In this episode, the Tailgators crew previews the American Athletic Conference.
This conference has become the new “cradle of coaches,” with coaches from five of the conferences top seven teams moving on to other schools following the 2025 season.
So what does that mean for this year? Expect the unexpected.
Resident college football expert John Crimella, the man in the funny hat, Gary McDaniel, and host Brian Lennon discuss what they expect from this topsy-turvy conference in 2026.
Watch the Tailgators Setup Podcast on Substack:
American Athletic Conference: Mid-Major (Group of 6)
Defending Champion: Tulane Green Wave
Playoff Team(s) in 2025: Tulane (New Head Coach in ‘26: Will Hall)
2026 Favorite(s): Navy, Memphis, UTSA, East Carolina, Army
The Coaches: Five of the seven top teams lost their head coaches. East Carolina lost both coordinators. Navy, Army, UTSA and Florida Atlantic have kept things together. Does that give these teams an edge in ‘26?
Brian Hartline, the former Ohio State assistant and top recruiter, takes over the Bulls in South Florida (which should really be called West Florida).
The Transfer Portal:
Expect QBs Air Noland (South Carolina) or Marcus Stokes (West Florida) to have the biggest impact for the Memphis Tigers.
Games To Watch:
Oct. 17: Navy at UTSA
Oct. 22: East Carolina at Memphis
Oct. 31: Army at Memphis
Nov. 12: Memphis at USF
Nov. 21: Memphis at Navy
Question: Is Army-Navy a conference game this year?
2025 Conference Standings:
ESPN Football Power Index:
Continuity Table:
The Tailgators Picks:
John Crimella: UTSA
Gary McDaniel: Tulane
Brian Lennon: Navy
