Before Saturday CFB 🏈

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[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

We just published our American Conference Athletic Director update.

After the work we've done this summer covering ADs, launching the fan sentiment survey and tracking data this season, here's where we are so far.
https://t.co/8cfVcAnGba

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

What a fun game this’ll be.

Tulane and UTSA are tied 7-7 right now. But Tulane scored in 5 seconds.

It seems like everyone in the stadium, watching on tv, and Tulane’s defense knew exactly what UTSA was running here.😳

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

FAU defeats Rice 51-49. Here’s our article that explains what we learned from this game and how we are to look at both teams going forward.

Did FAU convince you that they’re serious contenders in the American Conference?
https://t.co/YbKLvn9b31

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

Big win for Jeff Monken and Army as they improve to 5-2.

Tulsa had ample opportunities at home to take full control of the game and they couldn’t.

They’re just grinding out tough victories and setting up an epic showdown between them and Memphis 👀.

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

🏈 ARMY vs TULSA | TALE OF THE TAPE

Army | Tulsa

Record: 4-2 | 4-3

Points/Game: 34.8 | 29.0

Total Yards/Game: 426.7 | 364.0

Yards Allowed/Game: 368.0 | 408.6

3rd Down: 52.1% | 31.3%

Sacks: 6 | 17

Army leads the nation with 357.5 rushing yards per game. Tulsa allows 191.7.

Can Tulsa slow down the Black Knights?

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

Dramatic victory in overtime for Memphis to beat ECU 41-34.

The American Conference is crazy.

The broadcast and some ECU fans felt there was a pass interference on this play, do you think the refs missed a call here?

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

Memphis entered tonight averaging over 500 yards of offense per game.

At halftime against ECU:

• 113 total yards
• 0/7 on third down
• 6 first downs
• 51 penalty yards
• 3 points

ECU has completely disrupted one of the American's most productive offenses.

How much of this is ECU's defense versus Memphis' execution?

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

MEMPHIS vs ECU | TALE OF THE TAPE

Memphis | ECU

Record: 5-2 | 3-3

Points/Game: 35.4 | 23.5

Total Yards/Game: 512.6 | 339.2

Yards Allowed/Game: 372.4 | 326.5

3rd Down: 45.1% | 31.3%

Sacks: 16 | 18

Memphis brings the offense. ECU brings the pressure.

Who wins tonight?

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

Arthur Johnson has a perception problem at Temple.

The concerns I've heard from people around the program are becoming increasingly consistent:

Not enough resources.
Not enough alignment.
Not enough urgency.

Keeler has his own questions to answer.

I explain why in today's article.

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

Thanks for having me on the show Chris.

Had a blast talking about Memphis, American Conference landscape, and some of the plans I have for @B4SaturdayCFB !

Everyone should tune in!

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

How many athletic departments in the American can consistently generate seven-figure donations?

UNT’s latest gift highlights a growing question about the conference’s future.

The gap between programs with strong donor networks and those without could become one of the conference’s biggest competitive divides.

To be fair the football results have not supported more money equals more wins (yet), but there’ll be a compounding effect eventually that will be hard to ignore.

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

UNT averages just 21 more yards per game than Memphis, but scores nearly 7 more points.

One possible explanation? Red-zone TD rates:

UNT: 72.7%
Memphis: 53.1%

Both offenses move the ball. One is finding the end zone more consistently inside the 20.

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

South Florida leads the American in scoring defense, allowing just 15.1 points per game.

The Bulls have also thrown ZERO interceptions on 183 pass attempts.

Yet they’re 5-2 overall and only 1-2 in conference play.

What explains the disconnect?

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

I've just published the updated @B4SaturdayCFB American Conference Power Rankings.

It was a crazy weekend in the conference with many surprises and some impressive performances. A few notes:

- UTSA assumes the top spot
- Should Army move above USF?
- Charlotte moves up
- FAU falls a few spots

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

Tulane beating Memphis last night has really shook up the American Conference.

UTSA, UNT, & FAU are the remaining undefeated teams in conference play.

UTSA hosts Navy today.

FAU travels to West Point in a big game against Army.

Who’ll be atop the conference after today?

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

Upset Alert 🚨

Tulane are outplaying Memphis tonight and have taken a 23-10 lead.

Tulane has forced 4 first-half turnovers.

Both teams are a combined 2/14 on 3rd down.

Both offenses are struggling.

A loss for Memphis would turn this conference upside down.

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

There’s nothing sweeter than a walk-off pick to win at homecoming.

UAB went and snatched the hearts out of ECU in the 4th qtr & OT. Their defense makes them tough to beat and they have clutch gene.

Terrible loss for ECU. They were in control for most of the game and missed many opportunities to put UAB away.

Blake Harrell’s got a QB problem that’s holding back their potential on offense. It’s squeezing the run game and not allowing their playmakers on the outside to get in a rhythm. They’ve thrown for more than 160 yards once this season against FBS competition.

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

Gut-wrenching loss for ECU. 3-3 for the Blake Harrell lead Pirates. The ECU offense only scored 3 points in the second half.

UAB caps off homecoming with Mortensen’s biggest win with a walk-off interception!

UAB moves to 4-3 and still undefeated at home.

[Before Saturday CFB 🏈 @B4SaturdayCFB]

Tale of the Tape

ECU | UAB

Record: 3-2 | 3-3

PPG: 24.8 | 22.2

Points Allowed: 22.6 | 25.8

Yards Allowed: 319.6 | 316.8

3rd Down: 27.0% | 42.7%

3rd Down Defense: 32.5% | 39.7%

This is a must-watch American Conference game tonight!

Which team comes away with a win?

[Darrien Starling @DarrienStarling]

In today’s article, I decided to share my
Midseason’s notes on the American Conference AD’s. Here are some of the details:

- 1 AD has increased their Twitter activity by 30% YoY
- 1 AD has announced revenue generating deals but still has little fan support
- 1 AD has proved they are one of the best in the world by overcoming an insane challenge.
- & much more!

How do you feel about your AD so far this season?