American_Athletic_Conference
American Athletic Conference
US college sports conference
The American Athletic Conference (AAC), also known as the American, is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States featuring 14 full member universities and eight affiliate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I, with its football teams competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Member universities represent a range of private and public research universities of various enrollment sizes located primarily in urban metropolitan areas in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States.[1][2]
| Formerly | Big East (1979–2013) |
|---|---|
| Association | NCAA |
| Founded | May 31, 1979; 44 years ago (1979-05-31) (de jure) July 1, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-07-01) (de facto) [note 1] |
| Commissioner | Michael Aresco (since 2012) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division I |
| Subdivision | FBS |
| No. of teams | 14 (full)(13 in 2024) + 8 (affiliate) |
| Headquarters | Irving, Texas |
| Official website | theamerican |
| Locations | |
| States with full members (blue) and affiliate members (red) | |
The American's legal predecessor, the original Big East Conference, was considered one of the six collegiate power conferences of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) era in college football, and The American inherited that status in the BCS's final season.[3] With the advent of the College Football Playoff in 2014, The American became a "Group of Five" conference, which shares one automatic spot in the New Year's Six bowl games.[note 2][4]
The league is the product of substantial turmoil in the old Big East during the 2010–14 conference realignment period. It is one of two conferences to emerge from the all-sports Big East in 2013. While the other successor, which does not sponsor football, purchased the Big East Conference name, The American inherited the old Big East's structure and is that conference's legal successor.[5] However, both conferences claim 1979 as their founding date, and the same history up to 2013.[6][7] The American is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and led by Commissioner Michael Aresco.[2][8]
The Big East
The Big East Conference was founded in 1979 as a basketball conference and included the colleges of Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, and Syracuse, which in turn invited Connecticut (UConn), Holy Cross, Rutgers, and Boston College to be members.[9][10] UConn and Boston College would accept the invitation, while Holy Cross soon thereafter declined the invitation, and Rutgers eventually declined and remained in the Atlantic 10 Conference (then known as the Eastern 8 Conference). Seton Hall was then invited as a replacement and the conference started play with seven members.[10]
Villanova and Pittsburgh joined shortly thereafter under the leadership of the first Big East commissioner, Dave Gavitt.[11][12][13]
The conference remained largely unchanged until 1991, when it began to sponsor football, adding Miami as a full member, and Rutgers, Temple, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia as football-only members.[14] Rutgers and West Virginia were offered full all-sports membership in 1995, while Virginia Tech waited until 2000 for the same offer. Temple football was kicked out after the 2004 season, but rejoined in 2012 and intended to become a full member in 2013.
The unusual structure of the Big East, with the "football" and "non-football" schools, led to instability in the conference.[15] The waves of defection and replacement brought about by the conference realignments of 2005 and the early 2010s revealed tension between the football-sponsoring and non-football schools that eventually led to the split of the conference in 2013.[16]
Realignment and reorganization
The conference was reorganized following the tumultuous period of realignment that hobbled the Big East between 2010 and 2013. The Big East was one of the most severely impacted conferences during the early-2010s conference realignment period. In all, 14 member schools announced their departure for other conferences, and 15 other schools announced plans to join the conference (eight as all-sports members, and four for football only). Three of the latter group later backed out of their plans to join (one for all sports, and the other two for football only).
On December 15, 2012, the Big East's seven remaining non-FBS schools, all Catholic institutions consisting of DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova announced that they voted unanimously to leave the Big East Conference effective June 30, 2015.[17][18] The "Catholic 7", by leaving, were looking for a more lucrative television deal than the one they would receive by remaining with the football schools.[19] In March 2013, representatives of the Catholic 7 announced they would leave the conference effective June 30, 2013, retaining the Big East name, $10 million, and the right to hold the conference's basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden.[3][20]
Following the announcement of the departure of the Catholic 7 universities, the remaining ten football-playing members started the process of selecting a new name for the conference and choosing a new site to hold its basketball tournament.[21][22] Various names were considered, with the "America 12" conference reportedly one of the finalists until rejected by college presidents sensitive of adding a number to the end of the conference name.[23] On April 3, 2013, the conference announced that it had chosen a new name: American Athletic Conference.[1] The conference also revealed that it prefers the nickname "The American" because it was thought "AAC" would cause too much confusion with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[24]
Louisville and Rutgers spent one season in the newly renamed conference. On July 1, 2014, Louisville joined the ACC[25] and Rutgers joined the Big Ten Conference.[26] On that same day, East Carolina, Tulane, and Tulsa joined The American for all sports, while Sacramento State and San Diego State joined as affiliate members for women's rowing.[27][28] Navy joined as an affiliate member in football on July 1, 2015.[27]
Addition of Wichita State
For the next several years, The American did not discuss the addition of any new members. However, in March 2017, media reports indicated that the conference was seriously considering adding one or more new members specifically as basketball upgrades. Wichita State, Dayton, and VCU were reportedly considered, with Wichita State being seen as the strongest candidate.[29] By the end of that month, it was reported that talks between the American and Wichita State had advanced to the point that the two sides were discussing a timeline for membership, with the possibility of the Shockers joining as a full but non-football member as early as the 2017–18 school year. The report indicated that a final decision would be made in April.[30][31][32] The conference's board of directors voted unanimously on April 7 to add Wichita State effective in July 2017, making the Shockers the league's first full non-football member since the Big East split.[33]
Departure of UConn
On June 21, 2019, a Boston-area sports news website, Digital Sports Desk, revealed that UConn was expected to announce by the end of the month that it would leave the American for the Big East Conference in 2020.[34] The story was picked up by multiple national media outlets the next day. The main issue that reportedly had to be resolved prior to any official announcement was the future of UConn football, as the Big East does not sponsor that sport, and sources indicated that the American had no interest in retaining UConn as a football-only member. Reportedly, American Athletic Conference insiders were not surprised by UConn's prospective move, as that school had been vigorously opposed to that league's most recently announced television deal.[35][36]
National media believed that should UConn leave the American, the conference's likeliest response would be to bring in two new schools—one for football only and a second in non-football sports, similar to the American's sequential additions of Navy and Wichita State. The most likely prospects for football-only membership were seen as Army (currently an FBS independent, with most of its other sports in the Patriot League), and Air Force (currently an all-sports member of the Mountain West Conference). Any of several schools could potentially fill the non-football slot, with Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports considering VCU to be "the most logical target there." Thamel dismissed the prospect of the American adding a new all-sports member, saying "there's no obvious candidate who could add value in both basketball and football."[35][36]
On June 24, 2019, it was reported that the Big East had formally approved an invitation for UConn to join the conference.[37] On June 26, 2019, the UConn Board of Trustees accepted the invitation.[38] On July 26, media reports indicated that UConn and The American had reached a buyout agreement that confirmed UConn's Big East arrival date as July 1, 2020, paying the American a $17 million exit fee.[39]
It was widely reported that UConn was "rejoining" the Big East, given that the Huskies would be reunited with many of the schools against which it played for three decades in the original Big East. Indeed, UConn was the last charter member of the old Big East still playing in The American.
