The 96-game schedule begins Aug. 26

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced the 48-game conference schedule, in conjunction with the complete 96-game schedule, for American Athletic Conference football teams in the 2017 season.

The 2017 season marks the third year of the conference’s four-year scheduling cycle in which each of the 12 teams in The American plays eight conference games – five against the other teams in its division and three against teams from the other division. The two division winners will meet Dec. 2 in the third American Athletic Conference Football Championship.

“I am pleased to announce the 2017 football schedule, which will reveal the high quality of our teams from start to finish,” said Aresco. “Our schools are again challenging themselves with quality nonconference games against other Power 6 opponents. Our intraconference games will continue to feature interesting, competitive and exciting play, and will continue to provide entertaining viewing for college football fans across the country as well as great value to our television partners (ESPN and CBS Sports).”

The American Athletic Conference further established itself as one college football’s top conferences in 2016 as the league produced three teams (USF, Temple, Tulsa) with at least 10 wins, putting The American alongside the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 as the only FBS conferences with three 10-win teams in each of the last two seasons. The American sent seven of its 12 teams to bowl games and produced two first-team All-America players (Ed Oliver of Houston and Zay Jones of East Carolina).

The 2017 season begins Aug. 26, when USF – ranked No. 19 in the 2016 final national polls – visits San Jose State. All 12 teams are in action the following weekend, while conference play begins Sept. 9, with Memphis at UCF, USF at UConn, and Tulane at Navy.

Some highlights of the 2017 schedule include:

At least two key Thursday-night conference games on ESPN: Temple at USF on Sept. 21 and Memphis at Houston on Oct. 19. Additional Thursday games may be added at a later date.

A slate of Friday prime time conference games on national television, including Memphis at UConn on Oct. 6 (ESPN); Tulane at Memphis (CBS Sports Network) and Tulsa at SMU (ESPN2) on Oct. 27; and Temple at Cincinnati on Nov. 10 (ESPN2). Additionally, USF’s Sept. 15 home game against Illinois will be on ESPN, marking The American’s first weeknight prime time game against a Big Ten opponent.

A pair of post-Thanksgiving Friday games on the final week of the regular season on ESPN networks as UCF hosts USF in the War On I-4 showdown, while Navy is at Houston in a matchup of the last two American West Division winners.

A total of 17 of The American’s 48 nonconference games will be against Power 6 opponents or Notre Dame. American Athletic Conference teams have a combined five games against the Big 12, four against the ACC, three against the Big Ten, two each against the Pac-12 and Notre Dame, and one against the SEC. The American has won 19 games against Power 6 opponents in the past two years and has two New Year’s Bowl wins against those opponents since 2014.

A total of 16 games against Conference USA, the MAC, the Mountain West and the Sun Belt. The American went 10-1 against teams from those conferences in the 2016 regular season and is 20-2 against those leagues in the last two regular seasons.

Five nonconference games against teams that were ranked among the top 18 in last year’s final polls. Tulane faces No. 5 Oklahoma Sept. 16, Cincinnati is at No. 10 Michigan Sept. 9, Tulsa opens at No. 11 Oklahoma State Sept. 2; and East Carolina has consecutive games against No. 18 West Virginia (Sept. 9) and No. 16 Virginia Tech (Sept. 16).

The American Athletic Conference Football Championship, which has been broadcast on ABC in each of the last two years, is scheduled for Dec. 2 and will be televised either on either ABC or ESPN.

The 2017 season is the fourth under The American’s current television contract, which provides for more than 80 percent of conference-controlled games to be televised nationally on either ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and CBS Sports Network, with the remainder on regional television or ESPN3.

All of Navy’s home games in the 2017 season will once again be televised on CBS Sports Network. The annual Army-Navy game, scheduled for Dec. 9, will be televised on CBS.

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.

2017 American Athletic Conference Composite Football Schedule

Saturday, August 26
USF at San Jose State

Thursday, August 31
Austin Peay at Cincinnati
Holy Cross at UConn
Louisiana-Monroe at Memphis

Saturday, September 2
Florida International at UCF
James Madison at East Carolina
Houston at UTSA
Navy at Florida Atlantic
Stony Brook at USF
Stephen F. Austin at SMU
Temple at Notre Dame (NBC)
Grambling State at Tulane
Tulsa at Oklahoma State

Saturday, September 9
Tulane at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Memphis at UCF *
Cincinnati at Michigan
USF at UConn *
East Carolina at West Virginia
Houston at Arizona
North Texas at SMU
Villanova at Temple
Louisiana at Tulsa

