From the top to next-to-the-bottom, the American Conference was fairly competitive last year. In the end, South Florida was the team that won both the regular season and conference tournament titles to make the Big Dance. But between the coaching carousel and transfer portal madness that affected the entire league, the Bulls will look completely different in 2026-27.
Of course, so will the rest of the American. At this point in the offseason, which rosters look to be contenders, and who still has work to do? Here’s the latest look at the conference hierarchy.
13. UTSA Roadrunners
2025-26 record: 5-25 (1-17)
Key losses
- Jamir Simpson (16.2 ppg and 4.1 rpg)
- Brent Moss (9.6 ppg and 4.7 rpg)
- Baboucarr Njie (9.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg)
Key players
- Dorian Hayes (8.8 ppg and 1.8 apg)
- JJ Kelly (8.6 ppg and 3.8 rpg at Ohio)
- Isaiah Watts (4.3 ppg and 1.8 rpg at Maryland)
- Josiah LeGree (7.5 ppg and 3.3 apg at Morehead State)
- Shey Eberwein (7.7 ppg and 1.7 apg at South Dakota)
It’s been a rough run for UTSA since joining the American, going 12-42 in three years in league play. It’s hard to envision them moving up from last place, with zero double-digit scorers on the roster from anywhere. Hayes has the best shot to break out after starting 23 games as a freshman, but he’ll need to improve from his 34% FG shooting from the field.
12. Rice Owls
2025-26 record: 13-18 (7-11)
Key losses
- Trae Broadnax (15.6 ppg and 5.2 rpg)
- Nick Anderson (15.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg)
- Jalen Smith (12.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg)
Key players
- Cam Carroll (6.8 ppg and 2.3 apg)
- Eternity Eguagie (6.0 ppg and 2.8 rpg)
- Dallas Hobbs (5.4 ppg and 1.8 apg)
- Carmelo Adkins (13.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg at South Carolina Upstate)
- Jacob Dar (3.2 ppg and 1.9 rpg at Seton Hall)
All three key scorers are gone for the Owls, a team whose offense ranked towards the bottom in the American. The issue with them right now is the lack of proven offense on the current roster, though some of the returning rotation players are breakout candidates. Adkins was 3rd in scoring for Upstate this past year, but he did shoot under 40% from the field in Big South play. Rice needs him to be a double-digit scorer to be competitive.Â
11. East Carolina Pirates
2025-26 record: 11-20 (6-12)
Key losses
- Jordan Riley (23.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg)
- Giovanni Emejuru (12.9 ppg and 9.2 rpg)
- Demitri Gardner (11.1 ppg and 2.3 rpg)
Key players
- Eli DeLaurier (4.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg)
- Kaseem Watson (12.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg at UTEP)
- Cian Medley (10.5 ppg and 6.4 apg at Kent State)
- Kaden Cooper (9.7 ppg and 7.7 rpg at Louisiana Tech)
- Brycen Blaine (17.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg at Charleston Southern)
Losing Riley, who led the conference in scoring this past season, will be impossible to replace. Blaine and Medley should be a good backcourt, while Cooper is another quality rebounding guard for the rotation. But will the defense and shooting be good enough for East Carolina to finally make a jump up the league ladder?
10. Tulane Green Wave
2025-26 record: 18-15 (8-10)
Key losses
- Rowan Brumbaugh (19.2 ppg and 3.5 apg)
- Asher Woods (12.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg)
- Curtis Williams (12.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg)
Key players
- Tyler Ringgold (9.4 ppg and 3.9 rpg)
- KJ Greene (4.4 ppg and 1.6 apg)
- JoJo Moore (3.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg)
- Krystian Lewis (18.4 ppg and 3.2 apg at Louisiana)
- TJ Nadeau (13.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg at Detroit Mercy)
- Carson Schweiger (10.1 ppg and 3.1 rpg at Queens)
Despite Brumbaugh becoming one of the top scorers in the American, Tulane’s offense was one of the worst in the league. Will this new crop of players make it better? Nadeau shot over 46% from three-point range, but the other newcomers aren’t great shooters, with Lewis being the only real candidate to be a focal point. Can Ringgold break out as the key returning piece?Â
9. Temple OwlsÂ
2025-26 record: 16-16 (8-10)
Key losses
- Derrian Ford (18.1 ppg and 4.3 rpg)
- Aiden Tobiason (15.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg)
- Jordan Mason (11.8 ppg and 4.0 apg)
Key players
- Gavin Griffiths (10.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg)
- Dez White (9.7 ppg and 2.7 rpg at Oregon State)
- Jordan Marsh (7.3 ppg and 1.9 apg at USC)
- Baboucarr Njie (9.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg at UTSA)
- Sir Issac Herron (4.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg at Louisiana Tech)
Temple’s path towards being competitive relies on Griffiths becoming an 18-20 ppg scorer, something that’s doable for the former top-100 prospect. Njie is a solid big man who’s proven in the American, while Marsh averaged 17+ ppg at UNC Asheville before taking a smaller role at USC. The Owls have the chance to have one of the better opening lineups in the league but need more depth.
