The highlight of the 2015 schedule will be the first American Athletic Conference Football Championship, which will be played at the home site of one of the two division winners Saturday, Dec. 5. The American Athletic Conference East Division will be comprised of UCF, Cincinnati, UConn, East Carolina, USF and Temple. The West Division will consist of Houston, Memphis, Navy, SMU, Tulane and Tulsa.
Each of the 12 teams in The American will play eight conference games this season, facing the other five teams in its own division, as well as three teams from the other division. Such a format allows each school to play every conference opponent both at home and on the road at least once in a four-year cycle.
“I am pleased to announce our 2015 football schedule, the first step in what promises to be an exciting season,” said Aresco. “We know that our new two-division format will produce a compelling and extremely competitive regular season, which will prepare our division winners well for our first football championship game and for our challenging postseason bowl lineup. I am pleased that our teams are continuing to assemble the most formidable nonconference schedules in the country. I am also proud and excited to welcome Navy into our football conference.”
The American Athletic Conference has enjoyed tremendous success since its inaugural season in 2013. The conference produced two 12-win teams in 2013, including UCF, which won the Fiesta Bowl, and saw nine-win UCF, Cincinnati and Memphis tie for the conference title in 2014. Memphis and Houston went on to register thrilling bowl victories against Brigham Young and Pittsburgh, respectively. Six of the 12 American Athletic Conference teams in 2015 – UCF, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis and Navy – played in the 2014 postseason, while Memphis finished the season ranked No. 25 in the final national polls.
The 2015 American Athletic Conference schedule begins Thursday, Sept. 3, as all 12 teams open at home during the first week of the season. The 48-game conference schedule kicks off Sept. 12, when Temple visits Cincinnati.
Navy, which has competed as a football independent for 134 years, joins the American Athletic Conference July 1 and plays its first intraconference game Sept. 19, when the Midshipmen host East Carolina at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. All of Navy’s home games in the 2015 season will be televised on CBS Sports Network, while the Dec. 12 Army-Navy game will be televised on CBS.
The 2015 season is the second under The American’s current television contract, which provides for 80 percent of conference-controlled games on national television platforms, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and CBS Sports Network and the remainder through ESPN3. The American Athletic Conference Football Championship will be televised either on ABC or ESPN.
Highlights of the 2015 schedule include an intriguing series of Thursday and Friday games, primarily on ESPN or ESPN2, as well as a number of exciting nonconference games that will match American Athletic Conference teams against the nation’s top programs. The nonconference ledger includes four games against the top eight teams from last year’s final Associated Press poll – SMU faces No. 3 TCU and No. 7 Baylor; USF visits No. 5 Florida State; and Tulane is at No. 8 Georgia Tech. The nonconference schedule includes games against 12 of the 38 teams that were ranked or received votes in the final AP poll, including games against No. 14 Missouri, No. 17 Mississippi, No. 24 Louisville as well as games against Notre Dame, Stanford, Penn State, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Duke, Air Force and Army.
Additionally, The American has three teams slated to play Brigham Young University as Cincinnati, UConn and East Carolina take on the Cougars in Provo, Utah.
Kickoff times and television designations for the first three weeks of the season will be made final in June, while the rest of the schedule will fall under the customary 12-day and six-day selection processes.