Added stability
The American took a number of steps to stabilize the conference after the departure of UConn. The first move was the addition of Old Dominion University as an affiliate member in women's lacrosse for the 2020–21 season. Old Dominion was previously added to The American for women's rowing beginning in the 2018–19 season.[40]
The American moved their headquarters from Providence, Rhode Island to Irving, Texas. This was a planned move, to better centralize the conference offices with the member schools. Irving is in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, which is also home to the headquarters of the Big 12 Conference, College Football Playoff, and the National Football Foundation.[41] The conference also moved the men's basketball tournament to the region, to be played at the new Dickies Arena until 2022.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some member schools have eliminated sports due to budget constraints. The University of Cincinnati eliminated its men's soccer program[42] while East Carolina University canceled men and women's swimming and diving teams and tennis teams.[43] Women's rowing member San Diego State University dropped that sport effective with the end of the 2020–21 season.[44]
Big 12 raid and subsequent invitations to the conference
In late July 2021, founding Big 12 members Oklahoma and Texas jointly announced that they planned to leave the conference no later than 2025, and formally requested an invitation from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Shortly thereafter, The American became a peripheral player in this saga when the Big 12 sent a cease and desist letter to current broadcast partner ESPN, charging the network with conspiring to damage the league by luring Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC, and also alleging that the network encouraged an unnamed conference to raid the Big 12 to pave the way for an earlier departure by Oklahoma and Texas. A later media report identified that other conference as The American. ESPN issued an official denial of the Big 12 charges, and officials from The American declined to comment.[45][46]
On September 3, Sports Illustrated reported that the Big 12 Conference was on the verge of inviting four schools— including American Athletic Conference members Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF.[47][48] Later that month, all three schools received and accepted membership offers on the date of the presidents' meeting, with the official announcement stating only that they would join the Big 12 no later than 2024–25.[49] On June 10, 2022, The American and the three departing schools announced a buyout agreement had been reached, confirming those schools' 2023 departure date.[50] At the time, it was possible that Cincinnati and UCF could remain in the conference as affiliate members for women's lacrosse and men's soccer, respectively, as the Big 12 does not sponsor those sports, though no formal announcement was made. UCF would later accept an offer of men's soccer membership from the Sun Belt Conference effective in 2023, aligning its men's soccer program with that of West Virginia, the only pre-2023 Big 12 member sponsoring men's soccer. Cincinnati would remain in The American as a women's lacrosse affiliate,[51] but will leave after the 2024 season when the Big 12 adds that sport.[52]
Subsequent moves
In late September 2021, several national media outlets reported that Mountain West Conference (MW) members Air Force and Colorado State had approached The American regarding a possible move to that league.[53] However, on October 1, the MW announced that its current membership would remain intact for the foreseeable future, removing its 12 football members (including football-only member Hawaiʻi) from the list of potential new members for The American. For its part, The American officially denied extending invitations to the two Colorado schools.[54]
Later that month on October 18, 2021, Yahoo Sports reported that The American was preparing to receive applications from six of the 14 members of Conference USA—Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA. This would make The American a 14-full-member conference.[55] The next day, ESPN reported that all six schools had submitted applications, and that each would receive a formal letter by the end of that week (October 22) detailing the terms of conference expansion.[56] All six schools were accepted on October 21,[57] and the conference confirmed their 2023 entry date on June 16, 2022.[58]
Expansion in men's soccer and women's swimming & diving
A series of further realignment moves centering on the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) led to The American's men's soccer league expanding earlier than planned. This sequence began in November 2021 when James Madison announced its departure from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA; since renamed the Coastal Athletic Association) to join the SBC in 2023.[59] The CAA responded by invoking a provision of its bylaws to ban JMU from further conference championship events.[lower-alpha 1] The SBC responded by pushing JMU's entry forward to 2022.[60]
Soon after this, the other three CUSA members set to move to the SBC in 2023 (Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss, with Marshall and ODU sponsoring men's soccer) announced that they would instead leave in 2022. Following a brief legal dispute, CUSA and the three schools reached a settlement that allowed those schools to join the SBC in 2022.[61] With three men's soccer schools now joining in 2022 instead of 2023, the SBC announced it would reinstate men's soccer at that time. The new full members were joined by three full SBC members and three new associate members. Coastal Carolina played the 2021 season in CUSA. The other two full SBC members, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, played in the MAC. The new associates were Kentucky and South Carolina, which had been single-sport CUSA members since 2005; and West Virginia, which had previously announced that it would move men's soccer from the Mid-American Conference to CUSA in 2022.[62][63]
CUSA was then left with only four men's soccer programs for 2022 (Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, and UAB), with all but FIU set to become full American members in 2023. The American accordingly brought all four schools in as new men's soccer members for 2022, with FIU remaining an affiliate after the others fully joined The American.[64]
Similar changes came to women's swimming & diving, again due in part to SBC expansion. Of the schools leaving CUSA for the SBC in 2022, Marshall and Old Dominion sponsor that sport, and incoming American members Florida Atlantic, North Texas, and Rice also sponsor the sport (although Rice fields swimmers only, with no divers). The American brought the aforementioned future full members, plus FIU, into its women's swimming & diving league. As with men's soccer, FIU remained a women's swimming & diving affiliate after the other schools fully joined The American.[64]
Departure of SMU
On September 1, 2023, SMU accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2024–25 season.[65] With this the American was now down one team.
Army Enlists
On October 25, 2023, Army announced it would be joining the conference as a football-only member beginning in 2024, joining fellow service academy Navy. The annual Army–Navy Game, typically played at the conclusion of the regular season, will continue to be played annually as a non-conference game and will not count towards conference standings. However, it is possible for the two teams to meet a second time in a season in the American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, should they finish as the top two teams in the conference.[66]
Membership timeline
Full members (all-sports) Full members (non-football) Affiliate members (football-only) Affiliate member (other sport) Other Conference Other Conference
The conference currently has 14 full member institutions – and seven affiliate members – in 13 states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Wichita State is the only full member that does not sponsor football.
Current full members
- Notes
- Although the 2021 football season was then ongoing, James Madison remained eligible for, and ultimately shared, that season's CAA football title. The CAA football league, officially known as CAA Football, is a separate legal entity from the all-sports CAA, and the CAA Football bylaws lacked said provision.
- Mailing address is Dallas.
Affiliate members
- Notes
- Florida and Old Dominion will be departing the American in women's lacrosse and rowing, respectively, to move their respective programs to the Big 12 Conference for the 2024-25 athletic season.[89]
- Mailing address is Miami.
Future affiliate members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joining | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | AAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Military Academy | West Point, New York | 1802 | 2024 | Federal (Military) |
4,294 | Black Knights | Football | Patriot League (FBS independent) |
Former full members
Six full members have left the conference. Cincinnati remains an associate member in women's lacrosse in the 2024 season, but will leave after that time when the Big 12 Conference adds that sport.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Left | Type | Nickname | Colors | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 1963 | 2013 | 2023 | Public | Knights | Big 12 | |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1819 | Bearcats | |||||
| University of Houston | Houston, Texas | 1927 | Cougars | |||||
| Rutgers University | New Brunswick, New Jersey | 1766 | 2014 | Scarlet Knights | Big Ten | |||
| University of Louisville | Louisville, Kentucky | 1798 | Cardinals | ACC | ||||
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, Connecticut | 1881 | 2020 | Huskies | Big East | |||
| FBS Independent (football) |
Former affiliate members
Two affiliate members have left the conference. Five other schools were affiliate members for one year before becoming full conference members.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Left | Nickname | Colors | AAC sport |
Primary conference |
Conference in former AAC sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, Florida | 1961[71] | 2022 | 2023 | Owls | Men's soccer Women's swimming & diving |
American | ||
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1946[74] | 49ers | Men's soccer | |||||
| University of North Texas | Denton, Texas | 1890[76] | Mean Green | Women's swimming & diving | |||||
| Rice University | Houston, Texas | 1912[78] | Owls | Women's swimming[lower-alpha 1] | |||||
| San Diego State University | San Diego, California | 1897 | 2015 | 2021 | Aztecs | Women's rowing | Mountain West | Discontinued | |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, Alabama | 1969 | 2022 | 2023 | Blazers | Men's soccer | American | ||
| Villanova University | Villanova, Pennsylvania | 1842 | 2013 | 2015 | Wildcats | Women's rowing | Big East | CAA | |
- Notes
The American currently sponsors championship competition in 10 men's and 12 women's NCAA sanctioned sports. Old Dominion and Sacramento State are currently affiliate members for women's rowing— however, following the 2024 season, the American will discontinue sponsoring this sport.[91][92] Cincinnati, Florida, James Madison, Old Dominion, and Vanderbilt are affiliate members for women's lacrosse.[93][94][95] South Florida and Charlotte will add women's lacrosse teams in the 2024–25 school year,[96][97] coinciding with the departure of women's lacrosse associates Cincinnati and Florida for the new Big 12 league in that sport. Army will become a football-only member in 2024.
