AAC officially announces additions of UTSA, North Texas, and Rice

The American Athletic Conference officially announced the additions of a trio of Texas schools. UTSA, North Texas, and Rice will join UAB, Charlotte, and Florida Atlantic as new additions to the conference at a date to be determined. Press releases from the in-state schools suggest that the move will happen for the 2023 football season. The move puts the future of Conference USA in doubt, a conference that UTEP remains in at the current time.

The AAC now possesses four Texas programs with SMU remaining. Houston announced a planned move to the Big 12 earlier in the year. The addition of Rice helps the AAC keep a foothold in Houston. The Owls might not be a feared football program but having a team from Houston in the conference allows that recruiting market to remain open to other members. UTSA gives the AAC an up-and-coming program in one of the largest cities in America. North Texas provides another footprint in Dallas-Fort Worth alongside SMU.