• UCF scored the most impressive win of the week as the Knights rallied from a 21-0 deficit to defeat Boise State 36-31 in Gus Malzahn’s head coaching debut with the Knights. QB Dillon Gabriel threw four touchdown passes, while RB Isaiah Bowser ran for 172 yards and a touchdown to lead the way.

• No. 8 Cincinnati scored 45 seconds into its game against Miami (Ohio) and was largely unchallenged in a 49-14 win against the RedHawks as the Bearcats won the Victory Bell game for the 15th consecutive season. QB Desmond Ridder threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing TD.

• SMU QB Tanner Mordecai made the most of his first career start as the Oklahoma transfer tied an American Athletic Conference record with seven touchdown passes in a 56-9 win against Abilene Chritian. Mordecai threw six TD passes in the first half to stake the Mustangs to a 35-3 lead.

• Memphis started a true freshman quarterback in the season-opener for the first time in program history and QB Seth Henigan responded with a solid 265-yard effort in a 42-17 win against Nicholls, giving the Tigers their 16th straight win at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

• Tulane’s scheduled home date against No. 2 Oklahoma turned into a trip to Norman in the wake of Hurricane Ida, but the Green Wave remained focused throughout and came up just short in a 40-35 setback to the Sooners. QB Michael Pratt threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing TD as the Green Wave outscored the Sooners 21-3 in the final 30 minutes. 

• All 11 teams in The American are in action in Week 2. Navy will host Air Force on CBS as the two service academies commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. East Carolina and South Florida will play their home openers against SEC opponents as the Pirates host South Carolina and the Bulls welcome Florida to Raymond James Stadium. Tulsa makes the in-state road trip to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State.

THIS WEEK

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

South Carolina at East Carolina

            Time: Noon

            Series: South Carolina leads, 14-5

            Last Meeting: Sept. 17, 2016 (South Carolina, 20-15)

Tulsa at Oklahoma State

            Time: Noon

            Series: Oklahoma State leads, 43-28-5

            Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2020 (Oklahoma State, 16-7)

Florida at South Florida

            Time: 1 p.m.

            Series: Florida leads, 1-0

            Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2010 (Florida, 38-14)

Tulane vs. Morgan State

at Birmingham, Ala.

            Time: 1 p.m.

            Series: First meeting

Murray State at Cincinnati

            Time: 3:30 p.m.

            Series: First meeting

Air Force at Navy

            Time: 3:30 p.m.

            Series: Air Force leads, 31-22

            Last Meeting: Oct. 3, 2010 (Air Force leads, 40-7)

Temple at Akron

            Time: 3:30 p.m.

            Series: Temple leads, 14-7

            Last Meeting: Sept. 10, 2011 (Temple, 41-3)

Bethune-Cookman at UCF

            Time: 6:30 p.m.

            Series: UCF leads, 11-5

            Last Meeting: Sept. 20, 2014 (UCF, 41-7)

Houston at Rice

            Time: 6:30 p.m.

            Series: Houston leads, 31-11

            Last Meeting: Sept. 1, 2018 (Houston, 45-27)

Memphis at Arkansas State

            Time: 7 p.m.

            Series: Memphis leads, 30-23-5

            Last Meeting: Sept. 5, 2020 (Memphis, 37-24)

North Texas at SMU

            Time: 7 p.m.

            Series: SMU leads, 33-6-1

            Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2020 (SMU, 65-35)

 All times Eastern

* American Athletic Conference game

COURTESY AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COMMUNICATIONS