Under NCAA rules reflecting the large number of male scholarship participants in football and attempting to address gender equity concerns (see also Title IX), each member institution is required to provide more women's varsity sports than men's.[note 3]
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 10 | – |
| Basketball | 14 | 14 |
| Cross Country | 12 | 14 |
| Football | 14 | – |
| Golf | 12 | 12 |
| Lacrosse | – | |
| Rowing | – | 5 |
| Soccer | 9 | 12 |
| Softball | – | 10 |
| Swimming & Diving | – | 7 |
| Tennis | 12 | 14 |
| Track and Field (Indoor) | 9 | 14 |
| Track and Field (Outdoor) | 10 | 14 |
| Volleyball | – | 14 |
Men's sponsored sports by school
Departing members are highlighted in red. Future members are highlighted in gray.
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Soccer | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[lower-alpha 1] | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| East Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No[lower-alpha 2] | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Florida Atlantic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[lower-alpha 1] | Yes | No | No | 7 |
| Memphis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| North Texas | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 6 |
| Rice | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| South Florida | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| SMU | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 5 |
| Temple | No[lower-alpha 3] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 6 |
| Tulane | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | 6 |
| Tulsa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[lower-alpha 4] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| UAB | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes[lower-alpha 1] | Yes | No | No | 6 |
| UTSA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Wichita State | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Affiliate members | ||||||||||
| Army[lower-alpha 5] | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| FIU | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| Navy[lower-alpha 5] | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| Totals | 10 | 14 | 12 | 13+1 | 12 | 8+1 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 102+2 |
| Totals in 2024 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12+2 | 11 | 7+1 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 95+3 |
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by The American which are played by conference schools:
| School | Sport | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic | Swimming & Diving | ASUN |
| Memphis | Rifle[lower-alpha 6] | GARC |
| SMU | Swimming & Diving | ASUN[lower-alpha 7] |
| Temple | Rowing | Independent |
- ECU sponsored a men's tennis team until the 2019–20 season but discontinued the program after that year.[98]
- Temple sponsored a baseball team during the 2014 season but discontinued the program after that year.[99]
- Tulsa sponsored a men's golf team until the 2015–16 season but discontinued the program after that year.[100]
- The American dropped men's swimming and diving following the 2022-23 season. SMU will house that sport in the ASUN in the 2023-24 season before departing for the Atlantic Coast Conference, which sponsors that sport.
Women's sponsored sports by school
| School | Basketball | Cross Country | Golf | Lacrosse | Rowing | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[lower-alpha 1] | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| East Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Florida Atlantic | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes[lower-alpha 2] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Memphis | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| North Texas | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes[lower-alpha 2] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Rice | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| South Florida | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[lower-alpha 1] | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| SMU | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Temple | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[lower-alpha 4] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Tulane | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Tulsa | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[lower-alpha 5] | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| UAB | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| UTSA | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Wichita State | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Affiliate members | |||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||
| FIU | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||
| Florida | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||
| James Madison | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||
| Old Dominion | Yes | Yes | 2 | ||||||||||
| Sacramento State | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||
| Totals | 14 | 14 | 12 | 2+5 | 3+2 | 12 | 10 | 6+1 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 130+8 |
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by The American which are played by conference schools:
| School | Sport(s) | Conference(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic | Beach volleyball | CUSA[lower-alpha 6] |
| Memphis | Rifle[lower-alpha 7] | GARC |
| South Florida | Sailing | SAISA |
| Beach volleyball (beginning in 2025–26) | TBD | |
| SMU | Equestrian[lower-alpha 8] | Independent |
| Temple | Fencing | NIWFA |
| Field hockey | Big East | |
| Gymnastics | EAGL | |
| Tulane | Beach volleyball | CUSA |
| Bowling | CUSA[lower-alpha 9] | |
| UAB | Beach volleyball | CUSA[lower-alpha 6] |
| Bowling | MEAC | |
| Rifle | SoCon[lower-alpha 10] | |
| Wichita State | Bowling (beginning in 2024–25) | CUSA[103] |
- Temple sponsored a softball team during the 2014 season but discontinued the program after that year.[99]
- Tulsa will move its rowing team to the Big 12 in 2024-25.
- FAU and UAB remain beach volleyball members of Conference USA after otherwise departing that conference.[101]
- Tulane's former bowling home of the Southland Bowling League merged into CUSA after the 2022–23 season. The new CUSA bowling league includes all of the final SBL members.[102]
Shared titles (ex: 2014 football, 2020 men's basketball) are counted as a full title for each co-champion.
Accurate as of June 14, 2023.
| School | Years in conference | Number of titles | Titles by sport | Sports played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCF† | 2013–2023 | 46 | Baseball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) Women's basketball: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament) Football: 4 Women's golf: 3 Women's rowing: 5 Men's soccer: 4 (3 regular season, 1 tournament) Women's soccer: 5 (4 regular season, 1 tournament) Softball: 6 (3 regular season, 3 tournament) Men's tennis: 1 Women's tennis: 2 Women's track & field: 5 (3 indoor, 2 outdoor) Volleyball: 8 (5 regular season, 3 tournament) |
16: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Women's rowing Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball Men's tennis Women's tennis Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| Houston† | 2013–2023 | 41 | Baseball: 5 (3 regular season, 2 tournament) Men's basketball: 6 (4 regular season, 2 tournament) Football: 1 Men's golf: 1 Women's golf: 3 Women's swimming & diving: 7 Men's track & field: 13 (7 indoor, 6 outdoor) Women's track & field: 4 (2 indoor, 2 outdoor) Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) |
17: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Women's soccer Softball Women's swimming and diving Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| SMU | 2013–present | 30 | Men's basketball: 4 (2 regular season, 2 tournament) Women's cross country: 2 Men's golf: 2 Women's golf: 1 Women's rowing: 3 Men's soccer: 5 (2 regular season, 3 tournament) Men's swimming & diving: 3 Women's swimming & diving: 2 Men's tennis: 2 Women's tennis: 1 Women's track & field: 3 (1 indoor, 2 outdoor) Volleyball: 2 (2 regular season, 0 tournament) |
16: Men's basketball Women's basketball Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Women's rowing Men's soccer Women's soccer Men's swimming and diving Women's swimming and diving Men's tennis Women's tennis Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| Tulsa | 2014–present | 28 | Men's basketball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) Men's cross country: 9 Women's cross country: 6 Men's soccer: 5 (1 regular season, 4 tournament) Softball: 4 (1 regular season, 3 tournament) Women's tennis: 3 |
17:[lower-alpha 1] Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf (until 2015–16) Women's golf Women's rowing Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| South Florida | 2013–present | 27 | Baseball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Women's basketball: 3 (2 regular season, 1 tournament) Men's golf: 5 Men's soccer: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament) Women's soccer: 6 (3 regular season, 3 tournament) Softball: 3 (3 regular season, 0 tournament) Men's tennis: 5 Women's tennis: 2 |
18: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| UConn† | 2013–2020 | 26 | Baseball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Men's basketball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Women's basketball: 14 (7 regular season, 7 tournament) Women's cross country: 1 Men's soccer: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) Women's soccer: 4 (2 regular season, 2 tournament) Men's track & field: 2 (1 indoor, 1 outdoor) Women's track & field: 2 (2 indoor, 0 outdoor) |
21:[lower-alpha 2] Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19) Women's rowing Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball Men's swimming and diving Women's swimming and diving Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| Cincinnati† | 2013–2023 | 17 | Baseball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Men's basketball: 5 (3 regular season, 2 tournament) Football: 3 Women's soccer: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Men's swimming & diving: 2 Men's track & field: 1 (1 indoor, 0 outdoor) Women's track & field: 3 (1 indoor, 2 outdoor) Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) |
18:[lower-alpha 3] Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19) Men's soccer (until 2019–20) Women's soccer Men's swimming and diving Women's swimming and diving Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| East Carolina | 2014–present | 12 | Baseball: 7 (4 regular season, 3 tournament) Women's basketball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Men's swimming & diving: 4 |
