Click here to read the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Weekly Release – Week 9 – October 27-29 (PDF)
PASSPORT STAMPED (BOWL-ELIGIBLE TEAMS): AAC-Houston (6-2), USF (6-2); MAC-Western Michigan (8-0), Toledo (6-1). AT CUSTOMS (ONE VICTORY SHY): AAC-Navy (5-1), Memphis (5-2), Temple (5-3), Tulsa (5-2); C-USA-Louisiana Tech (5-3), WKU (5-3); MAC-Akron (5-3), Central Michigan (5-3), Eastern Michigan (5-3), Ohio (5-3).
THIS WEEKEND: Week 9 starts the mid-week #MACtion contests with a pair of Thursday games as East co-leader Akron (5-3, 3-1) visits Buffalo (1-6, 0-3) and the other East co-leader, Ohio (5-3, 3-1), is at Toledo (6-1, 3-0) as the Rockets try to keep pace with Western Michigan in the West. Friday, the American has one game as West leader Navy (5-1, 4-0) is at East co-leader USF (6-2, 3-1). The remainder of the schedule is Saturday. In the American, Tulsa (5-2, 2-1) visits Memphis (5-2, 2-1) in a West Division showdown. In the MAC, Miami (2-2, 2-6), which trails by a game in the East race, goes to Eastern Michigan (5-3, 2-2). In Conference USA, six games are on the docket, led by an important East Division game as Middle Tennessee (4-2, 2-1) goes to division co-leader FIU (3-1, 5-3) and North Texas (4-3, 2-1) goes to UTSA (3-4, 2-2) in a key West Division game.
WEEK 8 REVIEW: In the American, Temple drew into a tie for the East Division lead after a 46-30 victory over USF. The Owls are one victory shy of bowl eligibility after beating the Bulls. Navy stayed unbeaten in conference play after a 42-28 victory over Memphis and SMU shocked Houston 38-16. In C-USA, UTEP’s 52-49 win at UTSA was the longest game in conference history. C-USA also got a pair of non-conference wins as Middle Tennessee beat Missouri and North Texas beat Army. In the MAC, Toledo defeated Central Michigan 31-17 to become bowl eligible for the seventh-straight season.
POLLING PLACE: Western Michigan (MAC) is No. 20 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 21 in the Amway Coaches’ Poll after Week 8, Navy (AAC) is No. 22 in both the AP and Coaches polls, while Houston (AAC) is No. 24 in the Coaches poll. Houston and SMU (AAC) are receiving votes in the AP poll. Those receiving votes in the Coaches’ Poll (in order of votes received) are Middle Tennessee (C-USA), South Florida (AAC) and Tulsa (AAC).
WEEK 9 SCHEDULE
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Friday, Oct. 28
* Navy at USF (ESPN2)
Saturday, Oct. 29
* UCF at Houston (ESPNU)
* UConn at East Carolina (ESPNews)
* Cincinnati at Temple (CBSSN)
* SMU at Tulane (ESPNews)
* Tulsa at Memphis (ESPNews)
CONFERENCE USA
Saturday, Oct. 29
* WKU at Florida Atlantic (ASN)
* Middle Tennessee at FIU (ESPN3)
* Rice at Louisiana Tech (CI)
* Marshall at Southern Miss (ASN)
* North Texas at UTSA (CUSA TV)
* Old Dominion at UTEP (CUSA TV)
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Thursday, Oct. 27
* Akron at Buffalo (TWCSC/ESPN3)
* Ohio at Toledo (CBSSN)
Saturday, Oct. 29
* Kent State at Central Michigan (CBSSN)
* Miami at Eastern Michigan (ASN/ESPN3)
* – conference games
WEEK 8 RESULTS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Friday, Oct. 21
* Temple 46, USF 30
Saturday, Oct. 22
* UCF 24, UConn 16
* Navy 42, Memphis 28
* Tulsa 50, Tulane 27
* Cincinnati 31, East Carolina 19
* SMU 38, Houston 16
CONFERENCE USA
Saturday, Oct. 22
* Charlotte 27, Marshall 24
* Louisiana Tech 44, FIU 24
* WKU 59, Old Dominion 24
* UTEP 52, UTSA 49 (5 OT)
Middle Tennessee 51, Missouri 45
North Texas 35, Army 18
Rice 65, Prairie View A&M 44
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Saturday, Oct. 22
* Western Michigan 45, Eastern Michigan 31
* Toledo 31, Central Michigan 17
* Miami 40, Bowling Green 26
* Ohio 14, Kent State 10
* Akron 35, Ball State 25
* NIU 44, Buffalo 7
* – conference games
WEEK 8 INDIVIDUAL HONORS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Offensive Player of the Week
Navy QB Will Worth: The senior rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns and threw for two scores in a 42-28 victory over Memphis.
Defensive Player of the Week
SMU DE Jarvis Pruitt: The senior had three sacks among his five tackles and a fumble recovery in the 38-16 victory over Houston.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Temple K Aaron Boumerhi: The freshman made three field goals and five PATs in the 46-30 victory over USF.
