The American Conference Football Championship Game is a college football game currently held by the American Conference (American) each year to determine the conference's season champion. The inaugural game was held on December 5, 2015, at 12:00 pm ET.
The game previously pitted the champion of the Eastern Division (UCF, Cincinnati, Connecticut, East Carolina, South Florida, and Temple) against the champion of the Western Division (Houston, Memphis, Navy, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa). The game was played at the home stadium of the division winner with the better conference record.
In 2020, UConn left the conference, leading to the dissolution of the divisions. Because of new NCAA rules regarding conference championships, the game has become a matchup between the top two teams in the conference.
Television broadcast rights to the game are owned by ESPN, with the game airing on ABC.
History
The American was reorganized following the tumultuous period of realignment that hobbled the Big East between 2010 and 2013. In all, 14 member schools announced their departure for other conferences, and 15 other schools announced plans to join the conference (eight as all-sports members, and four for football only). In December 2012, the Big East's seven remaining non-FBS schools, all Catholic institutions – DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, and Villanova – announced that they voted unanimously to leave the conference.
After a settlement in 2013 between the non-FBS schools and the FBS schools regarding the use of the conference name, the ten remaining football playing members renamed themselves the American Athletic Conference. In 2014, Louisville and Rutgers departed the conference and joined the ACC and Big Ten, respectively. Their departure was succeeded on the same day by the entrance of East Carolina, Tulane, and Tulsa for all sports. In 2015, the U.S. Naval Academy joined the conference for football, bringing the membership total in that sport to twelve teams. At which time, the conference split into two six-team divisions and established a football conference championship game.
On July 1, 2020, UConn officially left The American, with its football team becoming an FBS independent once the school joined the Big East. After a brief exploration period, The American elected not to add another team to rebalance divisions. Beginning with the 2020 season, divisions were eliminated, and since then the championship game has been played by the two teams that achieved the best record in regular season conference play. Despite further conference expansion in 2023–24, division play did not return.
SMU left for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024, with Army becoming a football-only replacement at the same time.
Pre-championship game era
The 2013 and 2014 American Athletic Conference football champions were determined by the team(s) with the best conference record. There was no championship game held. In years when two or more teams tied in conference record, co-champions were declared.
Season Champion/s 2013 UCF 8–0 12–12014Memphis 7–1 10–3Cincinnati 7–1 9–4UCF 7–1 9–4
Results Below are the results from all American Championship Games played. The winning team appears in bold font, on a background of their primary team color. Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
Year West Division East Division Venue MVP 2015 Houston 24 Temple 13 TDECU Stadium • Houston, Texas35,721 Greg Ward, Houston 2016 Navy 10 Temple 34 Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland22,815 P. J. Walker, Temple 2017 Memphis 55 UCF 62 Spectrum Stadium • Orlando, Florida 41,433 McKenzie Milton, UCF 2018 Memphis 41 UCF 56 45,176 Darriel Mack Jr., UCF 2019 Memphis 29 Cincinnati 24 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, Tennessee 33,008 Antonio Gibson, Memphis Year No. 1 seed No. 2 seed Venue MVP 2020 Cincinnati 27 Tulsa 24Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio5,831 Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati 2021 Cincinnati 35 Houston 2037,978 Jerome Ford, Cincinnati 2022 Tulane 45 UCF 28Yulman Stadium • New Orleans, Louisiana30,118 Michael Pratt, Tulane 2023 Tulane 14 SMU 2625,206 Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU 2024 Army35 Tulane 14 Michie Stadium • West Point, New York 14,016 Bryson Daily, Army 2025 Tulane 34 North Texas 21 Yulman Stadium • New Orleans, Louisiana 23,986Jack Tchienchou, Tulane 2020 game attendance limited due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Results by team
Current members School Wins Loss. Pct. Year(s) Won Year(s) Lost 4Tulane222022, 20252023, 2024 3Memphis1220192017, 2018 2Temple1120162015 1Army102024 Navy01 2016North Texas01 2025Tulsa01 2020 0Charlotte00 East Carolina00 Florida Atlantic00 Rice00 South Florida00 UAB00 UTSA00
Former members School Wins Loss. Pct. Year(s) Won Year(s) Lost 3UCF212017, 20182022Cincinnati212020, 20212019 2Houston1120152021 1SMU102023
Rematches The American Conference Championship game has featured a rematch of a regular-season game a total of four times (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022). The team which won the regular-season game is 3–1 in the rematches, the exception being 2022.
No results by team School UConn
Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Rice, South Florida, UAB and UTSA have yet to make an appearance in an American Conference Championship Game. UConn never made an appearance in the American Championship Game prior to its move to FBS independent status in 2020.