18:[lower-alpha 4] Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19) Women's soccer Softball Men's swimming and diving (until 2019–20) Women's swimming and diving (on hiatus in 2020–21) Men's tennis (until 2019–20) Women's tennis (on hiatus in 2020–21) Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| Louisville† | 2013–2014 | 9* | Baseball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) Men's basketball: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament), vacated Men's cross country: 1 Women's golf: 1 Women's rowing: 1 Men's soccer: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) Softball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Men's swimming & diving: 1 Women's swimming & diving: 1 Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) |
21: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Women's rowing Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball Men's swimming and diving Women's swimming and diving Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| Memphis | 2013–present | 9 | Men's basketball: 1 (0 regular season, 1 tournament) Football: 2 Men's golf: 1 Women's soccer: 4 (1 regular season, 3 tournament) Women's tennis: 1 |
18: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| Wichita State | 2017–present | 9 | Men's basketball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) Women's cross country: 1 Softball: 3 (2 regular season, 1 tournament) Men's track & field: 2 (0 indoor, 2 outdoor) Women's track & field: 1 (0 indoor, 1 outdoor) Volleyball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) |
15: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Men's golf Women's golf Softball Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| Florida‡ | 2018–present | 7 | Women's lacrosse: 7 (3 regular season, 4 tournament) | 1: Women's lacrosse |
| Tulane | 2014–present | 5 | Baseball: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament) Football: 1 Women's golf: 1 Men's tennis: 1 |
14: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Women's golf Women's swimming and diving Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| FIU‡ | 2022–present | 2 | Men's soccer: 2 (1 regular season, 1 tournament) | 2: Men's soccer Women's swimming and diving |
| Temple | 2013–present | 2 | Men's basketball: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) Football: 1 |
15:[lower-alpha 5] Baseball (until 2013–14) Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's lacrosse (beginning in 2018–19) Women's rowing Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball (until 2013–14) Men's tennis Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field (until 2013–14) Men's outdoor track and field (until 2013–14) Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| James Madison‡ | 2022–present | 1 | Women's lacrosse: 1 (1 regular season, 0 tournament) | 1: Women's lacrosse |
| Navy‡ | 2015–present | 0 | – | 1: Football |
| Old Dominion‡ | 2018–present | 0 | – | 2:[lower-alpha 6] Women's lacrosse Women's rowing (beginning in 2020–21) |
| Sacramento State‡ | 2015–present | 0 | – | 1: Women's rowing |
| Vanderbilt‡ | 2018–present | 0 | – | 1: Women's lacrosse |
| Rutgers† | 2013–2014 | 0 | – | 19: Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Women's cross country Football Men's golf Women's golf Women's rowing Men's soccer Women's soccer Softball Women's swimming and diving Women's tennis Men's indoor track and field Men's outdoor track and field Women's indoor track and field Women's outdoor track and field Volleyball |
| San Diego State†‡ | 2015–2021 | 0 | – | 1: Women's rowing |
| Villanova†‡ | 2013–2015 | 0 | – | 1 Women's rowing |
*- Does not include vacated championships
†- No longer a member of the AAC
‡- Affiliate member
No current American Conference member has won an NCAA-sponsored team championship while a member of the conference. The only national championship in an NCAA-recognized sport by a current member is the 2023 equestrian title won by SMU. The NCAA recognizes equestrian as part of its Emerging Sports for Women program, but championships are organized by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) instead of the NCAA. The only school to have won a fully recognized NCAA title while in The American, UConn, left for the Big East Conference in 2020. Several members have won national titles before joining The American.
Excluded from these lists are all national championships earned outside the scope of NCAA competition, including Division I FBS football titles, Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association titles, women's AIAW titles, NCEA titles, retroactive Helms Athletic Foundation titles, and ITA tennis titles.
Team championships won by current members
| School | Total | Men | Women | Co-ed | Nickname | Most successful sport (Titles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Mustangs | Men's outdoor track & field (2) |
| University of North Texas | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Mean Green | Men's golf (4) |
| Temple University | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Owls | Women's lacrosse (2) |
| University of South Florida | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Bulls | Women's swimming (1) |
| Tulane University | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Green Wave | Men's tennis (1) |
| University of Tulsa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Golden Hurricane | Women's golf (1) |
| Wichita State University | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Shockers | Baseball (1) |
| East Carolina University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Pirates | N/A |
| Florida Atlantic University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Owls | N/A |
| Rice University | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Owls | Baseball (1) |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Blazers | N/A |
| University of Memphis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Tigers | N/A |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49ers | N/A |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Roadrunners | N/A |
| Total | 34 | 30 | 4 | 0 |
Team championships won as American Athletic Conference members
Includes all titles won while a member of The American, whether or not the conference sponsored that sport at the time.
| School | Total | Men | Women | Co-ed | Nickname | Most successful sport (Titles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut (UConn) | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | Huskies | Women's basketball, field hockey (3 each) |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Individual and relay championships by current members
| School | Total | Men | Women | Co-ed | Nickname | Most successful sport (Titles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University | 122 | 77 | 45 | 0 | Mustangs | Women's swimming (29) |
| University of South Florida | 21 | 9 | 10 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | Bulls | Women's swimming (10) |
| Temple University | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | Owls | Men's gymnastics (13) |
| Tulane University | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Green Wave | Men's tennis (10) |
| University of Memphis | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | Tigers | Men's outdoor track & field (3) |
| East Carolina University | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Pirates | Men's swimming (4) |
| Wichita State University | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Shockers | Men's outdoor track & field (2) |
| University of Tulsa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Golden Hurricane | Women's golf (1), Men's indoor track & field (1) |
| Total | 256 | 182 | 71 | 3 |
The conference began football during the 1991–92 season, and it was a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series.[106] Previously, conference opponents operated on a two-year cycle, as a home-and-home series.[107]
The conference previously did not have enough teams to form divisions, but it now does after Navy joined the conference in 2015.[note 4] When Navy joined in 2015 and the conference's divisions were created, Navy was placed in the West division along with Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa. Teams play eight conference games a season. Since 2015, each team has played the other five teams in its own division, as well as three teams from the other division, operating in a four-year cycle ensuring that each school will play every conference opponent at home and on the road at least once in the four-year cycle.[108] At the end of each regular season, the East division winner and the West division winner, as determined by final conference record, meet in the American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, played at the home site of one of the division winners.
With the departure of UConn after the 2019 season, the divisions were affected by the reduction to an uneven number of teams. At the time, The American had no plan to add another team to rebalance divisions, so the conference eliminated the divisions. The championship game is now played by the two teams that achieved the best record in regular-season conference play. While The American is set to expand to 14 members in 2023, it will not split into divisions for football.[109]
Like the conference itself, football experienced much transition through its history. In fact it was the main force behind such departures and expansion. In 2003, the BCS announced that it would adjust the automatic bids granted to its six founding conferences based on results from 2004 to 2007. With the addition of Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida in 2005, the conference retained its BCS automatic-qualifying status.
At one point, the 2007 South Florida Bulls football team was ranked No. 2 in the BCS rankings, but the team finished No. 21 in the final poll.
The 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team finished the regular season undefeated at 12–0, and the team was ranked No. 3 in the final BCS standings, barely missing the opportunity to play for the BCS National Championship. The conference overall was 9–7 (.563) in BCS bowl games, the third highest winning percentage among the AQ conferences.
The 2017 UCF Knights football team, a member of the American, was undefeated, but the team was not invited to the College Football Playoff. The team earned the Group of Five's New Year's Six bowl bid and defeated Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The team claimed a national championship, which was recognized by the Colley Matrix, one of the NCAA recognized selectors of the national champion in football.
Cincinnati became the first Group of Five team ever to appear in the top four of the CFP rankings at any point of the season, going on to become the first G5 team ever selected for the CFP semifinals.
