Week 1 AAC Football Power Rankings

Every week, we'll run a power ranking of the teams in the American Athletic Conference. Share yours in the comments below!

1. Cincinnati (0-0)

Last week: 1

Inactive in Week 1

The Bearcats were inactive last weekend and wont be kicking off their season until Friday, September 12th against a pretty good Toledo team. They're likely to hold onto the top spot at least until then.

2. Central Florida (0-1)

Last week: 3

L 24-26 to Penn State

UCF moves up one spot after losing a close one to James Franklin's Penn State team in Ireland. There is a lot of talent on this roster and after the second-half adjustment to Justin Holman at quarterback, this team looks dangerous. That was a strong Penn State team which they just took to the wire.

The Knights will rest this weekend before traveling to No. 24 Missouri on September 13th.

3. East Carolina (1-0)

Last week: 2

W 52-7 over North Carolina Central

East Carolina moves down one spot despite handily beating NC Central in their season opener. After watching UCF play, I think they have an edge on ECU. The Pirates have a chance to reclaim that spot in next week's rankings if they can win against a demoralized South Carolina this weekend.

4. Temple (1-0)

Last week: 11

W 37-7 over Vanderbilt

I placed Temple last in my week zero power rankings. All they did last weekend was go out and claim the most impressive win by the AAC, by far. Regardless of the conditions (game was delayed due to lighting) a 37-7 win on the road over an SEC opponent (even if it is Vanderbilt) is impressive, especially for a team that won only two games last year.

This weekend the Owls face a Navy team that kept it close against Ohio State. The game should be a good barometer and serve as proof as to whether Thursday's win was a fluke. Right now I have them at fourth on the strength of that win.

5. South Florida (1-0)

Last week: 5

W 36-31 over Western Carolina

They were trailing early, but USF took care of business against Western Carolina and should be more focused next week against Maryland- where they'll have a chance to make a statement with a win. In any other scenario I would drop the Bulls in the rankings, but losses and unimpressive wins litter the rest of this list so might as well stick to my guns and keep them here for now.

6. Tulsa (1-0)

Last week: 9

W 38-31 over Tulane (2OT)

Beating Tulane in double overtime is good enough to vault Tulsa three spots in the rankings to sixth. Do I actually think Tulsa is the sixth best team in the conference? Let's just say you should expect to see a lot of fluctuation between four and eleven on this list every week.

7. Tulane (0-1)

Last week: 8

L 31-38 to Tulsa (2OT)

Tulane was ahead of Tulsa for all of regulation until Dane Evans hit Keevan Lucas for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. The Green Wave weren't able to pull out the overtime win but still had their moments on Thursday night.

8. Houston (0-1)

Last week: 4

L 7-27 to UT- San Antonio

Houston suffered the most surprising loss of the weekend-- they were expected by some to be a contender in the American this year. That still could happen, but the Cougars will need to be much better than the team that just got walloped by UTSA. You would think Houston would come out with a more inspired performance since they were opening a brand-new stadium, but that was not the case.

9. SMU (0-1)

Last week: 6

L 0-45 to Baylor

Baylor is really good, but SMU did not do the conference's national perception any favors by getting destroyed on Sunday night. The Mustangs need to beat North Texas next week or find their way quickly thereafter because the next four games after UNT are against Texas A&M, TCU, East Carolina and Cincinnati. If they don't get their act together, the Mustangs could be looking at an 0-6 start.

10. UConn (0-1)

Last week: 8

L 10-35 to BYU

BYU has struggled in years past when making trips to the East coast to start the season, but that was not the case last weekend as they blew out the UConn Huskies in Connecticut. In the home team's defense, this is a very good BYU squad so the loss is not as embarrassing as, say, losing to Towson in the season opener like they did last year.

The Huskies fought hard after an unfortunate start to the game but it was too little, too late. They have problems protecting the quarterback and defensively they struggle to generate any pass rush. The Huskies hope to beat their FCS demons against Stony Brook this week.

11. Memphis (1-0)

Last week: 10

W 62-0 over Austin Peay

Do more.