The 2023 season marks the beginning of a new era for the AAC as Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF have moved to the Big 12. In their place, the conference has added six new teams, with UTSA being the prominent addition. UTSA is the reigning Conference USA champion and they will be looking to continue their success in the AAC. The spotlight, however, is on Tulane, the reigning AAC champion. Tulane had a fantastic season last year, finishing with a 12-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory. Coach Willie Fritz and quarterback Michael Pratt will be key to Tulane’s chances of defending their title.
This season, the AAC also features several new coaches, including Tom Herman at FAU. Herman, the former Texas coach, returns to the conference where he first made a name for himself at Houston. With a talented roster and the addition of quarterback Casey Thompson, FAU is expected to improve upon last season’s 5-7 record.
Our CBS Sports experts have made their predictions for the AAC in the 2023 season. See their picks below.
Bold predictions
- Dennis Dodd: UTSA coach Jeff Traylor will win 12 games, claim a conference title, and lead his team to a New Year’s Six bowl. They will defeat Tulane, the defending conference champion, and face Cincinnati in the New Year’s Six game. Traylor will then move on to become the head coach at Texas A&M.
- Tom Fornelli: SMU will win one of their away games against Oklahoma or TCU and earn a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl.
- Chip Patterson: Tulane will beat Ole Miss and secure another New Year’s Six appearance. Tulane had a strong season last year with wins over Power Five teams like Kansas State and USC. A win against Ole Miss would solidify their spot in the chase for a New Year’s Six bid.
- Barrett Sallee: SMU will have a favorable conference schedule and make it to the AAC Championship Game. They will then win the rematch against Memphis and earn a major bowl game bid.
- Shehan Jeyarajah: UAB, previously a contender in Conference USA, will struggle under new coach Trent Dilfer and finish below .500 for the first time since 2013.
- David Cobb: Tom Herman will have immediate success at FAU and lead them to the AAC title game. FAU will defeat either UTSA or Tulane, if not both, along the way.
- Jerry Palm: The AAC’s streak of six consecutive New Year’s Six bowl appearances will come to an end. Tulane will finish in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff Rankings but will be behind Boise State from the Mountain West.
- Will Backus: Tulane has the potential to make it to the College Football Playoff. They have a favorable schedule with the exception of a Week 2 game against Ole Miss. A win there could mean a perfect regular season.
AAC predicted order of finish
AAC champion
SMU: SMU is expected to make it to the conference championship game based on their manageable conference schedule. They have a strong offense led by quarterback Preston Stone and a talented receiving corps. They are built to win high-scoring games, which is advantageous in the AAC.
Tulane: Tulane had a great season last year and is committed to maintaining their success. They are widely seen as the top team in the reshuffled AAC. They have the potential to compete in any conference and are a clear pick for the championship in this conference.
UTSA: UTSA, led by coach Jeff Traylor, has quickly become a competitive team in the Group of Five. They have won back-to-back Conference USA titles and are ready to face stronger competition in the AAC. With quarterback Frank Harris and a strong defensive front, they are expected to perform well in their new conference. Nonconference games against Houston and Tennessee will be opportunities for UTSA to make a statement.