All-time school and conference records
As of week 8 of 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Conference wins and losses are since the formation of The American.[clarification needed]
| Team | Overall | Conference | Bowl Appearances |
The American Championships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | Win % | W | L | Win % | |||
| Navy | 734 | 596 | 57 | .550 | 39 | 28 | .582 | 24 | 0 |
| Tulsa | 643 | 526 | 27 | .549 | 41 | 47 | .466 | 23 | 0 |
| South Florida | 165 | 152 | 0 | .521 | 32 | 50 | .390 | 10 | 0 |
| UTSA | 76 | 76 | 0 | .510 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 4 | 0 |
| East Carolina | 449 | 435 | 12 | .508 | 25 | 50 | .333 | 21 | 0 |
| North Texas | 524 | 516 | 33 | .504 | 1 | 2 | .333 | 14 | 0 |
| Memphis | 510 | 526 | 33 | .493 | 50 | 29 | .633 | 15 | 2 |
| SMU | 517 | 553 | 54 | .484 | 35 | 40 | .467 | 17 | 0 |
| UAB | 168 | 179 | 2 | .484 | 1 | 3 | .333 | 6 | 0 |
| Tulane | 553 | 671 | 38 | .453 | 30 | 48 | .385 | 15 | 1 |
| Temple | 485 | 614 | 52 | .444 | 38 | 45 | .458 | 8 | 1 |
| Florida Atlantic | 114 | 141 | 0 | .447 | 2 | 1 | .667 | 5 | 0 |
| Rice | 466 | 490 | 32 | .443 | 2 | 1 | .667 | 13 | 0 |
| Charlotte | 44 | 91 | 0 | .326 | 1 | 2 | .333 | 1 | 0 |
Football champions
The American Championship Game pits the top two teams in the conference standings in a game held following the conclusion of the regular season. The site of the Championship Game is the home stadium of the team with the best overall conference record, with a series of tiebreakers used if needed to determine the host or either of the participants. In its first two seasons, The American awarded its championship to the team(s) with the best overall conference record. The conference split into two six-team divisions for football and first played its championship game in 2015. Through the 2019 season, the championship game involved the winners of each division and was hosted by the division champion with the best conference record. After UConn's 2020 departure, the conference reverted to a single-table format. This format continues even after the expansion to 14 teams in 2023.
- † BCS or NY6 Bowl Game
- ^ College Football Playoff game
Rivalries
The American has many rivalries among its member schools, primarily in football. Some rivalries existed before the conference was established or began play in football. Recent conference realignment in 2005 and 2013 ended – or temporarily halted – many rivalries. Before their departure to other conferences, a number of former member schools held longtime rivalries within the conference.
Intra-conference rivalries
| Rivalry name | Team 1 | Team 2 | Meetings | Most Recent Meeting | First meeting | Record | Current streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle for the Bones | Memphis | UAB | 16 | Memphis, 45–21 (2023) | Memphis, 28–7 (1997) | 10–6 (UAB) | 2 (Memphis) |
| Mayor's Cup | Rice | SMU | 90 | SMU, 36–32 (2023) | Rice, 127–3 (1916) | 49–41–1 (SMU) | 1 (SMU) |
| Gansz Trophy | Navy | SMU | 25 | SMU, 59-14 (2023) | SMU, 20–7 (1930) | 13–12 (Navy) | 4 (SMU) |
| Safeway Bowl | North Texas | SMU | 42 | SMU, 45–21 (2023) | SMU, 66–0 (1922) | 36–6–1 (SMU) | 5 (SMU) |
Records as of week 13 2023 Season
Bowl games
Following the 2013 season, the BCS era came to a close and was replaced by the College Football Playoff. Four teams play in two semifinal games, with the winners advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship.[110] Six bowl games — the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl — will rotate as hosts for the semifinal games, and host major bowls when they do not host semifinal games (access bowls).
With the birth of the College Football Playoff, The American lost its automatic qualifying status for one of the major bowls. Instead, one automatic qualifying spot is reserved for the highest ranked team from the "Group of Five" conferences – The American, Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, and Sun Belt Conference.
Although the pick order usually corresponds to the conference standings, the bowls are not required to make their choices strictly according to the won-lost records; many factors influence bowl selections, especially the likely turnout of the team's fans. Picks are made after any applicable College Football Playoff selections. If a team is selected for one of the access bowls or playoff, the bowl with the No. 2 pick will have the first pick of the remaining teams in the conference.
| Year | Name | Location | Opposing conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–25 | Cotton, Peach, Fiesta, or Playoff[note 5] | Arlington, Atlanta, Glendale, or Playoff Site | CFP at-large |
| 2020–25 | Fenway Bowl | Boston, Massachusetts | ACC |
| 2020–25 | Military Bowl | Annapolis, Maryland | ACC |
| 2020/22/24 | Hawaii Bowl | Honolulu, Hawaii | MWC |
| 2021/23/25 | Armed Forces Bowl | Fort Worth, Texas | Big 12 or Army |
| 2020–25 | Cure Bowl | Orlando, Florida | Sun Belt |
| 2020–25 | Boca Raton Bowl | Boca Raton, Florida | MAC or CUSA |
| 2020–25 | Frisco Bowl | Frisco, Texas | CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt or BYU |
| 2020–25 | Birmingham Bowl | Birmingham, Alabama | SEC |
| 2020–25 | Gasparilla Bowl | Tampa, Florida | SEC |
| 2020–25 | First Responder Bowl | Dallas, Texas | TBD |
| 2020–25 | Myrtle Beach Bowl | Conway, South Carolina | CUSA, MAC or Sun Belt |
| 2020–25 | New Mexico Bowl | Albuquerque, New Mexico | TBD |
Head football coach compensation
The total pay of head coaches includes university and non-university compensation. This includes base salary, income from contracts, foundation supplements, bonuses and media and radio pay.[112]
| Conf. Rank |
University | Head coach | Salary[113] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Methodist University | Rhett Lashlee | $3,000,000 |
| 2 | Tulane University | Willie Fritz | $2,842,000 |
| 3 | University of Texas - San Antonio | Jeff Traylor | $2,550,000 |
| t-4 | University of South Florida | Alex Golesh | $2,500,000 |
| t-4 | Temple University | Stan Drayton | $2,500,000 |
| 6 | East Carolina University | Mike Houston | $2,355,804 |
| t-7 | University of Memphis | Ryan Silverfield | $1,900,000 |
| t-7 | University of Tulsa | Kevin Wilson | $1,900,000[114] |
| 9 | United States Naval Academy | Brian Newberry | $1,600,000 |
| t-10 | University of Alabama Birmingham | Trent Dilfer | $1,300,000 |
| t-10 | University of North Texas | Eric Morris | $1,300,000 |
| 12 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Biff Poggi | $1,000,000 |
| 13 | Rice University | Mike Bloomgren | $926,208 |
| 14 | Florida Atlantic University | Tom Herman | $700,000 |
Records as of the end of the 2022 season
Conference individual honors
Coaches and media of The American award individual honors at the end of each football season.[115]
In June 2013, it was announced that the inaugural men's basketball tournament would take place at FedExForum in Memphis.[116] FedExForum had previously hosted eight Conference USA basketball tournaments.
Even though the Big East Conference was meant to be a basketball-oriented conference, UConn, a member of The American, won the 2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament (the first after the conferences split).
