Is it September yet?

Spring practice is far gone in the rearview mirror and all 12 American Athletic Conference teams are enjoying their final remaining weeks leading up to the start of summer camps. Though the regular season is still more than three months away, there might not be a better time to update our AAC power rankings.

Courtesy of the AACFever.com staff, here’s a quick look at the conference with how every team’s chances look heading into the month of June, broken down into five different categories:

The Battle for Last Place

12. Tulane Green Wave (3-9, 1-7 record in 2015)

Tulane made one of the better offseason hires by bringing in former Georgia Southern coach Willie Fritz, who won 17 games with the Eagles in their first two seasons as a member of the Sun Belt Conference after the program transitioned from the FCS ranks. However, it’s going to take more than a few months for him to make serious strides; Fritz inherited a depleted roster that is geared for a Ground Zero rebuild, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

11. SMU Mustangs (2-10, 1-7)

Approaching its second year in Chad Morris’ uptempo scheme, SMU’s offense could be a lot of fun to watch in 2016. The defense, which surrendered an FBS second-worst 45.7 points per game last season, could be equally bad. Regardless, the Ponies have some experience to work with after fielding a crap-ton of freshmen in Year 1, and might be able to surprise every now and then.

Hoping for a Bowl Game

10. UCF Knights (0-12, 0-8)

Remember that one time UCF went 12-1 and beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl? Yeah, that was in 2013. Last year’s 0-12 squad was a far cry from the legitimate talent the Knights put on the field that season, but it’s officially a thing of the past — out of sight, out of mind. New coach Scott Frost, who recently served as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, should be able to get the most out of the roster he inherited and have the team contending for 4-6 wins (maybe more?) this fall.

9. UConn Huskies (6-7, 4-4)

Potential. That’s the theme for UConn in 2016. Much to the surprise of many (fans included), second-year coach Bob Diaco led the Huskies to their first bowl game in five years last season — and he did it with the nation’s No. 121-ranked scoring offense. Diaco’s cornerstone (the defense) returns several playmakers and should be just as solid as before; however, for the program to take the next step, scoring more points and improvement with time of possession are key factors.

8. ECU Pirates (5-7, 3-5)

ECU has posted an 8-8 conference record since joining the American prior to the 2014 season, but the athletic department obviously believed that it should be annually contending for championships. That’s why it relieved Ruffin McNeill from his post and hired a new head coach: former Duke OC Scottie Montgomery. He inherited a veteran group (especially on offense), but can he get the Pirates to start winning games in the second half?

7. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (6-7, 3-5)

If there’s one thing that Tulsa will know how to do in 2016, it’s score points. A lot of points. And if there’s another thing that Tulsa will know how to do in 2016, it’s allow its opponents to score points. A lot of points. Any kind of improvement for a defensive unit that finished No. 121 in points allowed (39.8) could mean a step up in the win-loss record; the Golden Hurricane, despite the defensive liabilities, are a dark horse team to watch in the AAC.

Dark Horses to Compete for the AAC

6. Memphis Tigers (9-4, 5-3)

There might not be a bigger wildcard than Memphis, as everything depends on the quarterback position. New coach Mike Norvell inherits a program that was built up by Justin Fuente, meaning there’s plenty of depth on both sides of the ball and enough talent to continue competing for the AAC championship. Norvell wants to run an aggressive pass-first attack. Can he do that effectively without Paxton Lynch under center?

5. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-6, 4-4)

Just kidding, here’s the true wild card. Let’s be honest for a second: no one has any clue what Cincinnati will be capable of this season. Gone are a pack of explosive receivers that may have been the best position/class in program history. Gone are a handful of assistants, including offensive coordinator Eddie Gran. Gone is first-team All-Conference left tackle Parker Ehinger, who now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Recruiting is down, and the second-half collapse (emphasis: bowl game) wasn’t fun, either. But if the Bearcats can keep quarterback Gunner Kiel upright and the defense can force turnovers, they can be an automatic contender. Don’t be surprised if UC misses the postseason in 2016. Also don’t be surprised if they win nine or 10 games.

4. Navy Midshipmen (11-2, 7-1)

Navy has won 50 games since 2010, making it one of the most consistent winners in all of college football during that span. Still, last season was arguably the best in program history, and coach Ken Niumatalolo faces the difficult challenge of replacing an NCAA record-breaking quarterback, his entire offensive line, and his fullback — all of which are rather important in a triple-option scheme. While the expectation shouldn’t be to win a conference title this season, that doesn’t mean the Midshipmen are understaffed.

The True Contenders

3. USF Bulls (8-5, 6-2)

Let’s skip the part where we talk about how coach Willie Taggart was on the hot seat in October of 2015, and now he has a contract extension and a team ready to vie for a conference title. Dual-threat QB Quinton Flowers and running back Marlon Mack both lead a dynamic offense that should come second to only Navy in rushing this fall. If Taggart’s recruiting prowess proves to pay off and key departures in the trenches are replaced, the Bulls could take the AAC crown no question.

2. Temple Owls (10-4, 7-1)

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow may have lost the core of his defense this offseason — highlighted by tackle machine Tyler Matakevich, who recorded 493 during his four-year career in Philadelphia — but returns a healthy lineup of studs that found playing time via rotation the last two years. Temple’s defense may not be the dominating, Group-of-5-leading unit we’re used to seeing, but it will be good enough to keep the team in every game. Meanwhile, for the Owls to repeat as AAC East champs, quarterback P.J. Walker will need to have his best, most efficient year yet after finishing 8th in the conference in passer efficiency (125.26).

The Easy Favorite

1. Houston Cougars (13-1, 7-1)

When you’re a non-Power 5 team that earns a bid to play Florida State in a New Year’s Day bowl, and then proceed to kick the living snot out of said Florida State, you becoming the “easy favorite” to win the American Athletic Conference the following year. That’s especially true if you have a coach like Tom Herman, a quarterback like Greg Ward, Jr., and a dominant run defense, much like Houston has heading into the 2016 season. Expectations are sky high, but for good reason — if the secondary steps up and a leader (other than Ward) emerges from the backfield, the Cougars could cruise to a second straight AAC championship.