The American Athletic Conference is entering the 2022 college football season after a campaign in which Cincinnati made history as the first Group of Five program to earn a place in the College Football Playoff. Coach Luke Fickell and the Bearcats rode an undefeated season to a date with Alabama, eventually falling 27-6 in the Cotton Bowl semifinals.
While the feat did inspire confidence in the league eager to show off its “Power Six” status, big changes are on the horizon as 2022 will serve as the final year of this iteration of the AAC. Cincinnati, Houston and UCF will move to the Big 12 in 2023, and the league will supplement its membership with six additions: UAB, FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, Rice and UTSA.
As the AAC prepares for its final season in its current form, eyes are once again on the league that may produce a Cinderella playoff candidate. This time around, it’s not Cincinnati, but rather coach Dana Holgorsen and Houston — the favorites to win the conference at +200 according to Caesars Sportsbook — who some say could stand a chance at an undefeated season and a potential CFP berth if things get their way. go sideways. Not far behind in betting odds are the Bearcats (+240) and UCF (+260), the latter of which are looking to make big strides in the second season of the Gus Malzahn era.
Our CBS Sports college football pundits are here to share their picks and predictions for the AAC ahead of the 2022 season. Check them all out below.
Most overrated team
UCF: I like Gus Malzahn, and I like what George O’Leary, Scott Frost and Josh Heupel did for him — with the program. But the AAC has gotten deeper. This may interest you : Update on the policy of the United Kingdom and Italy, CEO of Airbus. UCF doesn’t have the soldiers to keep up with this season (contact me if the Knights go to the Big 12), while Cincinnati and Houston are just too good. — Dennis Dodd (also Shehan Jeyarajah, Jerry Palm)
Cincinnati: I think the Bearcats probably have the second best team in the conference, but their Preseason AP Top 25 ranking (23) is a little high given the massive staff losses. Cincinnati doesn’t often have the kind of NFL Draft draw it had in 2022, and while Fickell has done a good job leveling up the recruiting, I think it’s going to be tough to maintain the level of success over the past few seasons. — Chip Patterson (also Barrett Sallee)
Memphis: It’s hard to consider a team overrated in the AAC this season, with Cincinnati, Houston and UCF all seen as clear favorites in the conference. When I call the Tigers overrated I mean it more in the sense that this has been one of the better programs at the conference for a few years now, but I expect it will fall behind SMU and possibly move to the bottom half of the league. tumble. — Tom Fornell
Houston: This team is going to finish with another good record, but the idea that the Cougars are the best team in the AAC is rooted in erratic schedule. Houston doesn’t play against Cincinnati or UCF in the regular season, which makes the slate comically easy compared to everyone else in the league. The Cougars have at least a few road tests this season. If going out against those teams doesn’t expose Houston as a good but not great team, then the AAC Championship Game will. Cincinnati and UCF are still the teams to beat in the AAC. — David Cobb
Most underrated team
Houston: Win at UTSA and Texas Tech, and the Cougs stare at a 12-0 season. On the same subject : UE Fall Sports Aim to Compete for MVC Titles in 2022. They are the 2022 version of Cincinnati in the sense that they are not only AAC favorites but should be lining up for a shot at the College Football Playoff. — dodd
USF: There is an idea that the Bulls are in for another terrible season after a record 2-10 under Jeff Scott last year. Don’t fall into that trap. The Bulls return 19 starters, including five on the offensive line and seven all their backs on defense. Gerry Bohanon, who led Baylor to the Big 12 title last year, switched to take over the quarterback duties. Will USF win the AAC? Probably not, but don’t be surprised if it has a lot to say about who does. — sallee
SMU: The ponies are going through a coaching transition, but don’t expect much to change at The Hilltop. Rhett Lashlee spent two seasons under Sonny Dykes, helping SMU to its first season with 10 wins since 1984. The Mustangs have the best collection of passing race crews in the conference, along with Alabama transfer Camar Wheaton, a former five-star running back expectation. The advantage is off the charts. — Jeyarajah (also Patterson, Fornelli, Palm)
East Carolina: ECU took a big step forward last year by finishing above .500 for the first time since 2014. The Pirates will continue to build that 7-5 campaign with veteran quarterback Holton Ahlers, star running back Keaton Mitchell and a defense bursting with experience and continuity. The schedule is arguably the toughest in the AAC with non-conference games against NC State and BYU on the roll. AAC fans Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are also on the list. But this team missed last season’s setbacks against Houston, UCF and South Carolina and has all the talent and experience needed to deliver a few surprises this season. — Cobb
Bold predictions
AAC predicted order of finish
AAC champion
Houston: While I expect Houston’s offense to be very good – Clayton Tune has been a solid and wide receiver. Nathaniel “Tank” Dell is arguably one of the best offensive players in the conference – this Holgorsen-coached team will be in a position to win the league because of its defense. The defensive line is nicknamed Sack Avenue, and that group’s ability to reach the quarterback should be the most impactful tool Houston has for getting ahead of any opponent on his schedule. Read also : Charlie Kolar will undergo sports hernia surgery. Cincinnati will likely become the enemy of the AAC title game again, but I think a rematch would be the Cougars’ side with significantly less sales on their side after both teams went 8-0 in the league last season. — Patterson (also Dodd, Fornelli, Jeyarajah)
SMU: Rhett Lashlee is widely known as one of the best attacking minds in the country, inheriting the keys to a Group of Five Ferrari in quarterback Tanner Mordecai. He is technically still in contention for first place on the depth chart, suggesting the Mustangs are in a very good position in the key position on the field. They get Memphis, Houston and Cincinnati – three contenders for the AAC crown – home, which is a huge piece of their championship puzzle. Worst case scenario, they go over that stretch 2-1 and earn the inside track for the conference title match. At that point, the dynamic Mustang attack will seal the deal and give SMU the title. — sallee
Cincinnati: The Bearcats were the Group of Five class last season, so much so that they became the first G5 team selected to the College Football Playoff. However, repeating that feat is too much to ask of a team that has lost so much talent to the NFL. Cincinnati still has the best defense in the league and will be strong up front offensively. It may take a few games for the attack to come together, but when it does, the Bearcats will be ready to repeat as conference champions. — Palm (also Cobb)
