AAC Power Rankings: Bearcats Lead the Way in Week 1

AAC Football Fever Power Rankings: Week 1

1. Cincinnati (0-0, 0-0 AAC) – The favorite to win the conference by both the media and our own very staff, Cincinnati should be a fun team to watch this season. QB Gunner Kiel has some ridiculous expectations as a first-year starter, but has the potential to lead the Bearcats to an AAC title and high-profile bowl bid. UC opens against Toledo on Sept. 12.

2. ECU Pirates (0-0, 0-0) – There might not be enough room on the scoreboard for when Shane Carden and Co. take the field against NC Central this Saturday.

3. UCF Knights (0-0, 0-0) – Whether it’s in Dublin or Orlando, UCF needs a win against Penn State to show everyone it can move forward without Blake Bortles.

4. Houston Cougars (0-0, 0-0) – Houston will show off its new stadium for the first time on Friday night against a Larry Coker-led UTSA squad that comes in with a five-game winning streak.

5. Tulane Green Wave (0-0, 0-0) – Things really begin to drop off here with Tulane. Either Curtis Johnson fills some key holes on what was a strong and aggressive defense and the Green Wave return to a bowl game, or the void left by key departures is insurmountable and they’re left at the bottom of the AAC.

6. Memphis Tigers (0-0, 0-0) – Justin Fuente has Memphis in the right direction, but are the Tigers ready to take the next step and make a bowl game? Right now, it’s 50/50, but it all starts with a convincing win over Austin Peay.

7. SMU Mustangs (0-0, 0-0) – If June Jones and SMU can hold Baylor to under 60 points on Sunday, then they’ll have something to hold their hats on moving forward to Week 2.

8. USF Bulls (0-0, 0-0) – USF was embarrassed by an FCS school during last season’s opener, getting walloped by McNeese State 53-21. That shouldn’t happen against Western Carolina.

9. Temple Owls (0-0, 0-0) – The P.J. Walker show begins on Thursday night as Temple travels to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt.

10. UConn Huskies (0-0, 0-0) – We’ll get an early look at the progress Bob Diaco has made as the UConn defensive front seven matches up with BYU dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill.

11. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (0-0, 0-0) – In a battle of former C-USA rivals, Tulsa and Tulane get things started with an AAC showdown this Thursday night.