsa 2 1 1 0 Golden Hurricane Women's golf (1), Men's indoor track & field (1)
Total 256 182 71 3
  1. ↑ Both won by Michelle Scarborough in rifle. While Scarborough is a woman, rifle is considered a co-ed sport by the NCAA.
  2. ↑ Won by Beth Tidmore in rifle. While Tidmore is a woman, rifle is considered a co-ed sport by the NCAA.

[102]

Football

The conference began football during the 1991–92 season, and it was a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series.[103] Previously, conference opponents operated on a two-year cycle, as a home-and-home series.[104]

The conference previously did not have enough teams to form divisions, but it now does after Navy joined the conference in 2015.[note 4] When Navy joined in 2015 and the conference's divisions were created, Navy was placed in the West division along with Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa. Teams play eight conference games a season. Since 2015, each team has played the other five teams in its own division, as well as three teams from the other division, operating in a four-year cycle ensuring that each school will play every conference opponent at home and on the road at least once in the four-year cycle.[105] At the end of each regular season, the East division winner and the West division winner, as determined by final conference record, meet in the American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, played at the home site of one of the division winners.

With the departure of UConn after the 2019 season, the divisions were affected by the reduction to an uneven number of teams. At the time, The American had no plan to add another team to rebalance divisions, so the conference eliminated the divisions. The championship game is now played by the two teams that achieved the best record in regular-season conference play. While The American is set to expand to 14 members in 2023, it will not split into divisions for football.[106]

Like the conference itself, football experienced much transition through its history. In fact it was the main force behind such departures and expansion. In 2003, the BCS announced that it would adjust the automatic bids granted to its six founding conferences based on results from 2004 to 2007. With the addition of Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida in 2005, the conference retained its BCS automatic-qualifying status.

At one point, the 2007 South Florida Bulls football team was ranked No. 2 in the BCS rankings, but the team finished No. 21 in the final poll.

The 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team finished the regular season undefeated at 12–0, and the team was ranked No. 3 in the final BCS standings, barely missing the opportunity to play for the BCS National Championship. The conference overall was 9–7 (.563) in BCS bowl games, the third highest winning percentage among the AQ conferences.

The 2017 UCF Knights football team, a member of the American, was undefeated, but the team was not invited to the College Football Playoff. The team earned the Group of Five's New Year's Six bowl bid and defeated Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The team claimed a national championship, which was recognized by the Colley Matrix, one of the NCAA recognized selectors of the national champion in football.

Cincinnati became the first Group of Five team ever to appear in the top four of the CFP rankings at any point of the season, going on to become the first G5 team ever selected for the CFP semifinals.

All-time school and conference records

As of week 8 of 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Conference wins and losses are since the formation of The American.

Team Overall Conference Bowl
Appearances		 The American
Championships
WLTWin % WLWin %
Navy 734 596 57.550 39 28.582240
Tulsa 643 526 27.549 41 47.466230
South Florida 165 152 0.521 32 50.390100
UTSA 76 76 0 .510 3 0 1.000 4 0
East Carolina 449 435 12.508 25 50.333210
North Texas 524 516 33 .504 1 2 .333 14 0
Memphis 510 526 33.493 50 29.633152
SMU 517 553 54.484 35 40.467170
UAB 168 179 2 .484 1 3 .333 6 0
Tulane 553 671 38.453 30 48.385151
Temple 485 614 52.444 38 45.45881
Florida Atlantic 114 141 0 .447 2 1 .667 5 0
Rice 466 490 32 .443 2 1 .667 13 0
Charlotte 44 91 0 .326 1 2 .333 1 0

Football champions

The American Championship Game pits the top two teams in the conference standings in a game held following the conclusion of the regular season. The site of the Championship Game is the home stadium of the team with the best overall conference record, with a series of tiebreakers used if needed to determine the host or either of the participants. In its first two seasons, The American awarded its championship to the team(s) with the best overall conference record. The conference split into two six-team divisions for football and first played its championship game in 2015. Through the 2019 season, the championship game involved the winners of each division and was hosted by the division champion with the best conference record. After UConn's 2020 departure, the conference reverted to a single-table format. This format continues even after the expansion to 14 teams in 2023.