Friday, September 15
Illinois at USF (ESPN)
Massachusetts at Temple

Saturday, September 16
Georgia Tech at UCF
Cincinnati at Miami (Ohio)
UConn at Virginia
Virginia Tech at East Carolina
Rice at Houston
UCLA at Memphis
SMU at TCU
Tulane at Oklahoma
Tulsa at Toledo

Thursday, September 21
Temple at USF * (ESPN)

Saturday, September 23
Cincinnati at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
UCF at Maryland
Texas Tech at Houston
Southern Illinois at Memphis
Arkansas State at SMU
Army at Tulane
New Mexico at Tulsa

Saturday, September 30
Maine at UCF
Marshall at Cincinnati
UConn at SMU *
USF at East Carolina *
Houston at Temple *
Memphis at Georgia State
Navy at Tulsa *

Friday, October 6
Memphis at UConn * (ESPN)

Saturday, October 7
Air Force at Navy (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
UCF at Cincinnati *
Temple at East Carolina *
SMU at Houston *
Tulsa at Tulane *

Saturday, October 14
East Carolina at UCF *
UConn at Temple *
Massachusetts at USF
Houston at Tulsa *
Navy at Memphis *
Tulane at Florida International

Thursday, October 19
Memphis at Houston * (ESPN)

Saturday, October 21
Temple at Army (Noon, CBSSN)
UCF at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
SMU at Cincinnati *
Tulsa at UConn *
Brigham Young at East Carolina
USF at Tulane *

Friday, October 27
Tulane at Memphis * (CBSSN)
Tulsa at SMU * (ESPN2)

Saturday, October 28
Cincinnati at USF *
Missouri at UConn
East Carolina at Houston *

Thursday, November 2 or
Friday, November 3
Navy at Temple * (ESPN/ESPN2)

Friday, November 3
Memphis at Tulsa * (ESPN/ESPN2)

Saturday, November 4
UCF at SMU *
Cincinnati at Tulane *
East Carolina at UConn *
Houston at USF *

Friday, November 10
Temple at Cincinnati * (ESPN2)

Saturday, November 11
SMU at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
UConn at UCF *
Tulane at East Carolina *

Saturday, November 18
UCF at Temple *
Cincinnati at East Carolina *
UConn vs. Boston College 1
Houston at Tulane *
SMU at Memphis *
Navy at Notre Dame (NBC)
Tulsa at USF

Friday, November 24
USF at UCF * (ABC/ESPN Network)
Navy at Houston * (ABC/ESPN Network)

Saturday, November 25
UConn at Cincinnati *
East Carolina at Memphis *
Temple at Tulsa *
Tulane at SMU *

Saturday, December 2
American Athletic Conference Championship (ABC/ESPN)

Saturday, December 9
Navy vs. Army 2 (3 p.m., CBS)

* American Athletic Conference game
1 Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
2 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

as of February 9, 2017

2017 American Athletic Conference Team-By-Team Football Schedules

East Division

UCF
Sat., Sept. 2 Florida International
Sat., Sept. 9 Memphis *
Sat., Sept. 16 Georgia Tech
Sat., Sept. 23 at Maryland
Sat., Sept. 30 Maine
Sat., Oct. 7 at Cincinnati *
Sat., Oct. 14 East Carolina *
Sat., Oct. 21 at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 4 at SMU *
Sat., Nov. 11 UConn *
Sat., Nov. 18 at Temple *
Fri., Nov. 24 USF * (ABC/ESPN Network)

CINCINNATI
Thu., Aug. 31 Austin Peay
Sat., Sept. 9 at Michigan
Sat., Sept. 16 at Miami (Ohio)
Sat., Sept. 23 at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 30 Marshall
Sat., Oct. 7 UCF *
Sat., Oct. 21 SMU *
Sat., Oct. 28 at USF *
Sat., Nov. 4 at Tulane *
Fri., Nov. 10 Temple * (ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 18 at East Carolina *
Sat., Nov. 25 UConn *

UCONN
Thu., Aug. 31 Holy Cross
Sat., Sept. 9 USF *
Sat., Sept. 16 at Virginia
Sat., Sept. 30 at SMU *
Fri., Oct. 6 Memphis * (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 14 at Temple *
Sat., Oct. 21 Tulsa *
Sat., Oct. 28 Missouri
Sat., Nov. 4 East Carolina *
Sat., Nov. 11 at UCF *
Sat., Nov. 18 vs. Boston College 1
Sat., Nov. 25 at Cincinnati *
EAST CAROLINA
Sat., Sept. 2 James Madison
Sat., Sept. 9 at West Virginia
Sat., Sept. 16 Virginia Tech
Sat., Sept. 30 USF *
Sat., Oct. 7 Temple *
Sat., Oct. 14 at UCF *
Sat., Oct. 21 BYU
Sat., Oct. 28 at Houston *
Sat., Nov. 4 at UConn *
Sat., Nov. 11 Tulane *
Sat., Nov. 18 Cincinnati *
Sat., Nov. 25 at Memphis *