2015 American Athletic Conference Composite Football Schedule
Thursday, September 3
Villanova at UConn
Duke at Tulane (CBSSN)
Friday, September 4
Baylor at SMU (ESPN/ESPNU)
Saturday, September 5
Florida International at UCF
Alabama A&M at Cincinnati
Towson at East Carolina
Tennessee Tech at Houston
Colgate at Navy (Noon, CBSSN)
Florida A&M at USF
Penn State at Temple
Florida Atlantic at Tulsa
Saturday, September 12
Temple at Cincinnati *
UCF at Stanford
Army at UConn
East Carolina at Florida
Houston at Louisville
Memphis at Kansas
USF at Florida State
North Texas at SMU
Tulane at Georgia Tech
Tulsa at New Mexico
Saturday, September 19
East Carolina at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Furman at UCF
Cincinnati at Miami (Ohio)
UConn at Missouri
Memphis at Bowling Green
USF at Maryland
SMU at TCU
Temple at Massachusetts
Maine at Tulane
Tulsa at Oklahoma
Thursday, September 24
Cincinnati at Memphis * (ESPN)
Saturday, September 26
Navy at UConn *
UCF at South Carolina
Virginia Tech at East Carolina
Texas State at Houston
TBD at SMU
Thursday, October 1
Miami (Fla.) at Cincinnati (ESPN)
Friday, October 2
UConn at Brigham Young (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Memphis at USF * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Saturday, October 3
UCF at Tulane *
East Carolina at SMU *
Houston at Tulsa *
Air Force at Navy (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Temple at Charlotte
Thursday, October 8
SMU at Houston * (ESPN2)
Saturday, October 10
UConn at UCF *
Tulane at Temple *
East Carolina at Brigham Young
Navy at Notre Dame (NBC)
Syracuse at USF
Louisiana-Monroe at Tulsa
Friday, October 16
Houston at Tulane * (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Saturday, October 17
UCF at Temple *
USF at UConn *
Tulsa at East Carolina *
Cincinnati at Brigham Young
Mississippi at Memphis
Thursday, October 22
Temple at East Carolina * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Friday, October 23
Memphis at Tulsa * (ESPN)
Saturday, October 24
Houston at UCF *
UConn at Cincinnati *
SMU at USF *
Tulane at Navy * (1 p.m., CBSSN)
Friday, October 30
East Carolina at UConn * (ESPNU)
Saturday, October 31
UCF at Cincinnati *
USF at Navy * (Noon, CBSSN)
Tulane at Memphis *
Tulsa at SMU *
Vanderbilt at Houston
Notre Dame at Temple
Friday, November 6
Temple at SMU * (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Saturday, November 7
UCF at Tulsa *
Cincinnati at Houston *
UConn at Tulane *
USF at East Carolina *
Navy at Memphis *
Saturday, November 14
Tulsa at Cincinnati *
USF at Temple *
Memphis at Houston *
SMU at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Tulane at Army (CBSSN)
Thursday, November 19
East Carolina at UCF * (ESPN)
Friday, November 20
Cincinnati at USF * (CBSSN)
Saturday, November 21
Houston at UConn *
Memphis at Temple *
Navy at Tulsa *
Tulane at SMU *
Friday, November 27
USF at UCF *
Navy at Houston *
Saturday, November 28
Cincinnati at East Carolina *
UConn at Temple *
SMU at Memphis *
Tulsa at Tulane *
Saturday, December 5
American Athletic Conference Championship (ABC/ESPN)
Saturday, December 12
Navy vs. Army 1 (3 p.m., CBS)
* American Athletic Conference game
1 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
All times Eastern; all dates and times subject to change
Additional television listings will be announced as they become available
2015 American Athletic Conference Team-By-Team Football Schedules
East Division
UCF
Sat., Sept. 5 Florida International
Sat., Sept. 12 at Stanford
Sat., Sept. 19 Furman
Sat., Sept. 26 at South Carolina
Sat., Oct. 3 at Tulane *
Sat., Oct. 10 UConn *
Sat., Oct. 17 at Temple *
Sat., Oct. 24 Houston *
Sat., Oct. 31 at Cincinnati *
Sat., Nov. 7 at Tulsa
Thu., Nov. 19 East Carolina (ESPN)
Fri., Nov. 27 USF
CINCINNATI
Sat., Sept. 5 Alabama A&M
Sat., Sept. 12 Temple *
Sat., Sept. 19 at Miami (Ohio)
Thu., Sept. 24 at Memphis * (ESPN)
Thu., Oct. 1 Miami (Fla.) (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 17 at Brigham Young
Sat., Oct. 24 UConn *
Sat., Oct. 31 UCF *
Sat., Nov. 7 at Houston *
Sat., Nov. 14 Tulsa *
Fri., Nov. 20 at USF * (CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 28 at East Carolina *
UCONN
Thu., Sept. 3 Villanova
Sat., Sept. 12 Army
Sat., Sept. 19 at Missouri
Sat., Sept. 26 Navy *
Fri., Oct. 2 at Brigham Young (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Sat., Oct. 10 at UCF *
Sat., Oct. 17 USF *
Sat., Oct. 24 at Cincinnati *