All-time school records by winning percentage
This list goes through the 2022–23 season.
| No. | Team | Records | Win Pct. | The American Tournament Championships | The American Regular Season Championships | Final Fours | National Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | 1,387–685 | .669 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Temple | 1,978–1,135 | .635 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | UAB | 913–536 | .630 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Wichita State | 1,657–1,245 | .571 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Tulsa | 1,498–1,225 | .550 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Charlotte | 904–789 | .534 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | SMU | 1,410–1,273 | .526 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | UTSA | 611–633 | .491 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Tulane | 1,275–1,356 | .485 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | North Texas | 1,264–1,353 | .483 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | South Florida | 668–811 | .452 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Rice | 1,178–1,504 | .439 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | East Carolina | 714–912 | .439 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Florida Atlantic | 423–617 | .407 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source[117]
American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball NCAA Bids
This list goes through the 2022–23 season. Only current American Conference members are included. However, this list covers the entire histories of basketball at the listed institutions, not just their American Conference tenures.
| Total bids | Bids as AAC member[lower-alpha 1] |
School | Last bid | Last R32 | Last Sweet 16 | Last Elite 8 | Last Final 4 | Last RU | Last Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 2 | Temple | 2019 | 2013 | 2001 | 2001 | 1958 | 1938[lower-alpha 2] | |
| 28* | 3 | Memphis | 2023 | 2022 | 2009 | 2008 | 2008 | 2008[lower-alpha 3] | |
| 16 | 0 | UAB | 2022 | 2015 | 2004 | 1982 | |||
| 16 | 1 | Tulsa | 2016 | 2003 | 2000 | 2000 | |||
| 16 | 2 | Wichita State | 2021 | 2017 | 2015 | 2013 | 2013 | ||
| 12 | 2 | SMU | 2017 | 1988 | 1967 | 1967 | 1956 | ||
| 11 | 0 | Charlotte | 2005 | 2001 | 1977 | 1977 | 1977 | ||
| 4 | 0 | Rice | 1970 | 1954 | 1942 | ||||
| 4 | 0 | North Texas | 2021 | 2021 | |||||
| 4 | 0 | UTSA | 2011 | ||||||
| 3 | 0 | South Florida | 2012 | 2012 | |||||
| 3 | 0 | Tulane | 1995 | 1995 | |||||
| 2 | 0 | Florida Atlantic | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | ||
| 2 | 0 | East Carolina | 1993 |
- Starting with the 2013–14 season, which The American considers as the start of its competitive history (as opposed to its institutional history), with the following exceptions:
- East Carolina, Tulane, and Tulsa, whose first conference season was 2014–15.
- Wichita State, whose first conference season was 2017–18.
- Temple were the first NIT champions in 1938, one year before the inception of the NCAA Tournament. The Owls were retroactively recognized by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll and the Helms Athletic Foundation as the national champion for the 1937–38 season.[118]
- Memphis has vacated all of its victories from the 2007–08 season. These 38 wins are not included in Memphis's all-time record.[119]
Men's basketball champions
| Regular Season | Tournament | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Champions | Record | AP | Coaches' | Postseason | Champions | Record | AP | Coaches' | Postseason |
| 2013–14[lower-alpha 1] | Louisville | 31–6 (15–3) | #5 | #9 | Sweet 16 | Louisville† | 31–6 | #5 | #9 | Sweet 16 |
| Cincinnati | 27–7 (15–3) | #15 | #22 | Round of 32 | ||||||
| 2014–15 | SMU | 27–7 (15–3) | #18 | NR | Round of 64 | SMU | 27–7 | #18 | RV | Round of 64 |
| 2015–16 | Temple | 21–12 (14–4) | NR | NR | Round of 64 | UConn | 25–10 | RV | RV | Round of 32 |
| 2016–17 | SMU | 30–4 (17–1) | #11 | #23 | Round of 64 | SMU | 30–4 | #11 | #23 | Round of 64 |
| 2017–18 | Cincinnati | 30–4 (16–2) | #6 | #12 | Round of 32 | Cincinnati | 30–4 | #6 | #12 | Round of 32 |
| 2018–19 | Houston | 33–4 (16–2) | #11 | #12 | Sweet 16 | Cincinnati | 28–7 | #22 | #24 | Round of 64 |
| 2019–20 | Cincinnati | 20–10 (13–5) | NR | NR | Canceled[lower-alpha 2] | Canceled | ||||
| Houston | 23–8 (13–5) | #22 | #23 | |||||||
| Tulsa | 21–10 (13–5) | NR | NR | |||||||
| 2020–21 | Wichita State | 16–6 (11–2) | NR | NR | First 4 | Houston | 28–4 | #6 | #3 | Final 4 |
| 2021–22 | Houston | 32–6 (15–3) | #15 | #7 | Elite 8 | Houston | 32–6 | #15 | #7 | Elite 8 |
| 2022–23 | Houston | 33–4 (17–1) | #2 | #6 | Sweet 16 | Memphis | 26–9 | #24 | NR | Round of 64 |
- 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Intra-conference Rivalries
The American has many rivalries among its member schools, some of which existed before the conference was established. Recent conference realignment in 2005 and 2013 ended – or temporarily halted – many rivalries. Before their departure to other conferences, a number of former member schools held longtime rivalries within the conference.
| Rivalry Name | Team 1 | Team 2 | Meetings | Most Recent Meeting | First Meeting | Record | Current Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle for the Bones | Memphis | UAB | 50 | 65–57, Memphis (2019) | 53–51, Memphis (1984) | 36–11 (Memphis) | 2 (Memphis) |
| Tulsa–Wichita State Rivalry | Tulsa | Wichita State | 140 | 81–63, Wichita State (2023) | 32–30, Tulsa (1931) | 77–63 (Wichita State) | 3 (Wichita State) |
Results as of the 2022–23 season.
In June 2013, it was announced that the inaugural women's basketball tournament would take place at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.[120] Women's basketball teams have played a total of 20 times in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship (since 1982), with UConn winning 11 national championships under head coach Geno Auriemma since 1995. Women's national championship tournaments prior to 1982 were run by the AIAW.
All-time school records by winning percentage
This list goes through the 2016–17 season.[121]
| No. | Team | Records | Win Pct. | The American Tournament Championships | The American Regular Season Championships | Final Fours | National Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | 781–590[lower-alpha 1] | .570 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Tulane | 684–534 | .562 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Temple | 806–653–3 | .552 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | SMU | 630–534 | .541 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | East Carolina | 705–600 | .540 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | South Florida | 687–690 | .499 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Wichita State | 571–647[lower-alpha 2] | .469 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Tulsa | 326–544 | .375 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Women's basketball champions
| Regular Season | Tournament | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Champions | Record | AP | Coaches' | Postseason | Champions | Record | AP | Coaches' | Postseason |
| 2013–14 | UConn | 40–0 (18–0) | #1 | #1 | NCAA Champion | UConn | 40–0 (18–0) | #1 | #1 | NCAA Champion |
| 2014–15 | UConn | 38–1 (18–0) | #1 | #1 | NCAA Champion | UConn | 38–1 (18–0) | #1 | #1 | NCAA Champion |
| 2015–16 | UConn | 38–0 (18–0) | #1 | #1 | NCAA Champion | UConn | 38–0 (18–0) | #1 | #1 | NCAA Champion |
| 2016–17 | UConn | 36–1 (16–0) | #1 | #1 | Final Four | UConn | 36–1 (16–0) | #1 | #1 | Final Four |
| 2017–18 | UConn | 36–1 (16–0) | #1 | #1 | Final Four | UConn | 36–1 (16–0) | #1 | #1 | Final Four |
| 2018–19 | UConn | 35–3 (16–0) | #2 | #2 | Final Four | UConn | 35–3 (16–0) | #2 | #3 | Final Four |
| 2019–20 | UConn | 28–3 (16–0) | #5 | #6 | Canceled | UConn | 28–3 (16–0) | #5 | #6 | Canceled[lower-alpha 1] |
| 2020–21 | South Florida | 19–4 (13–2) | #19 | #18 | Round of 32 | South Florida | 19–4 (13–2) | #19 | #18 | Round of 32 |
| 2021–22 | UCF | 26–4 (14–1) | #24 | #24 | Round of 32 | UCF | 26–4 (14–1) | #24 | #24 | Round of 32 |
| 2022–23 | South Florida | 27–7 (15–1) | Round of 32 | East Carolina | 23–10 (11–5) | Round of 64 | ||||
- 2020 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Future football member Army in gray.
Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights and licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, concessions, and novelties.
