2024 American Football Conference Preview

American Championship Game: Memphis over Tulane

American Offensive Player of the Year: Seth Henigan, Memphis

American Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Jenkins, Tulane

American Coach of the Year: Ryan Silverfield, Memphis

Conference Notes

Memphis and a loaded group of returners leads the preseason polls. The Tigers return 17 starters from a 10-win team last season. Memphis led the American with 39.4 points per game last season and will have all but one starter back this season. Seth Henigan is the early favorite to won the Conference Player of the Year. The season ended with a Liberty Bowl win over Iowa State and the Tigers hope this season ends in the College Football Playoff.

Tulane will look to return to the conference championship for the third straight year. The Green Wave welcome a new head coach in Jon Sumrall after an 11-3 season. Michael Pratt, last year’s Offensive Player of the Year, is now gone but Tulane return 15 starters from last year’s team. The Wave have all needed to return to the conference title game and potentially beyond with a victory.

UTSA will make for an interesting team. The Roadrunners were picked second in the preseason poll after being ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the last two years. This is another team that returns a boatload of starters this season. Frank Harris is gone but the offensive attack, led by the ground game, has a chance to be strong once again.

There is a chance for major improvements in the middle of the conference Army won just four games last season but returns eight starters offensively and could climb into the top five. South Florida is another team that is on the rise. The Bulls won seven games last season, which was a major improvement from 2022.

2024 American Conference Predictions

1. Memphis
2. Tulane
3. UTSA
4. Army
5. South Florida
6. Florida Atlantic
7. Rice
8. East Carolina
9. North Texas
10. UAB
11. Navy
12. Tulsa
13. Charlotte
14. Temple