RecordRanking
YearChampionsConferenceOverallAPCoachesBowl resultHead coach
2013UCF8–012–1#10#12W Fiesta Bowl 52–42 vs. Baylor†George O'Leary
2014 UCF7–19–4N/AN/AL St. Petersburg Bowl 27–34 vs. NC StateGeorge O'Leary
Cincinnati7–19–4N/AN/AL Military Bowl 17–33 vs. Virginia TechTommy Tuberville
Memphis7–110–3#25#25W Miami Beach Bowl 55–48 vs. BYUJustin Fuente
2015Houston7–113–1#8#8W Peach Bowl 38–24 vs. Florida State†Tom Herman
2016 Temple 7–1 10–3 #23 #24 L Military Bowl 26–34 vs. Wake Forest Matt Rhule
2017 UCF 8–0 13–0 #6 #7 W Peach Bowl 34–27 vs. Auburn† Scott Frost
2018 UCF 8–0 12–1 #11 #12 L Fiesta Bowl 32–40 vs. LSU† Josh Heupel
2019 Memphis 7–1 12–2 #17 #17 L Cotton Bowl 39–53 vs. Penn State† Mike Norvell
2020 Cincinnati 6–0 9–1 #6 #6 L Peach Bowl 21–24 vs. Georgia† Luke Fickell
2021 Cincinnati 8–0 13–1 #4 #4 L Cotton Bowl 6–27 vs. Alabama^ Luke Fickell
2022 Tulane 7–1 12–2 #9 #9 W Cotton Bowl 46–45 vs. USC† Willie Fritz
2023 SMU 8-0 11–3 #22 #24 L Fenway Bowl, 14–23 vs. Boston College Rhett Lashlee


Rivalries

The American has many rivalries among its member schools, primarily in football. Some rivalries existed before the conference was established or began play in football. Recent conference realignment in 2005 and 2013 ended – or temporarily halted – many rivalries. Before their departure to other conferences, a number of former member schools held longtime rivalries within the conference.

Intra-conference rivalries

Rivalry name Team 1 Team 2Meetings Most Recent MeetingFirst meetingRecordCurrent streak
Battle for the Bones Memphis UAB 16 Memphis, 45–21 (2023) Memphis, 28–7 (1997) 10–6 (UAB) 2 (Memphis)
Mayor's Cup Rice SMU 90 SMU, 36–32 (2023) Rice, 127–3 (1916) 49–41–1 (SMU) 1 (SMU)
Gansz Trophy Navy SMU 25 SMU, 59-14 (2023) SMU, 20–7 (1930) 13–12 (Navy) 4 (SMU)
Safeway Bowl North Texas SMU 42 SMU, 45–21 (2023) SMU, 66–0 (1922) 36–6–1 (SMU) 5 (SMU)

Records as of week 13 2023 Season

Bowl games

Following the 2013 season, the BCS era came to a close and was replaced by the College Football Playoff. Four teams play in two semifinal games, with the winners advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship.[107] Six bowl games — the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl — will rotate as hosts for the semifinal games, and host major bowls when they do not host semifinal games (access bowls).

With the birth of the College Football Playoff, The American lost its automatic qualifying status for one of the major bowls. Instead, one automatic qualifying spot is reserved for the highest ranked team from the "Group of Five" conferences – The American, Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, and Sun Belt Conference.

Although the pick order usually corresponds to the conference standings, the bowls are not required to make their choices strictly according to the won-lost records; many factors influence bowl selections, especially the likely turnout of the team's fans. Picks are made after any applicable College Football Playoff selections. If a team is selected for one of the access bowls or playoff, the bowl with the No. 2 pick will have the first pick of the remaining teams in the conference.

American Athletic Conference bowl games[108]
Year Name Location Opposing conference
2020–25 Cotton, Peach, Fiesta, or Playoff[note 5] Arlington, Atlanta, Glendale, or Playoff Site CFP at-large
2020–25 Fenway Bowl Boston, Massachusetts ACC
2020–25 Military Bowl Annapolis, Maryland ACC
2020/22/24 Hawaii Bowl Honolulu, Hawaii MWC
2021/23/25 Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas Big 12 or Army
2020–25 Cure Bowl Orlando, Florida Sun Belt
2020–25 Boca Raton Bowl Boca Raton, Florida MAC or CUSA
2020–25 Frisco Bowl Frisco, Texas CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt or BYU
2020–25 Birmingham Bowl Birmingham, Alabama SEC
2020–25 Gasparilla Bowl Tampa, Florida SEC
2020–25 First Responder Bowl Dallas, Texas TBD
2020–25 Myrtle Beach Bowl Conway, South Carolina CUSA, MAC or Sun Belt
2020–25 New Mexico Bowl Albuquerque, New Mexico TBD

