American Athletic Conference Announces 2015 Football Schedule

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced the complete 96-game American Athletic Conference football schedule for the 2015 season, which will be The American’s first in its new 12-team, two-division format.

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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An Open Letter to the Commissioner of Baseball

Dear Mr. Manfred

My name is Matthew Hall.  I am a huge Pirates fan and only 11 years old.  I check the Pirates web site every morning and try to watch all the games that I can.  I have seen that you want young people to enjoy the game of baseball.  I have also seen that you are doing something with shifts and also with the pitch clock.  I don’t think that will work much.  I think what you can do is move the World Series games back to 7 p.m.  The games are on around 9 p.m. and that is usually my bed time.  

I do go to school and I am in 5th grade so I have a lot of homework.  Starting the games at 7 p.m. would benefit me because I would have enough time to do my homework.  I do understand that parents and adults have jobs too, but they usually don’t work until 7 p.m.  As I have said, I love the Pirates, but if they make it to the World Series and the game is on at 9 p.m. I won’t get to watch much of the game.  That would make me very upset. 

In conclusion, I think for kids to get into the game of baseball you would have to move games to an earlier time.  I would very much appreciate it if you would write back telling me your thoughts on this idea.  Thanks again and I will be looking forward to getting your letter!

Matthew Hall