American Athletic Conference football preview

Favorite

Cincinnati: Bearcats return 15 starters, including QB Gunner Kiel, who threw for 31 touchdowns – from last year’s team, which shared the regular-season title with Memphis and Central Florida.

Other contenders

Central Florida: Knights lost 14 starters from last year’s co-championship team, but two-time all-conference RB William Stanback returns to lead team that is 15-1 in AAC play the past two seasons.

Memphis: Tigers return 13 starters, including QB Paxton Lynch (22 passing TDs, 13 rushing TDs), from a team that earned share of first conference championship since 1971.

5 to Watch

Josh Hawkins, East Carolina, CB, Sr. (5-foot-10, 185 pounds): Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist was among nation’s top 10 in passes defended (16) and interceptions (five) last season.

Marlon Mack, South Florida, RB, Soph. (6-0, 200): AAC’s rookie of the year in 2014 led league in rushing (1,041 yards), only freshman named to all-AAC’s first team.

Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati, QB, Jr. (6-4, 215): AAC’s top returning quarterback, led league in passing TDs (31) and passing efficiency (149.4) and was second in yards (3,254).

Keenan Reynolds, Navy, QB, Sr. (5-11, 205): Holds NCAA record for rushing TDs by a quarterback (64) and could break Montee Ball’s career rushing TD record (77).

Keevan Lucas, Tulsa, WR, Jr. (5-10, 198): AAC’s top returning receiver, led league in receiving TDs (11) and was second in receptions and yards (101 for 1,219 yards).

Don't Miss this Game

Sept. 24: Cincinnati at Memphis – Early-season showdown between division favorites could be preview of league’s championship game.

Outlook

With the addition of Navy, the AAC expands to 12 teams and will have a league championship game. That puts the conference in better position to earn one of the four semifinal spots in the second season of the College Football Playoff.

Bill Kiser

This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 8:27 PM with the headline "American Athletic Conference football preview."