Click here to read the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Weekly Release – Week 12 – November 15-19 (PDF)
PASSPORT STAMPED (BOWL-ELIGIBLE TEAMS): AAC (7): Houston (8-2), USF (8-2), Navy (7-2; will play in Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl), Temple (7-3), Tulsa (7-3), Memphis (6-4), UCF (6-4); C-USA (4): Louisiana Tech (8-3), WKU (8-3), Middle Tennessee (6-4), Old Dominion (7-3); MAC (5): Western Michigan (10-0), Toledo (9-2), Ohio (7-4), Eastern Michigan (6-5), Central Michigan (6-5). AT CUSTOMS (ONE VICTORY SHY): AAC (1): SMU (5-5); C-USA (2): Southern Miss (5-5), UTSA (5-5); MAC (2): Akron (5-6), Miami (5-6).
THIS WEEK: Week 12 got underway on Tuesday night as Central Michigan (6-5, 3-4) stunned MAC East-leading Ohio (7-4, 5-2) 27-20 at home as the Chippewas gained bowl eligibility and denied the Bobcats the East Division title. Wednesday, Toledo (9-2, 6-1) remained one game behind Western Michigan in the MAC West with a 37-19 victory over Ball State. Thursday in the American, Houston (8-2) hosts ACC foe Louisville in a key non-conference game. Friday in the AAC. Cincinnati (4-6, 1-5) needs two victories for bowl eligibility, starting with a home game against Memphis (6-4, 3-3). Saturday in the American, SMU (5-5, 3-3) will be bowl eligible with a home victory over East co-leader USF (8-2, 5-1). In Conference USA, two teams need one victory for bowl eligibility as UTSA (5-5) visits Texas A&M and Southern Miss (5-5, 3-3) visits West Division rival North Texas (4-6, 2-4). In the MAC, undefeated Western Michigan (10-0, 6-0) will host ESPN’s College Gameday in the morning in Kalamazoo, and Buffalo (2-8, 1-5) in the afternoon.
POLLING PLACE: Western Michigan (MAC) remained No. 14 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 21 in the Amway Coaches’ Poll after Week 11. WMU is also No. 21 in the College Football Playoff Rankings (Nov. 15). Houston (AAC), Navy (AAC), WKU (C-USA) and USF (AAC) are receiving votes in the AP poll. Receiving votes in the Coaches’ Poll are Houston, Navy, UCF and Toledo (MAC).
WEEK 12 SCHEDULE
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Thursday, Nov. 17
Louisville at Houston (ESPN)
Friday, Nov. 18
* Memphis at Cincinnati (CBSSN)
Saturday, Nov. 19
UConn at Boston College (ACCN+)
* Temple at Tulane (ASN)
* Navy at East Carolina (ESPNews)
* USF at SMU (CBSSN)
* Tulsa at UCF (ESPNews)
CONFERENCE USA
Saturday, Nov. 19
* UTEP at Rice (ESPN3)
UTSA at Texas A&M (ESPNU)
* Middle Tennessee at Charlotte (ESPN3)
* Southern Miss at North Texas (beIN)
* Old Dominion at Florida Atlantic (CI)
* Marshall at FIU (ASN)
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Tuesday, Nov. 15
* Bowling Green 42, Kent State 7
* Central Michigan 27, Ohio 20
Wednesday, Nov. 16
* Toledo 37, Ball State 19
* Northern Illinois 31, Eastern Michigan 24 (OT)
Saturday, Nov. 19
* Buffalo at Western Michigan (ESPNU)
* – conference games
WEEK 11 RESULTS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Saturday, Nov. 12
* UCF 24, Cincinnati 3
* SMU 55, East Carolina 31
* Navy 42, Tulsa 40
* Houston 30, Tulane 18
* USF 49, Memphis 42
CONFERENCE USA
Saturday, Nov. 12
* Rice 22 at Charlotte 21
* Louisiana Tech 63, UTSA 35
* WKU 45, North Texas 7
* Old Dominion 51, Southern Miss 35
* Florida Atlantic 35, UTEP 31
* Marshall 42, Middle Tennessee 17
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Tuesday, Nov. 8
* Eastern Michigan 48, Ball State 41
* Western Michigan 37, Kent State 21
Wednesday, Nov. 9
* Bowling Green 38, Akron 28
* Toledo 31, Northern Illinois 28
Saturday, Nov. 12
* Miami 35, Buffalo 24
* – conference games
WEEK 11 INDIVIDUAL HONORS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Offensive Player of the Week
USF QB Quinton Flowers: The junior rushed for 210 yards and three TDs and passed for 263 yards and two TDs in a 49-42 win at Memphis.