Total expenses includes coach and staff salaries, scholarships, buildings and grounds, maintenance, utilities and rental fees, recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues, and insurance.
The following table shows institutional reporting to the United States Department of Education as shown on the DOE Equity in Athletics website for the 2021–22 academic year.[122]
| Institution | 2021–22 Total Revenue from Athletics | 2021–22 Total Expenses on Athletics |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University | $79,414,946 | $79,414,946 |
| Temple University | $67,128,393 | $67,128,393 |
| University of South Florida | $62,288,596 | $62,288,596 |
| University of Memphis | $56,896,042 | $56,896,042 |
| East Carolina University | $52,643,839 | $51,812,739 |
| University of Tulsa | $47,406,950 | $47,406,950 |
| University of North Texas | $44,477,322 | $44,222,541 |
| Rice University | $42,350,198 | $42,350,198 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | $39,515,894 | $39,515,894 |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | $37,604,241 | $37,604,241 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $35,501,675 | $33,615,643 |
| Florida Atlantic University | $34,737,083 | $34,737,083 |
| Tulane University | $34,183,387 | $34,183,387 |
| Wichita State University Non-football member |
$26,887,822 | $24,048,367 |
Three of the current full member schools, Rice University, the University of South Florida and Tulane University, are members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization of 71 leading research universities in the United States and Canada.[123][124] Seven current members are doctorate-granting universities with "very high research activity," the highest classification given by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Three of these seven schools are leaving for the Big 12 Conference in July 2023; however, four of the schools joining from Conference USA at that time are in this classification.[125] Member schools are also highly ranked nationally and globally by various groups, including U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and Times Higher Education.
In March 2019, the conference announced a $1 billion, 12-year media rights deal with ESPN, under which the majority of AAC content will be aired on ESPN properties. Selected basketball games were sub-licensed to CBS Sports until 2022, and most Navy home football games will take place on CBS Sports until 2027 as Navy had a previous deal with CBS prior to joining The American. Content not aired on linear television will be exclusive to ESPN's subscription package ESPN+, but a larger number of events (including at least 40 football games and 65 men's basketball games per-season, including the conference semi-finals and championship) will air on ABC and ESPN's linear networks than under the previous contract.[131][132][133] Over 1,000 conference sporting events are aired on ESPN+ per year, including every baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball game hosted by a conference member (unless that game is being broadcast on one of ESPN's other networks).[134] The conference golf, rowing, swimming and diving, and track and field championships are also aired on ESPN+.
- Wichita State discontinued its football program following the 1986 season. The Shockers' football facility, Cessna Stadium (capacity 30,000) still stands. It is the home of the Shockers' track and field program and hosts football games for Wichita's Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School.
- The American is the legal all-sports successor to the Big East Conference (1979–2013). The Big East was rebranded and reorganized as the American Athletic Conference on July 1, 2013.
- The other conferences in the "Group of Five" are Conference USA (C-USA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference.
- Under NCAA Bylaw 20.9.4, all Division I schools are required to sponsor a minimum of seven men's and seven women's sports, or six men's and eight women's sports. Bylaw 20.9.7.1 imposes the latter requirement on FBS schools. FCS schools, under Bylaw 20.9.8.1, may use either requirement. This does not explicitly require that a school sponsor two more women's sports than men's sports. See "2012–13 NCAA Division I Manual" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- At the time Navy joined in football, the NCAA required 12 teams for a conference in order to conduct divisional play and stage a championship game that was exempt from the NCAA-imposed limit of 12 regular-season games. Effective with the 2016 season, a conference was allowed to conduct an "exempt" championship game with fewer than 12 members, as long as the conference either plays in two divisions or conducts a full round-robin schedule. Since the 2022 season, all FBS conferences have had full freedom to select the participants in their championship games, regardless of organization or scheduling.
- If The American's champion is the highest ranked from among the "Group of Five" conferences, it will receive a bid to either the Cotton Bowl, the Peach Bowl, or the Fiesta Bowl. If the team is ranked in the top four at the end of the regular season, it will take part in the College Football Playoff.
- "New Name in College Sports – Current BIG EAST Enters New Era as 'American Athletic Conference'". April 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- Katz, Andy (March 15, 2013). "What's next for the 'old Big East'". ESPN. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- McMurphy, Brett (March 1, 2013). "Catholic 7 to keep 'Big East' name for new league next season, according to sources". ESPN. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- Mandel, Stewart (November 12, 2012). "Big East, rest of 'Group of Five' score win with six-bowl decision". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
- Grant, Ethan. "Big East Will Change Name to American Athletic Conference". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- "The American Athletic Conference - About the American Athletic Conference". February 9, 2014. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- "Big East Conference - BIG EAST Conference History". www.bigeast.com. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- Russo, Ralph (March 8, 2013). "Big East completes official split of football, basketball". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- Blaudschun, Mark (March 8, 2013). "Naming original Big East was simple". AJerseyGuy.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- Crouthamel, Jake (December 8, 2000). "A Big East History and Retrospective, Part 1". SUAthletics.com. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- Sarah Maslin Nir (September 17, 2011). "Dave Gavitt, the Big East's Founder, Dies at 73". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- "Big East, Villanova Make It Official". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. March 13, 1980. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- Hanley, Richard F (November 19, 1981). "Pittsburgh To Join Big East". Record-Journal. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- "Big East Football Timeline". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 8, 2008. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- Thamel, Pete (May 7, 2012). "Commissioner John Marinatto Steps Down Amid Big East's Instability". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- "Big East 'unwilling' to meet terms". ESPN. January 3, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- Katz, Andy; McMurphy, Brett (December 11, 2012). "Big East fate vexes Catholic schools". ESPN. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- "Seven schools leaving Big East". ESPN. December 15, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- Rovell, Darren (January 6, 2013). "Sources: 'Catholic 7' eyes big TV deal". ESPN. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- Harten, David (March 5, 2013). "Catholic 7 has framework to keep Big East name, MSG as tourney site". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- Blaudschun, Mark (March 6, 2013). "Big East, Catholic 7 ready to make split official". AJerseyGuy.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- "Report: $100M for football schools". ESPN. March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- Former Big East to be named American Athletic Conference. ESPN (April 4, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-07-15.
- Wolken, Dan (May 29, 2013). "American Athletic Conference unveils its primary logos". USA Today.
Beyond the challenge of avoiding something that looked corporate, the league also couldn't build the logo around an acronym. From the very beginning, the conference office has been adamant that it wants to be known as The American instead of the AAC to avoid confusion with the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- "ACC Extends Formal Invitation for Membership to the University of Louisville - the Official Athletic Site of the Atlantic Coast Conference". Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights accept invitation to join Big Ten as Board of Governors gives go-ahead to athletic director Tim Pernetti. NY Daily News (November 19, 2012). Retrieved on 2013-07-15.
