Short-timers Cincinnati, Houston, UCF expected to lead AAC
FILE - Cincinnati quarterback Evan Prater drops back to pass during an NCAA football intrasquad scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Cincinnati. Prater, who threw just 11 passes in mop-up duty last year, is competing against Ben Bryant, who spent three years at Cincinnati before escaping Ridder's long shadow and transferring to Eastern Michigan last season. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)

FILE - Cincinnati quarterback Evan Prater drops back to pass during an NCAA football intrasquad scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Cincinnati. Prater, who threw just 11 passes in mop-up duty last year, is competing against Ben Bryant, who spent three years at Cincinnati before escaping Ridder's long shadow and transferring to Eastern Michigan last season. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)

Aug. 19, 2022 01:01 AM EDT
FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell stands on the field during an NCAA football intrasquad scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Cincinnati. The sixth-year Cincinnati coach is tasked with following up a historic 2021 season that saw the Bearcats become the first team outside a Power Five conference to crack the College Football Playoff. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell stands on the field during an NCAA football intrasquad scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Cincinnati. The sixth-year Cincinnati coach is tasked with following up a historic 2021 season that saw the Bearcats become the first team outside a Power Five conference to crack the College Football Playoff. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)

Aug. 19, 2022 01:01 AM EDT
FILE - Cincinnati fans and players celebrate after winning the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game against Houston Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida will depart the American Athletic Association for the Big 12 next year. Not surprisingly, those teams are picked to again finish atop the AAC before they leave.(AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)

FILE - Cincinnati fans and players celebrate after winning the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game against Houston Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida will depart the American Athletic Association for the Big 12 next year. Not surprisingly, those teams are picked to again finish atop the AAC before they leave.(AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)

Aug. 22, 2022 09:25 AM EDT
FILE - Houston wide receiver Jake Herslow (87) celebrates with offensive lineman Kody Russey (65) after scoring the go ahead touchdown against Auburn during the second half of the Birmingham Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Birmingham, Ala. Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida will depart the American Athletic Association for the Big 12 next year. Not surprisingly, those teams are picked to again finish atop the AAC before they leave. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

FILE - Houston wide receiver Jake Herslow (87) celebrates with offensive lineman Kody Russey (65) after scoring the go ahead touchdown against Auburn during the second half of the Birmingham Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Birmingham, Ala. Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida will depart the American Athletic Association for the Big 12 next year. Not surprisingly, those teams are picked to again finish atop the AAC before they leave. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

Aug. 22, 2022 09:29 AM EDT
FILE - Central Florida wide receiver Ryan O'Keefe, left, and head coach Gus Matzahn holds up their trophies after winning the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game against Florida Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida will depart the American Athletic Association for the Big 12 next year. Not surprisingly, those teams are picked to again finish atop the AAC before they leave. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

FILE - Central Florida wide receiver Ryan O'Keefe, left, and head coach Gus Matzahn holds up their trophies after winning the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game against Florida Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida will depart the American Athletic Association for the Big 12 next year. Not surprisingly, those teams are picked to again finish atop the AAC before they leave. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Aug. 22, 2022 09:32 AM EDT