The 2025 college football season is officially in the books, and the final AP Top 25 has dropped - putting a bow on one of the most unpredictable and historic years we’ve seen in a while. Indiana’s stunning run to its first national title will dominate headlines, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find something just as compelling: the American Athletic Conference made a serious statement.
Three teams from the AAC cracked the final rankings - Tulane at No. 18, Navy at No. 23, and North Texas at No.
- That’s the second-most ranked teams the conference has ever had in a single season, trailing only 2019, when four AAC squads made the cut.
For a league often overlooked in the Power Five-centric conversation, this was a year that demanded attention.
Let’s break down how each of these teams carved out their place in the final poll - and why their seasons matter far beyond the numbers.
No. 18 Tulane (11-3, 7-1 AAC)
Tulane didn’t just make history this season - they kicked the door down.
The Green Wave finished as the highest-ranked team in the American and earned their first-ever College Football Playoff berth, joining 2021 Cincinnati as the only AAC programs to crash the party. That alone is a massive accomplishment, but it’s how they got there that tells the full story.
Behind head coach Jon Sumrall - who has since taken the Florida job - Tulane built a resume worthy of national recognition. They knocked off Northwestern and eventual ACC champ Duke in non-conference play, then handled business in the AAC, including wins over East Carolina and Memphis. That set up their fourth straight trip to the conference title game, where they physically dominated North Texas in the trenches en route to a 34-21 win.
That victory sealed Tulane’s second AAC crown in four years and earned them a spot in the expanded CFP as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion. The reward?
A rematch with Ole Miss in Oxford - a game that didn’t go their way, ending in a 41-10 loss. But even with that stumble, Tulane wrapped up the season with its third final AP ranking since 1974 and its ninth overall.
The Green Wave are no longer a feel-good story - they’re a legitimate player on the national stage.
No. 23 Navy (11-2, 7-1 AAC)
If you’re looking for a team that embodied resilience and identity, look no further than Navy.
The Midshipmen cracked the final AP Poll for the first time since 2019 and did it under third-year head coach Brian Newberry, who’s quietly built something special in Annapolis. After just missing the rankings last year with a 10-3 record, Navy took another step forward in 2025 - notching their first back-to-back 10-win seasons in program history.
They started the year 7-0, their best opening stretch since 1978, powered by the country’s top rushing attack and a game-wrecker up front in First Team All-American DT Landon Robinson. A rough patch in November saw them drop back-to-back games to Notre Dame and North Texas, but they bounced back strong. Navy closed the regular season with three straight wins, including a second consecutive Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy victory over Army.
Their postseason performance was just as impressive. In the Liberty Bowl, Navy dismantled Cincinnati - a former AAC rival - 35-13, putting an emphatic stamp on the season. This marked the 15th time Navy has finished in the final AP rankings, and considering the trajectory under Newberry, it might not be the last.
No. 24 North Texas (12-2, 7-1 AAC)
Every season has its Cinderella, and in 2025, North Texas wore the glass slipper.
The Mean Green made history by earning their first-ever season-ending AP Top 25 ranking - and their first appearance in the poll since 1959. That’s not just a drought - that’s a football lifetime.
But head coach Eric Morris and his squad didn’t just sneak in the back door. They kicked it open with a record-breaking 12-win campaign and one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
North Texas was must-watch football this year, led by two electric freshmen: quarterback Drew Mestemaker, the nation’s passing leader, and running back Caleb Hawkins, who led all of FBS in rushing touchdowns. Together, they powered an offense that averaged a jaw-dropping 45.1 points per game - the highest mark in the nation.
The Mean Green made noise early with wins over MAC champ Western Michigan and a 49-point demolition of Washington State. But their signature win came in conference play against Navy, a victory that helped punch their ticket to the AAC title game. Though they came up short against Tulane with a CFP berth on the line, they rebounded in thrilling fashion, outlasting San Diego State 49-47 in the New Mexico Bowl.
This season wasn’t just a step forward for North Texas - it was a leap into a new era. The program set a new standard, and with a young core and rising momentum, the Mean Green could be here to stay.
The Big Picture for the American
Three teams in the final Top 25.
A College Football Playoff berth. Multiple double-digit win seasons.
The American Conference didn’t just show up in 2025 - it made a statement.
In a sport increasingly dominated by the mega-conferences, the AAC proved there’s still room for programs outside the traditional power structure to make waves. Tulane, Navy, and North Texas each brought something different to the table - playoff pedigree, historic consistency, and breakout firepower - but together, they showcased the depth and diversity of talent the league has cultivated.
The 2025 season may go down in history for Indiana’s title run, but don’t forget what happened in the American. Because if this year was any indication, the so-called "Group of Five" label isn’t holding these teams back anymore - and they’re not done climbing.