Andrea Adelson ESPN Staff Writer
USF is the preseason favorite to win the American Athletic Conference in a vote by the media. The Bulls were the unanimous choice to win the East Division, while Memphis was picked to win the West.
2017 ScheduleAll times ET
2017 Schedule
3rd in American Athletic - West
Memphis extends Norvell's contract through '21
After a promising first year, Memphis has extended Mike Norvell's contract hrough 2021 and boosted the salary pool for assistant coaches and staff by $250,000.
Forgettable bowl season for American
South Florida and Tulsa were the only AAC teams to win bowl games this season. The conference finishes with a 2-5 record, fourth among Group of 5 conferences.
Sources: Notre Dame tab Memphis' Long as OC
Notre Dame, which lost both its offensive coordinators in recent weeks, is expected to hire Chip Long from Memphis for that position, sources told ESPN.
Adam Rittenberg ESPN Staff Writer
Notre Dame is expected to hire Memphis offensive coordinator Chip Long for the same position, sources tell ESPN. Fox Sports first reported the impending hire. Long just completed his first season at Memphis after making the move with Mike Norvell from Arizona State. Notre Dame had the vacancy after losing Mike Denbrock (Cincinnati) and Mike Sanford (Western Kentucky) to other jobs.
Group of 5 schools considering own playoff
A growing number of Group of 5 officials are in favor of adding a playoff specifically for the Group of 5 schools because it's been 32 years since a non-Power 5 team won a national championship.
Western Kentucky tops Memphis to win Boca Raton Bowl (1:26)
Hilltoppers run successful fake kneeldown
This Western Kentucky fake kneeldown was so good that Memphis didn't know who the ball carrier was until it was too late.
Western Kentucky's offense dominates in bowl victory (1:17)
Western Kentucky beats Memphis in Boca Bowl, 51-31
Senior Anthony Wales gained 329 yards from scrimmage and Western Kentucky earned a bowl victory for the third year in a row by beating Memphis 51-31 Tuesday night in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Trophy presentation for Western Kentucky's Boca Raton Bowl victory (4:02)
Wales adds exclamation point for WKU
The Hilltoppers increased their lead to 51-31 over Memphis in the Boca Raton Bowl with this rushing TD, Anthony Wales's school-record 27th of the season.
Memphis not giving up in Boca Raton Bowl
Riley Ferguson goes deep to Anthony Miller on fourth down for the duo's third touchdown of the game. Western Kentucky's lead is cut to 44-31 in the fourth quarter.
WKU's Wales adds to his school record
Western Kentucky's Anthony Wales's second TD of the game is his 26th rushing score of the season, a school record and most by a running back this season.
WKU comes out strong in second half
Mike White drops back and goes deep to Taywan Taylor for a TD to extend Western Kentucky's lead over Memphis in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Western Kentucky goes up big with 41-yard TD pass to Taylor (0:38)
Western Kentucky interim head coach Nick Holt discusses his team's 1st half performance vs Memphis (0:46)
Huge interception for Memphis before half
One play after a succcessful fake punt, Western Kentucky QB Mike White is picked off in the end zone. WKU leads Memphis 28-17 at halftime of the Boca Raton Bowl on ESPN.
Hilltoppers extend lead with long drive
Anthony Wales punches it in from 2 yards out, finishing a 13-play, 71-yard drive. Western Kentucky now leads 28-17 in the second quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl.
Western Kentucky newly appointed head coach Mike Sanford talks about being named the head coach on Dec. 14 (2:23)
Memphis cuts deficit with TD pass
Riley Ferguson throws a 7-yard strike to Anthony Miller for a TD to cut into Western Kentucky's lead in the second quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl.
Hilltoppers extend lead with easy score
Mike White finds a wide-open Nicholas Norris for a 37-yard TD to give Western Kentucky a 21-10 lead over Memphis in the second quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl.
2018 Recruits
| NAME | POS | STATUS | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigel Brannon | OT | Committed | 44 |
| Cameron Fleming | RB | Committed | 44 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | ATH | Committed | 44 |
| Titus Jones | OG | Committed | 44 |
| Alondras Strong | CB | Committed | 44 |
2017 American Standings
| East | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Temple | 7-1 | 10-4 |
| South Florida | 7-1 | 11-2 |
| UCF | 4-4 | 6-7 |
| Cincinnati | 1-7 | 4-8 |
| East Carolina | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| Connecticut | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| West | CONF | OVR |
| Navy | 7-1 | 9-5 |
| Tulsa | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| Memphis | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Houston | 5-3 | 9-4 |
| SMU | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| Tulane | 1-7 | 4-8 |
Awards
| YEAR | PLAYER | AWARD |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | T. Hornsey | Ray Guy Award |