The American Conference keeps flexing its muscles this season. With eight weeks of the season in the books, the American already has five teams that are bowl-eligible. Only the SEC with six teams has more that are bowl-eligible at this point.
The five bowl-eligible teams from the American are Navy (6-0), South Florida (6-1), Tulane (6-1), Memphis (6-1), and North Texas (6-1). Here is a look at the rest of the teams and what they face in becoming bowl-eligible, along with a prediction on whether they will get to extend their seasons.
East Carolina (4-3, 2-1) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Nov. 1 at Temple (4-3), Nov. 8 vs. Charlotte (1-6), Nov. 15 vs. Memphis (6-1), Nov. 22 at UTSA (3-4), Nov. 29 at FAU (3-4).
Outlook: The Pirates have a great chance of becoming bowl-eligible, especially considering they only face two more teams with winning records among their final five games. ECU has an impressive 28-6 win over Army and even an impressive loss, 26-19 at Tulane. This is a team that has the ability to be competitive with any opponent in the American.
Will they become bowl-eligible? Yes
Temple (4-3, 2-1) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Oct. 25 at Tulsa (2-5), Nov. 1 vs. ECU (4-3), Nov. 8 at Army (3-4), Nov. 22 vs. Tulane (6-1), Nov. 28 at North Texas (6-1).
Outlook: The Owls, who went 3-9 each of the previous four years, are one of the American’s biggest surprises under first-year coach KC Keeler. The remaining schedule is extremely difficult. The Owls, who are coming off a 49-14 win at Charlotte, must beat Tulsa and then win one of the other four games in which they will likely be an underdog. This will be extremely challenging, but under Keeler, Temple is playing with a lot of confidence. The Owls will certainly prevail if quarterback Evan Simon, who has thrown 16 touchdown passes and no interceptions, continues his stellar play.
Will they become bowl-eligible? Yes
FAU (3-4, 2-2) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Oct. 25 at Navy (6-0), Nov. 1 vs. Tulsa (2-5), Nov. 15 at Tulane (6-1), Nov. 22 vs. UConn (5-2), Nov. 29 vs. ECU (4-3).
Outlook: As I outlined last week, this is a killer schedule for the Owls. The program has shown improvement and great offensive ingenuity under first-year coach Zach Kittley, but finding three wins out of these final five games is a daunting task.
Will they become bowl-eligible? No
Army (3-4, 2-3) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Nov. 1 at Air Force (2-5), Nov. 8 vs. Temple (4-3), Nov. 22 vs. Tulsa (2-5), Nov. 29 at UTSA (3-4).
Outlook: Army has one fewer game to attempt to qualify since its traditional showdown with Navy on Dec. 13 is nearly a week after the bowl invitations are extended. The Black Knights would have to go 3-1 and that won’t be easy, but it is possible. A key game is at Air Force, which only lost 34-31 to unbeaten Navy and has played a difficult schedule. This is not a gimmie, especially on the road.
Army is the defending American Conference champion and has played some good teams close, for instance, losing 24-17 last week at Tulane. The Black Knights have been among the most unpredictable teams, but after a bye this week, they should make a serious run at a bowl bid.
Will they become bowl-eligible? Yes
UTSA (3-4, 1-2) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Oct. 30 vs. Tulane (6-1), Nov. 6 at South Florida (6-1), Nov. 15 at Charlotte (1-6), Nov. 22 vs. East Carolina (4-3), Nov. 29 vs Army (3-4).
Outlook: This is a very difficult schedule, and if UTSA loses the first two to Tulane and South Florida, then it would have to run the table. That wouldn’t be impossible, but it would be very difficult.
Will they become bowl-eligible? No
Rice (3-4, 1-3) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Oct. 25 vs. UConn (5-2), Oct. 31 vs. Memphis (6-1), Nov. 8 vs. UAB (3-4), Nov. 22 vs North Texas (6-1), Nov. 29 at South Florida (6-1).
Outlook: The cumulative record of the remaining five teams is 26-9. Finding three wins in this schedule is almost impossible.
Will they become bowl-eligible? No
UAB (3-4, 1-3) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Nov. 1 at UConn (5-2), Nov. 8 at Rice (3-4), Nov. 15 vs. North Texas (6-1). Nov. 22 vs. South Florida (6-1), Nov. 29 at Tulsa (2-5).
Outlook: Before last weekend, most would have figured it was impossible for UAB to earn a bowl bid, but after upsetting previously unbeaten Memphis, the Blazers at least have a realistic chance. They would have to beat Rice and Tulsa and then score an upset among North Texas, South Florida, and UConn, a team coming off a Power Four win albeit over a struggling Boston College team.
Will they become bowl-eligible? Yes
Tulsa (2-5, 0-4) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Oct. 25 vs. Temple (4-3), Nov. 8 at Florida Atlantic (3-4), Nov. 15 vs. Oregon State (1-7), Nov. 22 at Army (3-4), Nov. 29 vs. UAB (3-4).
Outlook: The remaining schedule only has one team (Temple) with a winning record. Still, it appears almost impossible to go 4-1 in the final five.
Will they become bowl-eligible? No
Charlotte (1-6, 0-4) Bowl Projection
Remaining schedule: Oct. 24 vs. North Texas (6-1), Nov. 8 at East Carolina (4-3), Nov. 15 vs. UTSA (3-4), Nov. 22 at Georgia (6-1), Nov. 29 at Tulane (6-1).
Outlook: There is little chance Charlotte could come close to running the table.
Will they become bowl-eligible? No