Defensive Player of the Week
SMU CB Horace Richardson: The senior returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns in a 55-31 victory at East Carolina.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Houston P Dane Roy: The freshman punted 11 times for a 44.2-yard average and six landed inside the 20 in a 30-18 victory over Tulane.
CONFERENCE USA
Offensive Player of the Week
WKU WR Taywan Taylor: The senior caught six passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-7 victory over North Texas.
Defensive Player of the Week
Old Dominion LB T.J. Ricks: The senior had 11 tackles (2.5 for loss) and forced a pair of fumbles in a 51-35 victory over Southern Miss.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Louisiana Tech KR Carlos Henderson: The junior took the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in a 63-35 victory over UTSA.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
East Division Offensive Player of the Week
Kent State QB Nick Holley: The junior rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Western Michigan.
East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Miami DB De’Andre Montgomery: The sophomore returned both an interception and a fumble for TDs in a 35-24 victory over Buffalo.
East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Bowling Green K Jake Suder: The sophomore made one field goal and five PATs in a 38-28 victory at Akron.
West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Eastern Michigan QB Brogan Roback: The junior passed for 468 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-41 victory over Ball State.
West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Western Michigan LB Robert Spillane: The junior had six tackles, one which resulted in a key safety in a 37-21 victory over Kent State.
West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Toledo P Nick Ellis: The senior averaged 44.3 yards on six punts in a 31-24 victory over Northern Illinois.
“POWER FIVE” VICTORIES
A list of American, C-USA and MAC victories over “Power Five” opponents (teams from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC)
Team (Conference) – Opponent/Score
Sept. 3
Houston (AAC) – Oklahoma (Big 12)/33-23
Southern Miss (C-USA) – Kentucky (SEC)/44-35
Western Michigan (MAC) – Northwestern (Big Ten)/22-21
Sept. 10
Cincinnati (AAC) – Purdue (Big Ten)/38-10
Central Michigan (MAC) –Oklahoma State (Big 12)/30-27
East Carolina (AAC) – N.C. State (ACC)/33-30
Ohio (MAC) – Kansas (Big 12)/37-21
Sept. 17
Memphis (AAC) – Kansas (Big 12)/43-7
UConn (AAC) – Virginia (ACC)/13-10
USF (AAC) – Syracuse (ACC)/45-20
Western Michigan (MAC) – Illinois (Big Ten)/34-10
Oct. 22
Middle Tennessee (C-USA) – Missouri (SEC)/51-45
SATURDAYS TO SUNDAYS
Three players who saw action in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl are currently on active 53-man NFL rosters in 2016.
S Kevin Byard – Tennessee (Middle Tennessee)
TE Tyler Higbee – Los Angeles (WKU)
DE Leterrius Watson – Pittsburgh (Central Michigan)
AROUND THE CONFERENCES
In the American, UCF, which didn’t win a game last season, has improved by six wins in 2016. It is the second-largest turnaround from a winless season in college football since 2004.
Also, neither division in the American has been clinched as Temple, USF and UCF are battling for the East crown, and Navy, Houston and Tulsa are in the mix for the West title.
In Conference USA, Louisiana Tech has clinched the West Division title. WKU and Old Dominon continue to battle for the East Division crown.
In the MAC, the winner of Toledo-Western Michigan on Nov. 25 will decide the West Divison title. In the East, either Ohio or Miami will win the division title.
POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL MEDIA PROJECTIONS
Media Organization (Reporter) – Date: Predicted Matchup
10thYearSeniors.com (John Marc Nutt) – Nov. 16: Tulsa vs. Eastern Michigan
Nassau Tribune (Renaldo Dorsett) – Nov. 16: Louisiana Tech vs. Memphis
USA Today (Erick Smith) – Nov. 16: WKU vs. Western Michigan
SI.com (Colin Becht) – Nov. 15: SMU vs. Miami (Ohio)
Athlon Sports (Steven Lassan) – Nov. 15: Eastern MIchigan vs. Old Dominion
Gridiron Now (Mike Huguenin) – Nov. 15: Tulsa vs. Old Dominion
Bleacher Report (Kerry Miller) – Nov. 15: Memphis vs. Miami (Ohio)
CBSSports.com (Jerry Palm) – Nov. 15: Louisiana Tech vs. Ohio
ESPN.com (Brett McMurphy) – Nov. 15: Charlotte vs. Tulsa
ESPN.com (Mark Schlabach) – Nov. 15: Old Dominion vs. Tulsa
SB Nation (Jason Kirk) – Nov. 15: Tulsa vs. Eastern Michigan
FOXSports.com (Stuart Mandel) – Nov. 15: Memphis vs. Miami (Ohio)
The Sporting News (Bill Bender) – Nov. 15: UCF vs. Southern Miss
CollegeFootballNews.com (Pete Fiutak) – Nov. 13: Memphis vs. Miami (Ohio)
Campus Insiders (Dave Miller) – Nov. 13: USF vs. Toledo
Phil Steele Magazine (Phil Steele) – Nov. 11: Tulsa vs. Ohio
Orlando Sentinel (Brant Parsons) – Oct. 23: Temple vs. Central Michigan
Sports on Earth (Matt Brown) – Aug. 22: Memphis vs. Northern Illinois
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Each week in 2016, the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will spotlight an alumni player from each of our partner conferences: the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference.
JASON TAYLOR (AKRON)
Akron DE/LB Jason Taylor (Photo Credit: Akron Athletics)
Jason Taylor, a former star NFL defensive end and linebacker, was a two-time first-team All-MAC performer in his college career at Akron from 1993-96.
Taylor was a three-year starter for the Zips. He posted 279 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, seven fumble recoveries, eight forced fumbles and three interceptions during his four seasons in Akron.
As a senior, he was a first-team All-MAC selection at defensive end after making 64 tackles (43 solo), and he led the team with 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He added four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
In his junior season, Taylor was a honorable mention All-America pick and a first-team All-MAC selection at linebacker. He led the team with 99 tackles, and he added five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
He was selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, and he was selected to several All-Rookie teams after starting 11 games at defensive end.
In 2002, Taylor tied the Miami season record as he led the NFL with 18.5 sacks, including a run of eight consecutive games with a sack.
He was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 after posting 13.5 sacks, two interceptions and 10 forced fumbles.
Taylor played 13 of his 15 seasons with the Dolphins, and also spent the 2008 in Washington and 2010 with the New York Jets.
Taylor finished his career with 139.5 sacks, sixth all-time in NFL history. He was a three-time All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and was the 2007 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year.
ESPN EVENTS
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 13 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
ESPN Events also manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.
Collegiate Football
AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl (Houston); Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl (Atlanta); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Boca Raton Bowl (Florida); Camping World Kickoff (Orlando, Fla.); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Las Vegas Bowl (Nevada); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Orlando, Fla.); Montgomery Kickoff Classic (Montgomery, Ala.); Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Nassau); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); St. Petersburg Bowl (Florida); The Home Depot College Football Awards (Atlanta) and Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth)
Collegiate Basketball
AdvoCare Invitational (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s (Los Angeles); Gildan Charleston Classic (South Carolina); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Men’s Classic presented by Corona (New York City); Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona (Uncasville, Conn.); NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.); PK80 (Portland, Ore.); State Farm Armed Forces Classic (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu); State Farm Champions Classic (New York City); Tire Pros Invitational (Orlando, Fla.) and Wooden Legacy (Orange County, Calif.)