CONFERENCE USA
Offensive Player of the Week
Middle Tennessee RB I’Tavious Mathers: The senior rushed for 215 yards and caught a pass for another score in a 51-45 victory at Missouri.
Defensive Player of the Week
North Texas CB Eric Jenkins: The junior had two interceptions, one returned for a TD and a forced fumble in a 35-18 victory at Army.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Middle Tennessee K Canon Rooker: The junior made three field goals and six PATs in a 51-45 victory at Missouri.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
East Division Offensive Player of the Week
Akron RB Van Edwards: The sophomore rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown in a 35-25 victory over Ball State.
East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Ohio DE Tarell Basham: The senior had nine tackles (seven solo) a sack and two tackles for loss in a 14-10 victory at Kent State.
East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Miami P Kyle Kramer: The redshirt freshman averaged 41.9 yards per punt in a 40-26 victory at Bowling Green.
West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Toledo WR Cody Thompson: The Junior caught seven passes for 122 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-17 victory at Central Michigan.
West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Western Michigan LB Robert Spillane: The junior had 14 tackles and a tackle for loss in a 45-31 victory over Eastern Michigan.
West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Northern Illinois KR Aregeros Turner: The senior returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in a 44-7 victory over Buffalo.
“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) and major independents.
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
North Texas (C-USA) – Army (Independent)/35-18
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, The top four teams in The American’s West Division (Navy, Memphis, Tulsa, Houston) have a combined record of 21-7 this season. USF and Houston became the first two teams in The American to clinch bowl eligibility in 2016.
In Conference USA, Southern Miss junior RB Ito Smith has scored at least one TD in 12 consecutive games, WKU senior WR Taywan Taylor has caught at least one TD in four straight outings.
In the MAC, Western Michigan’s 10-game winning streak is the second longest active streak in the country behind Alabama (20), and tied with Washington (10).
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.
T.Y. HILTON (FIU)
FIU WR T.Y. Hilton (Photo Credit: FIU Athletics)
Current Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton was a standout for FIU from 2008-11.
Hilton scored 37 touchdowns as a Panther, and he broke several FIU and Sun Belt career records, including receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, all-purpose yards and kickoff return yards.
As a senior in the 2011 Beef O’Brady’s Bowl, Hilton was named the team’s MVP for the game as he caught eight passes for 88 yards to go along with three carries for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Hilton’s eight catches in the game allowed him to set the single-season FIU record with 72 receptions.
He was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in all four years, a 2011 honorable mention All-America by SportsIllustrated.com and a freshman All-America in 2008.
He was drafted in the third round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. In three seasons with the Colts, Hilton has become one of quarterback Andrew Luck’s favorite receivers.
Hilton had 82 receptions for 1,345 yards and seven touchdowns in 2014 on the way to a Pro Bowl selection. In 2015, he caught 69 passes for 1,124 yards and five touchdowns on the way to his second straight Pro Bowl appearance.
So far in 2016, Hilton has 45 catches for 689 yards and four touchdowns.
He was an All-Rookie selection in 2012 by the Pro Football Writers of America.
POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL MEDIA PROJECTIONS
Media Organization (Reporter) – Date: Predicted Matchup
10thYearSeniors.com (John Marc Nutt) – Oct. 26: Tulsa vs. Eastern Michigan
Nassau Tribune (Renaldo Dorsett) – Oct. 26: Cincinnati vs. Louisiana Tech
USA Today (Erick Smith) – Oct. 26: Middle Tennessee vs. Toledo
SI.com (Colin Becht) – Oct. 25: Cincinnati vs. Akron
Athlon Sports (Steven Lassan) – Oct. 25: Old Dominion vs. Ohio
Gridiron Now (Mike Huguenin) – Oct. 25: Tulsa vs. Middle Tennessee
Bleacher Report (Kerry Miller) – Oct. 25: North Texas vs. Eastern Michigan
CBSSports.com (Jerry Palm) – Oct. 25: Louisiana Tech vs. Ohio
The Sporting News (Bill Bender) – Oct. 25: UCF vs. Southern Miss
Phil Steele Magazine (Phil Steele) – Oct. 25: Southern Miss vs. Toledo
CollegeFootballNews.com (Pete Fiutak) – Oct. 25: Memphis vs. Akron
Campus Insiders (Dave Miller) – Oct. 23: USF vs. Toledo
ESPN.com (Brett McMurphy) – Oct. 23: North Texas vs. Tulsa
ESPN.com (Mark Schlabach) – Oct. 23: Old Dominion vs. Tulsa
Orlando Sentinel (Brant Parsons) – Oct. 23: Temple vs. Central Michigan
SB Nation (Jason Kirk) – Oct. 23: Tulsa vs. Ohio
FOXSports.com (Stuart Mandel) – Aug. 30: Tulsa vs. Akron
Sports on Earth (Matt Brown) – Aug. 22: Memphis vs. Northern Illinois
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.)
