This offseason, there have been plenty of shocking and weird stories from around the world of Group of Five football. We’ve also seen plenty of new updates within the American Conference.
Not only did the conference announce that it would change its name from the American Athletic Conference to just “The American,” but this offseason even included a player DM’ing an opponent intel about his game against UTSA to the Roadrunners’ own quarterback.
With just over a month until college football begins, here is a bold prediction for every team in The American.
Army Black Knights
Army beats Navy
Army just beat Navy back in 2023, did they not? However, the Black Knights usher in a new quarterback into their triple-option attack. Many expect them to take a step back due to the roster departures, and those same people expect Navy to be at the top of the conference.
If Black Knights QB Dewayne Coleman is the real deal, then Army is set. Anything can happen in this game, and a win would give Jeff Monken’s team seven wins in the last 10 games against the Midshipmen. This prediction gets bolder once you read Navy’s bold prediction.
Charlotte 49ers
The 49ers start the year 3-1
This bold prediction will be proven or broken in relatively short order. Facing Appalachian State to start the season will give us an idea of what HC Tim Albin has done in his limited time with the program, but the excitement is definitely there.
A new roster makes chemistry difficult, but Albin’s no stranger to getting his teams to play above expectations. Following the season opener against App State, the 49ers will host North Carolina, Monmouth, and Rice.
East Carolina Pirates
ECU beats both NC State and BYU.
If you’re looking for an under-the-radar game to watch in the first full weekend of college football, look no further than when East Carolina travels to NC State for a rematch of last year.
Both teams have a general distaste for each other, and Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren only added fuel to the fire this past week.
“I don’t want to just win that game. I want to beat the s*** out of that team.”
NC State’s Dave Doeren had some strong words for ECU ahead of the season opener and shared more thoughts on the brawl that took place at the end of the Military Bowl.
✍️: https://t.co/4sOcHjKdg3 pic.twitter.com/OEc4wvz6At
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) July 24, 2025
ECU has the chance to do something special this year. Beating NC State would get things off to a good start, and the BYU matchup suddenly looks more appealing with Jake Retzlaff leaving the program.
Florida Atlantic Owls
QB Caden Veltkamp leads the Group of Five in passing
QB Caden Veltkamp joins HC Zach Kittley in one of the best pairings for a coach and quarterback in college football. After a big year for Western Kentucky in 2024, Veltkamp takes over the FAU Owls offense, looking to build upon his production.
Former teammate Easton Messer joins him at wide receiver, and the Owls’ passing attack has a great foundation as a result. There will be plenty of competition this year. UTSA, USF, North Texas, and Memphis could all challenge this team within the conference, but I like what the Owls could do through the air.
Memphis Tigers
QB AJ Hill starts by the Arkansas game
Ryan Silverfield and the Memphis Tigers seem to be reloading rather than rebuilding. They brought in Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis to run the offense, but they also signed a promising young player in AJ Hill. The freshman will be a part of the weekly game plan, and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he’s the starter.
This is not a knock on Lewis by any means. I think he’ll have a solid season, but the world of college football tells me there’s a good chance the Tigers might put the ball in the hands of the program’s future regardless.
Either way, this team should still be a contender, just as long as someone’s not giving out their playbook again.
Navy Midshipmen
Navy wins the conference, but loses to Army a week later
To make this even bolder, I’m predicting that the Midshipmen will have one loss (the Notre Dame game) heading into Army-Navy, which will take them out of the College Football Playoff picture. This prediction is very specific, but imagine the theatrics if this happens.
I like Navy a lot to win the conference with its returning talent. QB Blake Horvath is a stud, and the rushing attack is in great hands with the talent surrounding him. There aren’t many games that worry me, but the pressure will only grow as the season progresses.
Army has also won six of the last nine games in this series, so the Midshipmen understand the expectations to change that trend. With a playoff spot on the line, that game will command even more attention than it already normally does.
North Texas Mean Green
HC Eric Morris leaves after the 2025 season
North Texas comes into the 2025 season as a potential sleeper team in the American, but they could go either way. This team has taken good strides under Eric Morris, and this year could be his best one yet. However, he’s dealing with a ton of turnover so it might take time.
