AAC Football: Ranking the 6 teams applying for membership by value

4. Rice

The Rice Owls have just eight winning seasons since the SWC was dissolved in 1996. They’ve had years where they are competitive and aren’t afraid to schedule non-conference games against teams from the Power Five (Arkansas, Texas, LSU, and Stanford in recent years).

Rice has been playing football for 108 years, with an all-time record of 471-632-32. The Owls have enjoyed a trip to 12 bowl games in the past century, going 7-5 in those games.

Rice remains attractive for being in Texas and scheduling those big games in front of huge fan bases. If they can manage to pull off an upset, that creates a groundswell of buzz.

3. Florida Atlantic

The Florida Atlantic Owls enjoyed a few seasons under the tutelage of Lane Kiffin before transitioning to current head coach Willie Taggart.

Taggart enjoyed success at Oregon and Florida State before moving to Boca Raton.

The Owls have never been ranked in the AP Top 25, but have enjoyed a 4-1 record in bowl games in the 18 years the program has been playing football.

FAU will be a nice team to plug in with the departure of UCF, allowing the AAC to keep a two-team presence in the Sunshine State (South Florida being the other team).

This is a logical pick for the AAC, keeping a foothold in a big television market and bolstering its lineup with another young, growing program.