    Head football coach compensation

    The total pay of head coaches includes university and non-university compensation. This includes base salary, income from contracts, foundation supplements, bonuses and media and radio pay.[109]

    Conf.
    Rank    		 University Head coach Salary[110]
    1 Southern Methodist University Rhett Lashlee $3,000,000
    2 Tulane University Willie Fritz $2,842,000
    3 University of Texas - San Antonio Jeff Traylor $2,550,000
    t-4 University of South Florida Alex Golesh $2,500,000
    t-4 Temple University Stan Drayton $2,500,000
    6 East Carolina University Mike Houston $2,355,804
    t-7 University of Memphis Ryan Silverfield $1,900,000
    t-7 University of Tulsa Kevin Wilson $1,900,000[111]
    9 United States Naval Academy Brian Newberry $1,600,000
    t-10 University of Alabama Birmingham Trent Dilfer $1,300,000
    t-10 University of North Texas Eric Morris $1,300,000
    12 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Biff Poggi $1,000,000
    13 Rice University Mike Bloomgren $926,208
    14 Florida Atlantic University Tom Herman $700,000

    Records as of the end of the 2022 season

    Conference individual honors

    Coaches and media of The American award individual honors at the end of each football season.[112]

    Men's basketball

    In June 2013, it was announced that the inaugural men's basketball tournament would take place at FedExForum in Memphis.[113] FedExForum had previously hosted eight Conference USA basketball tournaments.

    Even though the Big East Conference was meant to be a basketball-oriented conference, UConn, a member of The American, won the 2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament (the first after the conferences split).

    All-time school records by winning percentage

    This list goes through the 2022–23 season.

    No.TeamRecordsWin Pct.The American
    Tournament
    Championships    		The American
    Regular Season
    Championships    		Final FoursNational
    Championships
    1Memphis1,387–685.6691030
    2Temple1,978–1,135.6350121
    3UAB913–536.6300000
    4Wichita State1,657–1,245.5710120
    5Tulsa1,498–1,225.5500100
    6Charlotte904–789.5340010
    7SMU1,410–1,273.5262210
    8UTSA611–633.4910000
    9Tulane1,275–1,356.4850000
    10North Texas1,264–1,353.4830000
    11South Florida668–811.4520000
    12Rice1,178–1,504.4390000
    13East Carolina714–912.4390000
    14Florida Atlantic423–617.4070010

    Source[114]

    American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball NCAA Bids

    This list goes through the 2022–23 season. Only current American Conference members are included. However, this list covers the entire histories of basketball at the listed institutions, not just their American Conference tenures.

    Total bids Bids as
    AAC member[lower-alpha 1]    		 School Last bid Last R32 Last Sweet 16 Last Elite 8 Last Final 4 Last RU Last Championship
    33 2 Temple 2019 2013 2001 2001 1958 1938[lower-alpha 2]
    28* 3 Memphis 2023 2022 2009 2008 2008 2008[lower-alpha 3]
    16 0 UAB 2022 2015 2004 1982
    16 1 Tulsa 2016 2003 2000 2000
    16 2 Wichita State 2021 2017 2015 2013 2013
    12 2 SMU 2017 1988 1967 1967 1956
    11 0 Charlotte 2005 2001 1977 1977 1977
    4 0 Rice 1970 1954 1942
    4 0 North Texas 2021 2021
    4 0 UTSA 2011
    3 0 South Florida 2012 2012
    3 0 Tulane 1995 1995
    2 0 Florida Atlantic 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023
    2 0 East Carolina 1993
    1. ↑ Starting with the 2013–14 season, which The American considers as the start of its competitive history (as opposed to its institutional history), with the following exceptions:
      • East Carolina, Tulane, and Tulsa, whose first conference season was 2014–15.
      • Wichita State, whose first conference season was 2017–18.
    2. ↑ Temple were the first NIT champions in 1938, one year before the inception of the NCAA Tournament. The Owls were retroactively recognized by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll and the Helms Athletic Foundation as the national champion for the 1937–38 season.[115]
    3. ↑ Memphis has vacated all of its victories from the 2007–08 season. These 38 wins are not included in Memphis's all-time record.[116]