8. North Texas Mean Green
2025-26 record: 19-14 (9-9)
Key losses
- David Terrell (13.5 ppg and 4.8 apg)
- Dylan Arnett (7.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg)
- Josiah Shackleford (6.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg)
Key players
- Je’Shawn Stevenson (17.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg)
- Reece Robinson (7.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg)
- Cole Franklin (6.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg)
- Amar Amkou (5.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg at Florida Atlantic)
- Mitchell Holmes (1.7 ppg and 0.9 rpg at SMU)
The top returning scorer in the American is Stevenson, who’s set to have an even larger role. But he will need to improve his 38% FG shooting to be the focal point of the offense. While Robinson and Franklin are primed for larger roles of their own, the lack of scoring on paper from the supporting cast makes it hard for the Mean Green to move up the conference ladder.
7. UAB BlazersÂ
2025-26 record: 20-12 (11-7)
Key losses
- Chance Westry (15.5 ppg and 5.5 apg)
- Jacob Meyer (12.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg)
- Daniel Rivera (12 ppg and 6.7 rpg)
- KyeRon Lindsay (10.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg)
Key players
- Salim London (4.9 ppg and 1.6 apg)
- Elijah Duval (15.3 ppg and 3.6 apg at Southern Utah)
- Justyn Fernandez (16.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg at Delaware)
- Jeremy Elyzee (11.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg at Southeastern Louisiana)
- Deuce Jones (15.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg in 10 games at St. Joe’s)
Coach Andy Kennedy brought in some high-level pieces to the roster, including Jones, who’ll be a candidate to lead the American in scoring. Fernandez and Duval are two other newcomers to watch, with the frontcourt still a question mark without any proven production to rely on.
6. Wichita State Shockers
2025-26 record: 24-12 (13-5)
Key losses
- Kenyon Giles (19.1 ppg and 2.6 rpg)
- Karon Boyd (10.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg)
- Mike Gray (8.2 ppg and 2.4 apg)
Key players
- Will Berg (8.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg)
- TJ Williams (8.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg)
- Dillon Battle (7.6 ppg and 4.7 rpg)
- Jordan Frison (16.4 ppg and 4.0 apg at Chattanooga)
- Jahari Long (12.2 ppg and 4.0 apg at George Mason)
6th Man of the Year winner Berg is set to be one of the premier big men in the league next year and could average a double-double. Both Williams and Battle are set for larger roles as well, with the main question being how they replace Giles production? Frison, who was one of the most efficient players in college basketball last year (56% FG and 46% 3PT) in the SoCon, has the best chance to do so.Â
5. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
2025-26 record: 30-8 (13-5)
Key lossesÂ
- David Green (15.9 ppg and 4.6 rpg)
- Tylen Riley (15 ppg and 3.9 rpg)
- Miles Barnstable (14.6 ppg and 3.8 rpg)
- Ade Popoola (10.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg)
Key players
- Jaylen Lawal (7.3 ppg and 2.1 rpg)
- Myles Rigsby (6.3 ppg and 2.0 rpg)
- Jeremiah Johnson (15.2 ppg and 3.5 rpg at Campbell)
- Kobi Williams (14.4 ppg and 2.6 rpg at Missouri State)
- Macon Emory (11.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg at Delaware)
The NIT runner-up lost a ton of production this offseason but did a good job of rebuilding, especially in the backcourt. Johnson and Williams should be one of the top backcourts in the conference, while Mike Williams (7.0 ppg) started 31 games at Seton Hall and gives them even more depth. The frontcourt is the question, but the backcourt has the chance to be just as good as the past 30-win squad.
