American Athletic Conference (2013)
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| American Athletic Conference (2013) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | American Athletic Conference |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas |
| Commissioner | Mike Aresco |
| Member count | 11–12 (varied) |
American Athletic Conference (2013) is a collegiate athletic conference formed in 2013 from the remnants of the Big East Conference (1979–2013)'s football-playing members and several institutions from other leagues. It sponsors NCAA Division I FBS and NCAA Division I Olympic sports, inheriting bowl ties, television contracts, and automatic bids previously associated with predecessor conferences. The league rapidly became a focal point in the 2010s NCAA conference realignment era, linking institutions in the Northeast United States, Midwest United States, South United States, and Texas.
History and Formation
The conference originated after the split of the Big East Conference (1979–2013), when members including University of Cincinnati, University of Connecticut, University of Louisville, Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Syracuse University, University of South Florida, Boston College, and University of Pittsburgh diverged over football and basketball priorities. Key events included negotiations with television partners such as ESPN, legal actions involving the Big East name dispute, and board votes among institutions like Temple University and University of Central Florida. The reconstituted league retained the automatic NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament bid that traced back to the predecessor, while member changes involved bids from Houston Baptist University-level programs up to established programs like University of Memphis. Early years featured membership shifts with schools moving to Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, and Southeastern Conference suitors.
Member Institutions
Founding and subsequent members have included flagship public research universities and private institutions: University of Cincinnati, University of Central Florida, University of Connecticut, University of Houston, University of Memphis, University of South Florida, University of Tulsa, Southern Methodist University, Navy (football independent affiliation), Temple University, and Tulane University. Notable past members who departed include Rutgers University–New Brunswick, University of Louisville, and Syracuse University. Affiliate members for specific sports have included institutions such as East Carolina University (note: ECU was full member earlier), and single-sport additions for men's lacrosse and women's rowing have drawn programs from conferences like the Atlantic 10 Conference and Conference USA.
Championships and Sports Sponsored
The conference sponsors championship competition in sports including American football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's lacrosse, wrestling, softball, volleyball, and track and field. Its annual postseason includes the American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament held at venues in cities such as Orlando, Florida and Greenville, South Carolina. Members have produced NCAA champions and Olympians from programs like UConn (noting UConn's later status), Cincinnati and Houston in basketball, while Temple and SMU have notable gridiron achievements. The league awards All-Conference honors and academic awards, coordinating with the NCAA for championship qualification.
Football and Conference Realignment
Football has driven much of the conference's evolution, with members competing at the FBS level and pursuing bowl eligibility tied to games such as the Cotton Bowl Classic, Peach Bowl, and other New Year's Six bowls. Realignment waves saw departures to the Big 12 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, and Big Ten Conference, affecting scheduling and divisional formats. The conference negotiated bowl tie-ins and College Football Playoff access via the Group of Five arrangement, competing with leagues like the Mountain West Conference and Mid-American Conference for postseason positioning. Coaching hires, NFL draft alumni such as participants from Houston Texans and New England Patriots draftees, and television contracts influenced recruiting and institutional decisions.
Governance and Administration
The league is governed by a commissioner and an office that manages compliance, scheduling, and championship administration; long-serving executives include commissioner Mike Aresco and administrative staff liaising with athletic directors from University of Cincinnati, University of Central Florida, University of Houston, and private institutions like Southern Methodist University. Governance intersects with NCAA committees, legal counsel in matters previously litigated during the Big East split, and coordination with academic leaders from member institutions such as University of Connecticut. Conference bylaws address eligibility, transfer regulations tied to NCAA transfer portal trends, and revenue sharing among members.
Media Coverage and Revenue
Media rights and revenue-sharing arrangements with networks such as ESPN, CBS Sports Network, and streaming platforms drive the conference's finances, with negotiated deals reflecting appearances on ABC (TV network), ESPN2, and conference-specific digital properties. Television agreements impact exposure for marquee programs like UConn Huskies, Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, and Cincinnati Bearcats, while bowl contracts with postseason hosts influence payouts. Corporate partnerships and sponsorships with national brands, ticketing for venues like Tsunami Stadium-adjacent arenas (metropolitan venues such as those in Houston and Memphis, Tennessee), and NCAA distributions contribute to institutional athletic budgets.
Notable Rivalries and Traditions
Traditional rivalries and geographic matchups include series between Cincinnati Bearcats and Memphis Tigers, UCF Knights and USF Bulls (the "War on I-4" style regional contests), SMU Mustangs and Tulane Green Wave clashes, and historic basketball competitions involving UConn Huskies and Cincinnati Bearcats. Rivalry trophies, campus traditions, marching bands, and game-day practices draw students from institutions like Temple University, University of Tulsa, and University of South Florida. Conference tournaments and bowl appearances foster traditions celebrated by alumni associations and student bodies across member campuses.
Category:College athletic conferences in the United States