Either way, the Mean Green should possess one of the better offenses in the conference, meaning Morris will get credit. If the Mean Green has success as a team, Morris could be an attractive candidate in the coaching carousel. If the offense is successful, he could take a job elsewhere regardless of team success.
Morris has shown that he knows what he’s doing as a play-caller, and this year, he can remind everyone that he knows what he’s doing as a head coach, too. The Mean Green benefits from that, but the new world of college football might punish them if he gets promoted elsewhere.
Rice Owls
Bold Prediction: Rice goes 2-10
HC Scott Abell obviously knew the challenges of taking over this program, but reality still might hit him hard.
The nonconference schedule features Louisiana, Houston, Prairie View A&M, and UConn, and the conference schedule features four teams that should compete for the conference championship.
Temple Owls
Bold Prediction: Temple makes a bowl game in HC KC Keeler’s first season
Keeler takes over a program that most people chose in College Football 26 because it’s a great rebuild. He just might speed up the process faster than most gamers. The Owls have an opportunity to stun the conference, and they get a favorable schedule in 2025.
In conference play, they do have to face UTSA, Navy, ECU, and Tulane, though all of those games are at home. The road trips include Charlotte, Tulsa, Army, and North Texas, so overall, the fanbase has to feel good about their chances to make a bowl in Keeler’s first season.
Tulane Green Wave
Bold Prediction: Tulane upsets Duke and former quarterback Darian Mensah
Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall has been the perfect example of class when it comes to players leaving his program, and I don’t question his sincerity for one second. But the competitor in him wants to get the upper hand over his former quarterback when the Blue Devils come to campus on September 13.
RELATED: Ex-BYU QB Jake Retzlaff’s Tulane Joy Is Short-Lived As Fans Point Out Issues With Commitment
Sumrall is used to change. He lost many top players in the portal and brought in five transfer quarterbacks to replace Mensah. Most recently, he brought ex-BYU QB Jake Retzlaff to campus. What better way to beat Mensah than with one of the guys you brought in to replace him?
Duke won’t roll over by any means. The Blue Devils are slept on in the ACC, but this game will challenge them. The atmosphere should be electric, and we’ll get a good idea of where the Green Wave stands within the first month of the season.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Bold Prediction: RB Dominic Richardson rushes for 1,000 yards
Running back Dominic Richardson’s fumble against Colorado might have done some damage, but he can still be the top running back on a new team. HC Tre Lamb is hoping to turn around the Golden Hurricane program, and Richardson could play a huge role.
This program had a great stretch of running backs, and it was a big reason they had success. If they can return to that, we should see the offense stabilize in 2025.
UAB Blazers
Bold Prediction: Blazers have an interim coach before October
HC Trent Dilfer is 7-17 with the Blazers, and there aren’t many signs of improvement within the program. Dilfer’s seen huge waves of departures in his years here, making winning games extremely difficult.
With Navy and Tennessee on the schedule in September, this is most likely a 2-2 start. Should they get upset by Alabama State or Akron, Dilfer might as well start packing. Given his connections, there’s also a chance he takes a job elsewhere if the writing’s on the wall.
USF Bulls
Bold Prediction: QB Byrum Brown accounts for 4,500 total yards
Now, I will admit that much of this hinges on Byrum Brown staying healthy for the entire season, but if he’s healthy, he sets the Bulls up to win. That being said, it might take some time for the zero to change in the win column, considering Boise State, Miami, and Florida are the first three teams on the schedule.
Brown is a dynamic dual threat, and he fits perfectly in Alex Golesh’s offense. In 2023, Brown accounted for 4,101 yards and 37 touchdowns in his first year as the starter. Two years later, he should be set to put up gaudy numbers in this offense regardless of competition.
UTSA Roadrunners
Bold Prediction: UTSA makes it to the conference championship
Alternate option: UTSA HC Jeff Traylor brings former Memphis safety Tahj Ra-El on as an analyst. He seems to know how to give the Roadrunners an advantage. Kidding, Traylor would never, mostly because he has better things to do in 2025.
The Roadrunners aren’t a team that’s getting a ton of hype heading into the season, but they should be. QB Owen McCown returns to lead what should be one of the most exciting passing attacks.
Even without De’Corian Clark, the Roadrunners are stacked at wide receiver and tight end. McCown should find life easy moving the ball through the air, and it will just come down to what the defense can do to support the offense.