    Men's basketball champions

    Regular SeasonTournament
    YearChampionsRecordAPCoaches'PostseasonChampionsRecordAPCoaches'Postseason
    2013–14[lower-alpha 1] Louisville 31–6 (15–3) #5 #9 Sweet 16 Louisville† 31–6 #5 #9 Sweet 16
    Cincinnati 27–7 (15–3) #15 #22 Round of 32
    2014–15 SMU 27–7 (15–3) #18 NR Round of 64 SMU 27–7 #18 RV Round of 64
    2015–16 Temple 21–12 (14–4) NR NR Round of 64 UConn 25–10 RV RV Round of 32
    2016–17 SMU 30–4 (17–1) #11 #23 Round of 64 SMU 30–4 #11 #23 Round of 64
    2017–18 Cincinnati 30–4 (16–2) #6 #12 Round of 32 Cincinnati 30–4 #6 #12 Round of 32
    2018–19 Houston 33–4 (16–2) #11 #12 Sweet 16 Cincinnati 28–7 #22 #24 Round of 64
    2019–20 Cincinnati 20–10 (13–5) NR NR Canceled[lower-alpha 2] Canceled
    Houston 23–8 (13–5) #22 #23
    Tulsa 21–10 (13–5) NR NR
    2020–21 Wichita State 16–6 (11–2) NR NR First 4 Houston 28–4 #6 #3 Final 4
    2021–22 Houston 32–6 (15–3) #15 #7 Elite 8 Houston 32–6 #15 #7 Elite 8
    2022–23 Houston 33–4 (17–1) #2 #6 Sweet 16 Memphis 26–9 #24 NR Round of 64
    1. ↑ Does not include UConn's 2014 national title as an American Conference member.
    2. ↑ 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

    Intra-conference Rivalries

    The American has many rivalries among its member schools, some of which existed before the conference was established. Recent conference realignment in 2005 and 2013 ended – or temporarily halted – many rivalries. Before their departure to other conferences, a number of former member schools held longtime rivalries within the conference.

    Rivalry Name Team 1 Team 2MeetingsMost Recent MeetingFirst MeetingRecordCurrent Streak
    Battle for the Bones Memphis UAB 50 65–57, Memphis (2019) 53–51, Memphis (1984) 36–11 (Memphis) 2 (Memphis)
    Tulsa–Wichita State Rivalry Tulsa Wichita State14081–63, Wichita State (2023)32–30, Tulsa (1931)77–63 (Wichita State)3 (Wichita State)

    Results as of the 2022–23 season.

    Women's basketball

    In June 2013, it was announced that the inaugural women's basketball tournament would take place at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.[117] Women's basketball teams have played a total of 20 times in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship (since 1982), with UConn winning 11 national championships under head coach Geno Auriemma since 1995. Women's national championship tournaments prior to 1982 were run by the AIAW.

    All-time school records by winning percentage

    This list goes through the 2016–17 season.[118]

    No.TeamRecordsWin Pct.The American
    Tournament
    Championships    		The American
    Regular Season
    Championships    		Final FoursNational
    Championships
    1Memphis781–590[lower-alpha 1].5700000
    2Tulane684–534.5620000
    3Temple806–653–3.5520000
    4SMU630–534.5410000
    5East Carolina705–600.5401000
    6South Florida687–690.4991100
    7Wichita State571–647[lower-alpha 2].4690000
    8Tulsa326–544.3750000
    1. ↑ Record since the 1972–73 season, considered by Memphis to be the start of its "modern era" of women's basketball.
    2. ↑ Record since the 1976–77 season, considered by Wichita State to be the start of its "modern era" of Division I women's basketball.

