Ayrton Oneill
The American Athletic Conference, abbreviated as AAC, is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States. It consists of 13 full member universities and 6 affiliate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. The AAC includes a range of private and public research universities located primarily in urban areas across the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern United States. The conference features various sports, including basketball, and has a notable presence in college basketball discussions and rankings.
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What You'll Learn
The American Athletic Conference
The member universities of The American represent a range of private and public research universities of various enrollment sizes located primarily in urban metropolitan areas in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States. The conference has undergone several realignments since its inception, with schools departing for other conferences and new members being added.
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NCAA Division I
The American Athletic Conference (AAC) is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States. It is made up of 13 full member universities and 6 affiliate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. Its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
The AAC's legal predecessor was the original Big East Conference, which was founded in 1979 as a basketball conference. The original members included the colleges of Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, and Syracuse, which then invited other colleges to join. The Big East Conference was considered one of the six collegiate power conferences of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) era in college football, and the AAC inherited that status in the BCS's final season.
The member universities of the AAC represent a range of private and public research universities of various enrollment sizes located primarily in urban metropolitan areas in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States.
In terms of basketball, the AAC is considered to be in the "Major 7" with the P5, Big East, and AAC. However, the Power 5 conferences have greater structural advantages and revenues, which can lead to an on-court advantage over time.
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UConn's departure
The American Athletic Conference (AAC), also known as "The American", is a collegiate athletic conference featuring 13 full member universities and 6 affiliate member universities competing in the NCAA Division I.
UConn's decision to leave the AAC was likely influenced by several factors. Firstly, UConn may have been dissatisfied with the league's partnership with ESPN, which could have made it tougher for casual fans to watch the AAC. Additionally, UConn reportedly suffered financial losses during its time in the AAC due to the league's focus on chasing football money, which may have been a major factor in its decision to leave.
There were also speculations that UConn's decision was influenced by other schools' choices. Some sources suggested that UConn was waiting for other AAC schools, such as Memphis, to make their moves before making its decision. UConn was reportedly in talks with the PAC-12, but ultimately declined, stating that the conference was "not the right fit at this time." Instead, UConn joined the Big East Conference, returning to its roots as one of the original members of the old Big East.
The financial consequences of UConn's departure from the AAC were significant. UConn had to pay an exit fee of $17 million, including a $5 million lump sum payment and annual payments of about $1 million for six years.
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Football Bowl Subdivision
The Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, is the highest level of college football in the United States. It is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, which is made up of the largest schools in the association. As of the 2025 season, there are 136 schools in the FBS, which are divided into 10 conferences. FBS teams play in bowl games at the end of the year, and the top teams draw tens of thousands of fans to the games.
FBS schools are distinguished from those in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) by their ability to provide scholarship aid to up to 85 players, whereas FCS schools are limited to providing financial assistance to a maximum of 63 players. FBS schools must play in a bowl game if they are eligible, while FCS teams can only participate in their playoffs. The FBS is the only NCAA-sanctioned sport without a champion, as the College Football Playoff (CFP) is not sanctioned by the NCAA.
The FBS was created by the NCAA in 1973 to allow schools with strong football programs to compete against each other on a national level. The FBS currently has ten conferences, which are often divided into the "Power Four conferences"—the most prestigious schools with some autonomy from NCAA rules—and the "Group of Five," which are less prominent. FBS players make up the vast majority of players picked in the NFL Draft.
The CFP, which started in 2014, features 12 teams and is used to determine the FBS national champion. The top four seeds receive a first-round bye, while the remaining eight teams compete in first-round games. After the first round, the eight remaining teams play in the New Year's Six bowls, with the winners of each game meeting at a neutral stadium to determine the national champion.
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Power 5 conferences
The Power 5 conferences refer to the five major college sports conferences in the US. They are the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and Southeastern Conference (SEC). These conferences are considered the elite divisions in college athletics, showcasing top-tier talent, competitive teams, and significant fan engagement.
The term "Power 5" originated from football, but the conferences also compete in other collegiate sports, including basketball. In basketball, the Power 5 conferences are highly competitive, with teams like Duke, North Carolina, and Florida State from the ACC consistently performing well. The Big Ten is also notably competitive in men's basketball, with eight teams making it to the NCAA Tournament in the 2022-23 season.
The Power 5 conferences have a significant impact on the NCAA landscape due to their financial power. They generate substantial revenue through television contracts and sponsorships, which attracts top athletes and coaches. This financial advantage also increases their visibility and financial support, impacting the College Football Playoff (CFP) system and the qualification of teams for prestigious bowl games.
It is worth noting that the landscape of college athletics is constantly evolving, and there have been discussions and realignments involving the Power 5 conferences. For example, the American Athletic Conference (AAC) has been working to establish itself as a force in college athletics, showcasing a high level of competition and enthusiasm. However, the AAC has faced challenges due to the departure of some universities and has advocated to drop the "Power 5" label, seeking to be recognised as a Power 6 conference instead.
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Frequently asked questions
AAC stands for American Athletic Conference, also known as the American Conference or the American.
The American Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States. It features 13 full member universities and 6 affiliate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I.
The AAC includes a range of sports such as basketball and football.
Some member universities of the AAC include UConn, Temple, and Old Dominion.
The AAC is considered a “Major 7" conference in college basketball, alongside the P5, Big East, and PAC-12. However, it is not perceived as a power conference, and there are discussions about its credibility and performance compared to other conferences.
