American Athletic Conference Announces Football Scheduling Model for 2023-26 Seasons
11/9/2022 2:01:00 PM | Football
Rice and UTSA to meet annually
IRVING, Texas –American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced the four-year football scheduling model for conference games that will be in place for the 2023-26 seasons, which includes annual meetings between Rice and UTSA and outlines the Owls' conference opponents for their first four years in the conference.
Fans interested in new season tickets for Rice Football in 2023 can indicate their interest by filling out this form, which will ensure priority access once renewals are complete
The scheduling model was unanimously approved by The American's athletic directors this week.
The 2023 season will be The American's first with 14 football-playing institutions. The schedule format calls for each team to play eight conference games each year. Each team will face the other 13 conference teams at least twice during the four-year cycle – once at home and once on the road.
Rice will host SMU, Tulane, FAU, and East Carolina in 2023 while traveling to Tulsa, UTSA, South Florida, and Charlotte. In 2024, the Owls' home conference slate features Tulsa, UTSA, South Florida, and Navy and the road schedule includes North Texas, SMU, Tulane, and FAU. The 2025 home lineup will be UAB, Charlotte, East Carolina, and Temple while Rice will be on the road against Tulsa, UTSA Memphis, and Navy. In 2026, North Texas, UTSA, Tulane, and Memphis will visit Rice Stadium while the Owls will play on the road at SMU, UAB, East Carolina, and Temple.
In addition to Rice and UTSA, North Texas-SMU, UAB-Memphis, Charlotte-East Carolina, Florida Atlantic-South Florida and Navy-Temple will meet annually in this four-year cycle.
"This scheduling model fulfills all of the objectives that we identified as we look forward to competition among our 14 outstanding teams," said Aresco. "Most important, it is a fair model that has the unanimous support of our athletic directors. It allows for all four-year student-athletes to play at all of our venues at least once during their careers. It reestablishes some longstanding geographic rivalries and provides a foundation for new rivalries to develop. It also provides all of our teams with annual access to the state of Texas and other important recruiting areas."
The American will not have a divisional format during the four-year cycle. The top two teams in the final regular season standings will qualify for the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
The 2023 conference schedule, complete with dates, will be announced following the completion of the 2022 season.
Fans interested in new season tickets for Rice Football in 2023 can indicate their interest by filling out this form, which will ensure priority access once renewals are complete
The scheduling model was unanimously approved by The American's athletic directors this week.
The 2023 season will be The American's first with 14 football-playing institutions. The schedule format calls for each team to play eight conference games each year. Each team will face the other 13 conference teams at least twice during the four-year cycle – once at home and once on the road.
Rice will host SMU, Tulane, FAU, and East Carolina in 2023 while traveling to Tulsa, UTSA, South Florida, and Charlotte. In 2024, the Owls' home conference slate features Tulsa, UTSA, South Florida, and Navy and the road schedule includes North Texas, SMU, Tulane, and FAU. The 2025 home lineup will be UAB, Charlotte, East Carolina, and Temple while Rice will be on the road against Tulsa, UTSA Memphis, and Navy. In 2026, North Texas, UTSA, Tulane, and Memphis will visit Rice Stadium while the Owls will play on the road at SMU, UAB, East Carolina, and Temple.
In addition to Rice and UTSA, North Texas-SMU, UAB-Memphis, Charlotte-East Carolina, Florida Atlantic-South Florida and Navy-Temple will meet annually in this four-year cycle.
"This scheduling model fulfills all of the objectives that we identified as we look forward to competition among our 14 outstanding teams," said Aresco. "Most important, it is a fair model that has the unanimous support of our athletic directors. It allows for all four-year student-athletes to play at all of our venues at least once during their careers. It reestablishes some longstanding geographic rivalries and provides a foundation for new rivalries to develop. It also provides all of our teams with annual access to the state of Texas and other important recruiting areas."
The American will not have a divisional format during the four-year cycle. The top two teams in the final regular season standings will qualify for the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
The 2023 conference schedule, complete with dates, will be announced following the completion of the 2022 season.
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