After a season in which they won 10 games, including a bowl, for only the second time in program history, the Memphis Tigers were picked to win The American in the 2024 AAC Preseason Media Poll, the conference announced on Tuesday.
The Tigers received 23 out of 30 first-place votes to finish with 409 points in the poll, which was released during AAC Media Days ahead of the 2024 season. This is the first time Memphis has been picked to win the conference in the preseason poll.
Memphis Picked By Media To Win AAC
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Media Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) — Points
- Memphis (23) — 409
- UTSA (4) — 368
- Tulane (2) — 362
- South Florida — 339
- Army (1) — 236
- Florida Atlantic — 228
- (tie) East Carolina — 219
- (tie) Rice — 219
- North Texas — 216
- UAB — 192
- Navy — 150
- Tulsa — 95
- Charlotte — 77
- Temple — 40
Memphis was followed in the poll by UTSA, Tulane, and South Florida — each of whom will have an opportunity to host the Tigers in 2024. The Roadrunners were second with four first-place votes and 368 points after finishing 9-4 in their first season in The American last year.
Tulane, which is a combined 23-5 and reached the American Athletic Conference Championship Game in each of the past two seasons, was third after receiving two first-place votes and 362 points.
South Florida was picked fourth despite not picking up a first-place vote in the preseason poll after the Bulls improved by six wins in Alex Golesh’s first year as head coach.
Army was the only other team to receive a first-place vote, as the Black Knights enter their first year in the American.
Memphis punctuated a 10-3 season with a 35-26 victory over Iowa State in the 2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Ryan Silverfield’s team returns 17 starters from last season, including quarterback Seth Henigan who finished top five across FBS in both passing yards (3,883) and passing touchdowns (32) last season.
Memphis is also the betting favorite to win the conference at +225, according to Caesars Sportsbook, followed by UTSA (+400), Tulane (+400), South Florida (+450), and East Carolina (+1000).
Each of the 14 teams in The American will play eight conference games in 2024. The top two teams in the final single-division regular-season standings will meet Friday, Dec. 6, in the 10th American Athletic Conference Football Championship.
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