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The 2026 American Athletic Conference campaign kicked off with all 14 teams in action, and the opening week delivered a mix of dominance and disappointment. Eight programs emerged victorious, with Memphis standing alone at 2-0 after an early start in Week 0.
One of the most impressive showings came from Tulsa, whose defense put on a clinic against a heavily hyped Oklahoma State squad. Despite the Cowboys bringing in a new coaching staff and a slew of high-profile transfers, the Golden Hurricane limited them to just 10 points in a 24-10 triumph. Safety Zach Williams led a secondary that held quarterback Drew Mestemaker to 241 yards on 29-of-49 passing, while linebacker Chris Thompson Jr. anchored the run defense with 10 tackles. Tulsa forced four turnovers, though two came late in the contest, and applied relentless pressure after Oklahoma State lost offensive tackle Jacob Sexton early.
On the flip side, Charlotte's struggles continued in alarming fashion. Coming off a 1-11 season, the 49ers fell to FCS opponent The Citadel in a triple-overtime thriller, 43-41. Despite racking up 538 yards, Charlotte committed two costly first-half turnovers and missed a potential game-winning two-point conversion in the final overtime period. The loss extended their losing streak to 10 games, and they now face a daunting trip to Ole Miss.
Key Performances and Concerns
Memphis running back Jaylin Carter emerged as the FBS rushing leader after another stellar outing. He rushed for 183 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-24 win over Arkansas State, tying a school record. His performance, which included a 74-yard scoring run, was witnessed by a crowd of 45,632 at Liberty Stadium, the largest for a regular-season game since 2019. Coach Charles Huff had called on fans to pack the stadium, and they responded in force.
South Florida's offense, however, sputtered in a 19-9 victory over FIU. The Bulls, who averaged over 40 points per game in 2025, managed just 208 total yards and never had a play exceed 14 yards. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. threw for only 100 yards, and the offense relied on short fields created by FIU turnovers. With conference play looming at Army, improvements are urgently needed.
The conference's triple-option teams—Army, Navy, and Rice—dominated their FCS opponents with overwhelming rushing attacks. Army amassed 569 yards on the ground, the most by an FBS team since 2022, in a 59-3 rout of Bryant. Navy compiled 506 rushing yards in a 42-15 win over Towson, led by quarterback Braxton Woodson's 200-yard performance. Rice, in just its second year under the option, gained 465 yards on the ground in a 31-3 victory over Houston Christian.
Tulane, the conference's standard-bearer, faced a harsh reality check in a 17-3 loss at Duke. The Green Wave were shut out of the end zone for the first time since 2019, committed 15 penalties, and allowed 227 rushing yards to Duke's Nate Sheppard. Their own ground game managed just 54 yards, and quarterback changes failed to spark the offense. The loss deals a significant blow to their College Football Playoff aspirations, especially given that a win over Duke was pivotal to their playoff berth last season.
Finally, UTSA's 45-16 win over UTRGV featured a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch by tight end Brandon Young Jr. that earned national attention. Quarterback Owen McCown threw for 275 yards and three scores, while the Roadrunners racked up 527 total yards in a promising opener.
Originally reported by yahoo.