4. Florida Atlantic Owls
2025-26 record: 18-15 (9-9)
Key lossesÂ
- Devin Vanterpool (15.8 ppg and 6.3 rpg)
- Isaiah Elohim (12.4 ppg and 4.2 rpg)
- Josiah Parker (9.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg)
Key players
- Kanaan Carlyle (14.3 ppg and 2.9 apg)
- Braeden Speed (15.3 ppg and 3.8 apg at Loyola MD)
- Jelani Hamilton (17.8 ppg and 4.6 rpg at Georgia State)
- Josh Harris (13.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg in 2024-25 at North Florida)
- Mason Porter-Brown (7.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg at Long Island)
One of the top returning players in the American is Carlyle, a candidate for POY. Speed and Hamilton look to be effective perimeter players, with the frontcourt being the main question on paper. Besides Harris, the Owls also landed two freshmen transfers in Ifaola Fawaz and Kieran Mullen. If either young center breaks out, FAU can be a top-4 team.Â
3. Charlotte 49ers
2025-26 record: 17-17 (9-9)
Key losses
- Ben Bradford (13.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg)
- Dezayne Mingo (12.6 ppg and 4.6 apg)
- Anton Bonke (10.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg)
Key players
- Arden Conyers (7.5 ppg and 1.6 rpg)
- Jizzle James (10.9 ppg and 2.1 apg at Cincinnati)
- Dorian Finister (14.9 ppg and 4.6 rpg at Louisiana)
- Jayden Fort (3.3 ppg and 3.2 rpg at Georgetown)
- Dylan Grant (9.5 ppg and 4.2 rpg at Rutgers)
One of the biggest storylines in the American was Charlotte’s move to hire Coach Wes Miller, who struggled at CIncy but was a rising star at UNC Greensboro. He brings with him multiple Bearcat transfers, led by James, a clear candidate for American POY. There are several former top-100 prospects looking for larger roles as well, including frontcourt newcomers Tyler McKinley and Peyton Marshall.
2. Memphis Tigers
2025-26 record: 13-19 (8-10)
Key losses
- Dug McDaniel (13.9 ppg and 4.6 apg)
- Sincere Parker (11.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg)
- Curtis Givens (9.4 ppg and 2.4 apg)
- Aaron Bradshaw (8.6 ppg and 4.2 rpg)
Key players
- Julius Thedford (8.4 ppg and 5.0 rpg)
- Jayden Reid (10.1 ppg and 5.0 apg at Northwestern)
- Brandin Cummings (12.5 ppg and 2.1 apg at Pittsburgh)
- Tylik Weeks (19.7 ppg and 5.4 rpg at Southern Miss)
- Richards Vavers (11.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg at Washington State)
- Maxim Logue (4.8 ppg and 3.1 rpg at Florida Atlantic)
- Fred Smith (4-star forward prospect)
Expectations should be that Memphis will bounce back as a contender, thanks to a strong offseason with multiple all-league candidates. Cummings, Reid, and Thedford should be a quality backcourt, while Weeks and SEMO’s Luke Almodovar give them potent and athletic wings. There are some questions as to how well this unit will defend, but offensively, the Tigers should be really good.
1. South Florida Bulls
2025-26 record: 25-9 (15-3)
Key losses
- Izaiyah Nelson (15.9 ppg and 9.6 rpg)
- Wes Enis (16.4 ppg and 3.6 rpg)
- Joseph Pinion (14.6 ppg and 3.9 rpg)
- Josh Omojafo (11.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg)
- CJ Brown (10.9 ppg and 4.7 apg)
Key players
- Sonny Wilson (17 ppg and 4.6 apg at Toledo)
- Andrej Shoshkikj (10.7 ppg and 2.4 apg at Stony Brook)
- AJ Dancler (15.6 ppg and 5.5 rpg at Coastal Carolina)
- Garrett Johnson (11.4 ppg and 3.4 rpg at George Washington)
- Chris Davis Jr. (7.6 ppg and 2.7 rpg at Charleston)
Chris Mack comes over from Charleston as the next head coach for the Bulls, and based on their 10 transfer pickups, it’s hard to envision much of a drop-off in terms of talent. Wilson was one of the best players in the MAC and will be a POY candidate, while Dancler is a quality perimeter player in the Sun Belt. There’s depth throughout the roster, and Mack is a proven coach in his own right. Of all the teams in the American, South Florida has the fewest holes on paper and has the top-end talent to try for back-to-back American titles.
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