Fri., Oct. 30 East Carolina * (ESPNU)
Sat., Nov. 7 at Tulane *
Sat., Nov. 21 Houston *
Sat., Nov. 28 at Temple *
EAST CAROLINA
Sat., Sept. 5 Towson
Sat., Sept. 12 at Florida
Sat., Sept. 19 at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 26 Virginia Tech
Sat., Oct. 3 at SMU *
Sat., Oct. 10 at Brigham Young
Sat., Oct. 17 Tulsa *
Thu., Oct. 22 Temple * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Fri., Oct. 30 at UConn * (ESPNU)
Sat., Nov. 7 USF *
Thu., Nov. 19 at UCF * (ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 28 Cincinnati *
USF
Sat., Sept. 5 Florida A&M
Sat., Sept. 12 at Florida State
Sat., Sept. 19 at Maryland
Fri., Oct. 2 Memphis * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Oct. 10 Syracuse
Sat., Oct. 17 at UConn *
Sat., Oct. 24 SMU *
Sat., Oct. 31 at Navy * (Noon, CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 7 at East Carolina *
Sat., Nov. 14 Temple *
Fri., Nov. 20 Cincinnati * (CBSSN)
Fri., Nov. 27 at UCF *
TEMPLE
Sat., Sept. 5 Penn State
Sat., Sept. 12 at Cincinnati *
Sat., Sept. 19 at Massachusetts
Sat., Oct. 3 at Charlotte
Sat., Oct. 10 Tulane *
Sat., Oct. 17 UCF *
Thu., Oct. 24 at East Carolina * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Oct. 31 Notre Dame
Fri., Nov. 6 at SMU * (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Sat., Nov. 14 at USF *
Sat., Nov. 21 Memphis *
Sat., Nov. 28 UConn *
* American Athletic Conference game
All times Eastern; all dates and times subject to change
Additional television listings will be announced as they become available
2015 American Athletic Conference Team-By-Team Football Schedules
West Division
HOUSTON
Sat., Sept. 5 Tennessee Tech
Sat., Sept. 12 at Louisville
Sat., Sept. 26 Texas State
Sat., Oct. 3 at Tulsa *
Thu., Oct. 8 SMU * (ESPN2)
Fri., Oct. 16 at Tulane * (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Sat., Oct. 24 at UCF *
Sat., Oct. 31 Vanderbilt
Sat., Nov. 7 Cincinnati *
Sat., Nov. 14 Memphis *
Sat., Nov. 21 at UConn *
Fri., Nov. 27 Navy *
MEMPHIS
Sat., Sept. 5 Missouri State
Sat., Sept. 12 at Kansas
Sat., Sept. 19 at Bowling Green
Thu., Sept. 24 Cincinnati * (ESPN)
Fri., Oct. 2 at USF * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Oct. 17 Mississippi
Fri., Oct. 23 at Tulsa * (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 31 Tulane *
Sat., Nov. 7 Navy *
Sat., Nov. 14 at Houston *
Sat., Nov. 21 at Temple *
Sat., Nov. 28 SMU *
NAVY
Sat., Sept. 5 Colgate (Noon, CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 19 East Carolina * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 26 at UConn *
Sat., Oct. 3 Air Force (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Oct. 10 at Notre Dame (NBC)
Sat., Oct. 24 Tulane * (1 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Oct. 31 USF * (Noon, CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 7 at Memphis *
Sat., Nov. 14 SMU * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 21 at Tulsa *
Fri., Nov. 28 at Houston *
Sat., Dec. 12 vs. Army 1 (3 p.m., CBS)
SMU
Fri., Sept. 4 Baylor (ESPN/ESPNU)
Sat., Sept. 12 North Texas
Sat., Sept. 19 at TCU
Sat., Sept. 26 TBA
Sat., Oct. 3 East Carolina *
Thu., Oct. 8 at Houston * (ESPN2)
Sat., Oct. 24 at USF *
Sat., Oct. 31 Tulsa *
Fri., Nov. 6 Temple * (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Sat., Nov. 14 at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN
Sat., Nov. 21 Tulane *
Sat., Nov. 28 at Memphis *
TULANE
Thu., Sept. 3 Duke (CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 12 at Georgia Tech
Sat., Sept. 19 Maine
Sat., Oct. 3 UCF *
Sat., Oct. 10 at Temple *
Fri., Oct. 16 Houston * (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Sat., Oct. 24 at Navy * (1 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Oct. 31 at Memphis *
Sat., Nov. 7 UConn *
Sat., Nov. 14 at Army (CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 21 at SMU *
Sat., Nov. 28 Tulsa *
TULSA
Sat., Sept. 5 Florida Atlantic
Sat., Sept. 12 at New Mexico
Sat., Sept. 19 at Oklahoma
Sat., Oct. 3 Houston *
Sat., Oct. 10 Louisiana-Monroe
Sat., Oct. 17 at East Carolina *
Fri., Oct. 23 Memphis * (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 31 at SMU *
Sat., Nov. 7 UCF *
Sat., Nov. 14 at Cincinnati *
Sat., Nov. 21 Navy *
Sat., Nov. 28 at Tulane *
* American Athletic Conference game
1 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
All times Eastern; all dates and times subject to change
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