USF
Sat., Aug. 26 at San Jose State
Sat., Sept. 2 Stony Brook
Sat., Sept. 9 at UConn *
Fri., Sept. 15 Illinois (ESPN)
Thu., Sept. 21 Temple * (ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 30 at East Carolina *
Sat., Oct. 14 Massachusetts
Sat., Oct. 21 at Tulane *
Sat., Oct. 28 Cincinnati *
Sat., Nov. 4 Houston *
Sat., Nov. 18 Tulsa *
Fri., Nov. 24 at UCF * (ABC/ESPN Network)

TEMPLE
Sat., Sept. 2 at Notre Dame (NBC)
Sat., Sept. 9 Villanova
Fri., Sept. 15 Massachusetts
Thu., Sept. 21 at USF * (ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 30 Houston *
Sat., Oct. 7 at East Carolina *
Sat., Oct. 14 UConn *
Sat., Oct. 21 at Army (Noon, CBSSN)
Thu., Nov. 2 or
Fri., Nov. 3 Navy * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Fri., Nov. 10 at Cincinnati * (ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 18 UCF *
Sat., Nov. 25 at Tulsa *

* American Athletic Conference game
1 Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

All times Eastern; all dates and times subject to change

Additional television listings will be announced as they become available

2017 American Athletic Conference Team-By-Team Football Schedules

West Division

HOUSTON
Sat., Sept. 2 at UTSA
Sat., Sept. 9 at Arizona
Sat., Sept. 16 Rice
Sat., Sept. 23 Texas Tech
Sat., Sept. 30 at Temple *
Sat., Oct. 7 SMU *
Sat., Oct. 14 at Tulsa *
Thu., Oct. 19 Memphis * (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 28 East Carolina *
Sat., Nov. 4 at USF *
Sat., Nov. 18 at Tulane*
Fri., Nov. 24 Navy * (ABC/ESPN Network)

MEMPHIS
Thu., Aug. 31 Louisiana-Monroe
Sat., Sept. 9 at UCF *
Sat., Sept. 16 UCLA
Sat., Sept. 23 Southern Illinois
Sat., Sept. 30 at Georgia State
Fri., Oct. 6 at UConn * (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 14 Navy *
Thu., Oct. 19 at Houston * (ESPN)
Fri., Oct. 27 Tulane * (CBSSN)
Fri., Nov. 3 at Tulsa * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 18 SMU *
Sat., Nov. 25 East Carolina *

NAVY
Sat., Sept. 2 at Florida Atlantic
Sat., Sept. 9 Tulane * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 23 Cincinnati * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 30 at Tulsa *
Sat., Oct. 7 Air Force (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Oct. 14 at Memphis *
Sat., Oct. 21 UCF * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Thu., Nov. 2 or
Fri., Nov. 3 at Temple * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 11 SMU * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 18 at Notre Dame (NBC)
Fri., Nov. 24 at Houston * (ABC/ESPN Network)
Sat., Dec. 9 vs. Army 1 (3 p.m., CBS)

SMU
Sat., Sept. 2 Stephen F. Austin
Sat., Sept. 9 North Texas
Sat., Sept. 16 at TCU
Sat., Sept. 23 Arkansas State
Sat., Sept 30 UConn *
Sat., Oct. 7 at Houston *
Sat., Oct. 21 at Cincinnati *
Fri., Oct. 27 Tulsa * (ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 4 UCF *
Sat., Nov. 11 at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 18 at Memphis *
Sat., Nov. 25 Tulane *

TULANE
Sat., Sept. 2 Grambling State
Sat., Sept. 9 at Navy * (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Sat., Sept. 16 at Oklahoma
Sat., Sept. 23 Army
Sat., Oct. 7 Tulsa *
Sat., Oct. 14 at Florida International
Sat., Oct. 21 USF *
Fri., Oct. 27 at Memphis * (CBSSN)
Sat., Nov. 4 Cincinnati *
Sat., Nov. 11 at East Carolina *
Sat., Nov. 18 Houston *
Sat., Nov. 25 at SMU *

TULSA
Sat., Sept. 2 at Oklahoma State
Sat., Sept. 9 Louisiana
Sat., Sept. 16 at Toledo
Sat., Sept. 23 New Mexico
Sat., Sept. 30 Navy *
Sat., Oct. 7 at Tulane *
Sat., Oct. 14 Houston *
Sat., Oct. 21 at UConn *
Fri., Oct. 27 at SMU * (ESPN2)
Fri., Nov. 3 Memphis * (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 18 at USF *
Sat., Nov. 25 Temple *

* 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