- "At a glance: Latest wave of conference realignment". USA Today. June 29, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
- "The American adds Associate Members for Women's Rowing" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. March 25, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- Dodd, Dennis (March 3, 2017). "Wichita State getting 'serious evaluation' to join American Athletic Conference". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- Thamel, Pete (March 31, 2017). "Sources: Wichita State in talks to join AAC as soon as 2017–18". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- "Source: Wichita St. eyes 2017 move to AAC". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- "AAC Is Preparing For Wichita State To Join League In 2017–18". www.fanragsports.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- "Wichita State to Become Member of American Athletic Conference" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- "UConn to Return to Big East". Digital Sports Desk. June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- Borzello, Jeff; Schlabach, Mark (June 22, 2019). "Sources: UConn expected to rejoin Big East". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- Thamel, Pete (June 22, 2019). "Sources: UConn move to the Big East inevitable". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- "Big East presidents approve UConn's invitation to join conference; football program's future remains uncertain". CBSSports.com. June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- Dauster, Rob (June 26, 2019). "It's official: UConn is back in the Big East". CollegeBasketballTalk. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- Borzello, Jeff (July 26, 2019). "UConn leaving AAC in '20, will owe $17M exit fee". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- "American Athletic Conference Adds Old Dominion as an Affiliate Member in Women's Lacrosse". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. April 16, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Swanger, Ben (May 21, 2020). "American Athletic Conference Moving HQ From Rhode Island to Irving". dmagazine.com. D Magazine. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- "UC Discontinues Men's Soccer Program". gobearcats.com. GoBearcats. April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- Adelson, Andrea (May 21, 2020). "East Carolina eliminates swimming and diving, tennis program". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- "Open Letter to the San Diego State University Community" (Press release). San Diego State Aztecs. November 20, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- Baer, Jack (July 28, 2021). "Big 12 accuses ESPN of encouraging its schools to leave conference in cease-and-desist letter". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- Jackson, Wilton (July 28, 2021). "Big 12 Accuses ESPN of Destabilizing Conference, Issues Cease and Desist". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- Dellenger, Ross; Forde, Pat (September 3, 2021). "Sources: Big 12 Could Add Four New Members By End of Next Week". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
- Dinich, Heather; Rittenberg, Adam (September 3, 2021). "BYU, Houston, UCF, Cincinnati planning to submit applications to Big 12 next week, sources confirm". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
- "Big 12 Conference Adds Four New Members" (Press release). Big 12 Conference. September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
- "American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- "About The American: Sponsored Sports". American Athletic Conference. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- "Big 12 to Add Beach Volleyball & Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). Big 12 Conference. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- Jackson, Wilton (September 28, 2021). "Report: Colorado State, Air Force Latest College Football Programs Eyeing Move to AAC". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- Bonagura, Kyle (October 1, 2021). "Mountain West Conference says it will stay intact; American Athletic Conference denies offering invitations". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- Thamel, Pete (October 18, 2021). "Sources: The AAC is close to massive 6-school expansion to reshape conference". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- Dinich, Heather (October 19, 2021). "Source: Six schools officially apply to join American Athletic Conference". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- "Source: American Athletic Conference Announces the Addition of Six Universities" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- "American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023-24 Season" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- "JMU to the Sun Belt: Frequently Asked Questions". James Madison Dukes. November 6, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- "James Madison to Compete in Sun Belt Conference in 2022-2023" (Press release). James Madison Dukes. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- Thamel, Pete (March 29, 2022). "Move of Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss from Conference USA to Sun Belt now complete". ESPN. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- "West Virginia Added as C-USA Soccer Member for 2022" (Press release). Conference USA. June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- "Sun Belt Conference Announces Return of Men's Soccer This Fall" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- "American Announces Affiliate Members in Men's Soccer and Women's Swimming and Diving" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
- "SMU Joins The ACC". SMU Athletics. August 25, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- Crosby, Jack (October 25, 2023). "Army to join AAC in 2024 as football-only member as conference tabs Black Knights to replace SMU". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- "UAB - Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis - Enrollment". Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- "Annual Report 2023". University of Alabama at Birmingham. September 30, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "ECU by the Numbers". East Carolina University. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- "2023 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments". National Association of College and University Business Officers. February 15, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "FAU Accepts Invite to The American" (Press release). FAU Athletics. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- "Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis". Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- "UofM Facts at a Glance - About UofM - The University of Memphis". www.memphis.edu. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- "UNC Charlotte Accepts Invitation to American Athletic Conference" (Press release). UNC Charlotte Athletics. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- "UNIVERSITY PROFILE". admissions.uncc.edu. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- "UNT Accepted as Member of the American Athletic Conference" (Press release). UNT Athletics. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- "Rice Accepts Invitation to Join the American Athletic Conference" (Press release). Rice Athletics. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- "Rice University : Rice University Office of Institutional Research". www.oir.rice.edu. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- "StudentEnrollment2017 - SMU". www.smu.edu. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- "UTSA to join American Athletic Conference" (Press release). UTSA Athletics. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- "UTSA welcomes record number of freshmen, celebrates more fall milestones". September 29, 2021.
- "Endowment Report 2022/23" (PDF). The University of Texas at San Antonio. January 11, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "TU Fast Facts - The University of Tulsa". Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Big 12 Adds Affiliates in Lacrosse, Rowing" (Press release). Big 12 Conference. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- "Office of Planning & Institutional Research - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
- The Official Site of The American Athletic Conference – Sponsored Sports. American Athletic Conference. Retrieved on June 10, 2014.
- Flynn, John (February 1, 2024). "American Athletic Conference Will No Longer Sponsor Women's Rowing Championship After 2024". row2k.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "American Athletic Conference to Sponsor Women's Lacrosse Beginning in 2019" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "ODU Lacrosse to Join the American Athletic Conference" (Press release). Old Dominion University Athletics. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- "American Adds James Madison University as Affiliate Member in Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- "USF to Add Women's Lacrosse in 2023-24". USF Athletics. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- "Charlotte to Add Women's Lacrosse, Country's Fastest-Growing Sport" (Press release). Charlotte 49ers. May 18, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- "East Carolina cuts swimming and diving, tennis". ESPN.com. May 21, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- Snyder, Susan (December 6, 2013). "Temple to drop 7 sports, including baseball, rowing". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- Writer, KELLY HINES World Sports (March 25, 2016). "Derrick Gragg on eliminating TU men's golf: 'This is the last thing you want to do'". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- "BVB: C-USA Adds TCU, Tarleton State and Missouri State as Affiliate Members for Beach Volleyball" (Press release). Conference USA. May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
The addition of TCU, Tarleton State and Missouri State increases current league membership to nine schools for the 2023-24 season, as the Horned Frogs, Texans and Bears join FIU, Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville State, Tulane, UAB and UTEP as members of Conference USA beach volleyball.
- "Conference USA to Add Bowling for 2023-24 Season" (Press release). Conference USA. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- "BOWL: Wichita State Joins CUSA as an Affiliate Member for Bowling" (Press release). Conference USA. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- "All-Time American Athletic Conference Champions". theamerican.org. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- "Championships summary through Jan. 1, 2022" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- "BCS Chronology". bcsfootball.org. Fox Sports. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
- Myerberg, Paul (November 13, 2012). "Big East announces divisions, adds conference title game". USA Today. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- "American Announces Football Schedule Format for 2015–18". USA Today. December 18, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- "American Announces Football Scheduling Model for 2023-26 Seasons" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. November 9, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- Wolken, Dan (April 25, 2013). "Questions and answers for the College Football Playoff". USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
- "American Bowl Lineup 2014–19". sidearm sports. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- "College Football Head Coach Salaries". Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- "Highest Paid College Football Coaches & Salaries - USA TODAY". sports.usatoday.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- American Athletic Conference (December 11, 2013). "American Athletic Conference Announces 2013 Postseason Football Honors". Retrieved December 31, 2013.
- "American Athletic Conference picks Memphis to host league's 1st men's basketball tournament". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013.
- "School Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
- ESPN, ed. (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. New York, NY: ESPN Books. p. 546. ISBN 978-0-345-51392-2.
- "AAC tournament host site picked". ESPN. June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
- "NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Records Through 2012–13" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- "Equity in Athletics Data Analysis". U.S. Department of Education.
- "AAU Member Institutions and Years of Admission". Association of American Universities. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- "Six Leading Research Universities Join the Association of American Universities" (Press release). Association of American Universities. May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- "Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup". Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
- "National Association of College and University Business Officers" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
- "Best College Rankings and Lists". U.S. News & World Report. 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- "Washington Monthly College Guide 2016 National Universities". Washington Monthly. 2016. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- As of June 30, 2020 U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- "U.S. News Best College Rankings 2017". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- "ESPN signs 12-year, $1 billion deal with AAC, moves lots of games to ESPN+". Awful Announcing. March 19, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- "AAC, ESPN Agree To 12-Year Media-Rights Deal Worth $1B". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- Murschel, Matt (April 28, 2019). "AAC leader Mike Aresco touts new media rights deal, addresses ESPN+ criticism". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- "Television Information". theamerican.org. Retrieved April 5, 2023.