    Women's basketball champions

    Regular SeasonTournament
    YearChampionsRecordAPCoaches'PostseasonChampionsRecordAPCoaches'Postseason
    2013–14UConn40–0 (18–0)#1#1NCAA ChampionUConn40–0 (18–0)#1#1NCAA Champion
    2014–15UConn38–1 (18–0)#1#1NCAA ChampionUConn38–1 (18–0)#1#1NCAA Champion
    2015–16UConn38–0 (18–0)#1#1NCAA ChampionUConn38–0 (18–0)#1#1NCAA Champion
    2016–17UConn36–1 (16–0)#1#1Final FourUConn36–1 (16–0)#1#1Final Four
    2017–18UConn36–1 (16–0)#1#1Final FourUConn36–1 (16–0)#1#1Final Four
    2018–19UConn35–3 (16–0)#2#2Final FourUConn35–3 (16–0)#2#3Final Four
    2019–20UConn28–3 (16–0)#5#6CanceledUConn28–3 (16–0)#5#6Canceled[lower-alpha 1]
    2020–21South Florida19–4 (13–2)#19#18Round of 32South Florida19–4 (13–2)#19#18Round of 32
    2021–22UCF26–4 (14–1)#24#24Round of 32UCF26–4 (14–1)#24#24Round of 32
    2022–23South Florida27–7 (15–1)Round of 32East Carolina23–10 (11–5) Round of 64

    Facilities

    Future football member Army in gray.

    School Football stadium Capacity Basketball arena Capacity Baseball stadium Capacity
    Army Michie Stadium 38,000 Football-only member
    Charlotte Jerry Richardson Stadium 15,300 Dale F. Halton Arena 9,105 Hayes Stadium 3,000
    East Carolina Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium 51,000 Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum 8,000 Clark-LeClair Stadium 5,000
    Florida Atlantic FAU Stadium 29,571 Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena 2,900 FAU Baseball Stadium 2,000
    Memphis Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium 59,308 FedExForum (men)
    Elma Roane Fieldhouse (women)    		 18,119
    2,565    		 FedExPark 2,000
    Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 34,000 Football-only member
    North Texas DATCU Stadium 30,850 UNT Coliseum 10,032 Non-baseball school
    Rice Rice Stadium 47,000 Tudor Fieldhouse 5,208 Reckling Park 7,000
    South Florida Raymond James Stadium 65,908 Yuengling Center 10,411 USF Baseball Stadium 3,211
    SMU Gerald J. Ford Stadium 32,000 Moody Coliseum 7,000 Non-baseball school
    Temple Lincoln Financial Field 68,532 Liacouras Center
    McGonigle Hall (women)[lower-alpha 1]    		 10,206
    3,900    		 Non-baseball school
    Tulane Yulman Stadium 30,000 Devlin Fieldhouse 4,100 Turchin Stadium 5,000
    Tulsa Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium 30,000 Reynolds Center 8,355 Non-baseball school
    UAB Protective Stadium 47,100 Bartow Arena 8,508 Regions Field
    Young Memorial Field    		 8,500
    1,000
    UTSA Alamodome 36,582[lower-alpha 2] Convocation Center 4,080 Roadrunner Field 800
    Wichita State Non-football member[lower-alpha 3] Charles Koch Arena 10,506 Eck Stadium 7,851

    Athletic department revenue by school

    Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights and licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, concessions, and novelties.

    Total expenses includes coach and staff salaries, scholarships, buildings and grounds, maintenance, utilities and rental fees, recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues, and insurance.

    The following table shows institutional reporting to the United States Department of Education as shown on the DOE Equity in Athletics website for the 2021–22 academic year.[119]

    Institution 2021–22 Total Revenue from Athletics 2021–22 Total Expenses on Athletics
    Southern Methodist University $79,414,946 $79,414,946
    Temple University $67,128,393 $67,128,393
    University of South Florida $62,288,596 $62,288,596
    University of Memphis $56,896,042 $56,896,042
    East Carolina University $52,643,839 $51,812,739
    University of Tulsa $47,406,950 $47,406,950
    University of North Texas $44,477,322 $44,222,541
    Rice University $42,350,198 $42,350,198
    University of Alabama at Birmingham $39,515,894 $39,515,894
    University of Texas at San Antonio $37,604,241 $37,604,241
    University of North Carolina at Charlotte $35,501,675 $33,615,643
    Florida Atlantic University $34,737,083 $34,737,083
    Tulane University $34,183,387 $34,183,387
    Wichita State University
    Non-football member    		 $26,887,822 $24,048,367

    Academics

    Three of the current full member schools, Rice University, the University of South Florida and Tulane University, are members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization of 71 leading research universities in the United States and Canada.[120][121] Seven current members are doctorate-granting universities with "very high research activity," the highest classification given by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Three of these seven schools are leaving for the Big 12 Conference in July 2023; however, four of the schools joining from Conference USA at that time are in this classification.[122] Member schools are also highly ranked nationally and globally by various groups, including U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and Times Higher Education.