Game records TeamRecord, Team vs. OpponentYearMost points scored (one team)62, UCF vs. Memphis2017Most points scored (losing team)55, Memphis vs. UCF2017Most points scored (both teams)117, UCF (62) vs. Memphis (55)2017Fewest points scored (winning team)24, Houston vs. Temple2015Fewest points allowed10, Temple vs. Navy2016Fewest points scored (both teams)37, Houston (24) vs. Temple (13)2015Most points scored in a half38, Memphis (1st half) vs. UCF2018Most points scored in a half (both teams)59, UCF vs. Memphis (1st half)2018Largest margin of victory24, Temple (34) vs. Navy (10)2016Smallest margin of victory3, Cincinnati (27) vs. Tulsa (24)2020Total yards753, Memphis (471 passing, 282 rushing) vs. UCF2017Rushing yards401, Memphis vs. UCF2018Passing yards494, UCF vs. Memphis2017First downs 34, UCF vs. Memphis2018Fewest yards allowed306, Temple vs. Navy (138 passing, 168 rushing)2016Fewest rushing yards allowed98, Houston vs. Temple2015Fewest passing yards allowed17, Tulane vs. Army2024IndividualRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYearAll-purpose yards 558, McKenzie Milton, UCF vs. Memphis 2017Touchdowns responsible for 6, McKenzie Milton, UCF vs. Memphis 2017Rushing yards 210, Darrell Henderson, Memphis vs. UCF 2018Rushing touchdowns 4, shared by:Darriel Mack Jr., UCF vs. MemphisBryson Daily, Army vs. Tulane 20182024Passing yards 494, McKenzie Milton, UCF vs. Memphis 2017Passing touchdowns 5, McKenzie Milton, UCF vs. Memphis 2017Receiving yards 195, Anthony Miller, Memphis vs. UCF 2017Receiving touchdowns 3, Anthony Miller, Memphis vs. UCF 2017Tackles 14, shared by:Curtis Akins, Memphis vs. UCFSam Howard, Tulane vs. Army 20182024Sacks 2, shared by:Shaquem Griffin, UCF vs. MemphisTreyvon Reeves, Tulsa vs. Cincinnati 20172020Interceptions 1, shared by fifteen players, most recent:Andon Thomas, Army vs. Tulane 2024Long PlaysRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYearTouchdown run 82, Darrell Henderson, Memphis vs. UCF 2018Touchdown pass 68, Anthony Miller from Riley Ferguson, Memphis vs. UCF 2017Kickoff return 35, Rayshawn Pleasant, Tulane vs. Army 2024Punt return 42, Otis Anderson Jr., UCF vs. Memphis 2018Interception return 70, Ja'Von Hicks, Cincinnati vs. Memphis 2019Fumble return 6, Justin Wright, Tulsa vs. Cincinnati 2020Punt 63, Alex Barta, Navy vs. Temple 2016Field goal 52, Riley Patterson, Memphis vs. Cincinnati 2019MiscellaneousRecord, Team vs. TeamYearGame attendance 45,176, UCF vs. Memphis 2018 Source:
Selection criteria Team selection The two teams with the best winning percentage in conference play will play in the Championship Game. If there's a two-team tie for first place, both teams will play in the Championship Game. In the event that two teams are tied for second place, head-to head result would break the tie. If the two teams did not play, the team with higher CFP Rankings will be in the Championship game. If a team or teams lose in the final weekend of the Conference play to create a tie, and there are subsequent CFP rankings, those subsequent rankings break ties.
If regular season ends and the Championship Game is scheduled for the next Saturday, the following tiebreakers are used: if one of the tied teams wins in the final week it will be in the Championship. If that team loses, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to determine participants. If both teams are ranked in the latest CFP Rankings, the higher ranked team that wins in the final weekend will be in the Championship. If neither of the tied teams ranked in the latest CFP Rankings win, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to determine participants. If no teams are ranked in the latest CFP Rankings rankings, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to determine participants.
The following procedures are used when there's a multiple team tie. Conference Records of tied teams in a mini round-robin The team with higher CFP Ranking; If a team or teams lose in the final weekend of the Conference season to create a tie, and there are subsequent CFP rankings, those subsequent rankings break ties.
If regular season ends and the Championship Game is scheduled for the next Saturday, the following tiebreakers are used to break multi-team ties: if the highest ranked team in the latest CFP Rankings wins in the final week it will be in the Championship. If that team loses, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to break ties. If there are multiple teams ranked in the latest CFP Rankings, the higher ranked team or teams that wins will be in the Championship. If neither of the tied teams are ranked in the latest CFP Rankings win, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to break ties. If no teams are ranked in the latest CFP Rankings ranked, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to break ties.
Site selection The team with the highest winning percentage in Conference play will host. If both participants are tied, Head-to-head is the tie breaker. If the two teams did not play, the team with the higher CFP Ranking will host. The latest CFP Rankings will be used to break ties. If a team or teams lose in the final weekend of the Conference season to create a tie, and there are subsequent CFP rankings, those subsequent rankings break ties.
If regular season ends and the Championship Game is scheduled for the next Saturday, the following tiebreakers are used: if one of the tied teams wins in the final week it will host. If that team loses, a composite average of selected computer rankings will be used to determine host. If both teams are ranked in the latest CFP Rankings multiple, the higher ranked team that wins in the final weekend will host. If neither of the tied teams ranked in the latest CFP Rankings win, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to determine host. If no teams are ranked in the latest CFP Rankings rankings, a composite average of selected computer rankings are used to determine host.
*Note: If the number one seed is unable to host, the other team will host.
See also List of NCAA Division I FBS conference championship games
Footnotes
References
External links