The 2019 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game was a college football game played on December 7, 2019, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, to determine the 2019 champion of the American Athletic Conference. The conference's 5th championship game featured the champion of its East Division, the Cincinnati Bearcats, against the West Division champion, the Memphis Tigers. The game was televised on ABC.[2]
The game is hosted by the divisional champion with the better winning percentage in conference games.[3] Memphis claimed hosting rights with a 34–24 home win over Cincinnati to close out the regular season on November 29. This left both teams with a 7–1 conference record, with Memphis holding the tiebreaker due to the Tigers' head-to-head win. Navy ultimately tied Memphis for the West Division crown, but the Tigers also held that tiebreaker due to a head-to-head win.[4]
The Cincinnati Bearcats clinched the AAC East, and a berth in the Championship Game, with a win over Temple on November 23.[5] This is Cincinnati's first Championship Game appearance.
Memphis clinched at least a share of the West Division title with their November 29 win over Cincinnati, and also claimed hosting rights by virtue of holding all possible tiebreakers.
Game information
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- First Quarter
- (12:27) CIN – Michael Warren 6 yard rush, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 2:33; Cincinnati 7–0)
- (8:21) MEM – Riley Patterson 29 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 3:59; Cincinnati 7–3)
- (2:36) MEM – Antonio Gibson 65 yard rush, Riley Patterson kick (Drive: 7 plays, 97 yards, 2:29; Memphis 10–7)
- Second Quarter
- (2:37) CIN – Desmond Ridder 15 yard rush, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:09; Cincinnati 14–10)
- Third Quarter
- (11:59) MEM – Brady White 1 yard rush, Riley Patterson kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:56; Memphis 17–14)
- (7:21) CIN – Michael Warren 3 yard rush, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:38; Cincinnati 21–17)
- (3:54) MEM – Riley Patterson 52 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 41 yards, 3:27; Cincinnati 21–20)
- Fourth Quarter
- (14:47) MEM – Riley Patterson 50 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 31 yards, 3:54; Memphis 23–21)
- (4:23) CIN – Sam Crosa 33 yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 54 yards, 6:27; Cincinnati 24–23)
- (1:14) MEM – Brady White 6 yard pass to Antonio Gibson, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:09; Memphis 29–24)
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Statistics
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CIN
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MEM
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First downs |
21 |
25
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Plays–yards |
76–454 |
85–447
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Rushes–yards |
39–221 |
45–194
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Passing yards |
233 |
253
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Passing: comp–att–int |
16–37–1 |
18–40–1
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Time of possession |
28:58 |
31:02
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Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
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Cincinnati
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Passing |
Desmond Ridder |
16/36, 233 yards, 1 INT
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Rushing |
Desmond Ridder |
11 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD
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Receiving |
Alec Pierce |
5 receptions, 87 yards
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Memphis
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Passing |
Brady White |
18/40, 253 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
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Rushing |
Antonio Gibson |
11 carries, 130 yards, 1 TD
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Receiving |
Damonte Coxie |
9 receptions, 165 yards
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