    University Location Affiliation Carnegie[122] Endowment (millions)[123] USN Nat.[124] WM Nat.[125] AAU Member
    University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama Public (UA System) Research (VH) $711.6 148 307 No
    Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida Public (SUSF) Research (H) $271 277 192 No
    East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina Public (UNC) Research (H) $164.1 217 171 No
    University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee Public (THEC) Research (VH) $200.8 258 37 No
    University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Public (UNC System) Research (H) $166.6 227 388 No
    University of North Texas Denton, Texas Public (UNT System) Research (VH) $131.7 277 234 No
    Rice University Houston, Texas Private Research (VH) $4,836.7 17 24 Yes
    University of South Florida Tampa, Florida Public (SUSF) Research (VH) $690.0 97 51 Yes
    Southern Methodist University University Park, Texas Private (Methodist) Research (H) $2,000.0 66 260 No
    Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Public (CSHE) Research (VH) $386.8 103 195 No
    University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas Public (UT System) Research (VH) $277.0 298 [126] 295 No
    Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana Private (non-sectarian) Research (VH) $1,183.9 41 100 Yes
    University of Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma Private (Presbyterian) Research (H) $1,015.5 143 164 No
    Wichita State University Wichita, Kansas Public (KBOR) Research (H) $235.5 298 — No

    Broadcasting and media rights

    In March 2019, the conference announced a $1 billion, 12-year media rights deal with ESPN, under which the majority of AAC content will be aired on ESPN properties. Selected basketball games were sub-licensed to CBS Sports until 2022, and most Navy home football games will take place on CBS Sports until 2027 as Navy had a previous deal with CBS prior to joining The American. Content not aired on linear television will be exclusive to ESPN's subscription package ESPN+, but a larger number of events (including at least 40 football games and 65 men's basketball games per-season, including the conference semi-finals and championship) will air on ABC and ESPN's linear networks than under the previous contract.[127][128][129] Over 1,000 conference sporting events are aired on ESPN+ per year, including every baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball game hosted by a conference member (unless that game is being broadcast on one of ESPN's other networks).[130] The conference golf, rowing, swimming and diving, and track and field championships are also aired on ESPN+.

    See also

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Athletic Conference.

    Notes

    1. ↑ Temple splits its women's basketball schedule between McGonigle Hall and the Liacouras Center.
    2. ↑ Normal capacity for UTSA games; expandable to 64,000.
    3. ↑ Wichita State discontinued its football program following the 1986 season. The Shockers' football facility, Cessna Stadium (capacity 30,000) still stands. It is the home of the Shockers' track and field program and hosts football games for Wichita's Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School.
    1. ↑ The American is the legal all-sports successor to the Big East Conference (1979–2013). The Big East was rebranded and reorganized as the American Athletic Conference on July 1, 2013.
    2. ↑ The other conferences in the "Group of Five" are Conference USA (C-USA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference.
    3. ↑ Under NCAA Bylaw 20.9.4, all Division I schools are required to sponsor a minimum of seven men's and seven women's sports, or six men's and eight women's sports. Bylaw 20.9.7.1 imposes the latter requirement on FBS schools. FCS schools, under Bylaw 20.9.8.1, may use either requirement. This does not explicitly require that a school sponsor two more women's sports than men's sports. See "2012–13 NCAA Division I Manual" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
    4. ↑ At the time Navy joined in football, the NCAA required 12 teams for a conference in order to conduct divisional play and stage a championship game that was exempt from the NCAA-imposed limit of 12 regular-season games. Effective with the 2016 season, a conference was allowed to conduct an "exempt" championship game with fewer than 12 members, as long as the conference either plays in two divisions or conducts a full round-robin schedule. Since the 2022 season, all FBS conferences have had full freedom to select the participants in their championship games, regardless of organization or scheduling.
    5. ↑ If The American's champion is the highest ranked from among the "Group of Five" conferences, it will receive a bid to either the Cotton Bowl, the Peach Bowl, or the Fiesta Bowl. If the team is ranked in the top four at the end of the regular season, it will take part in the College Football Playoff.

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