Navy officially becomes 12th member of AAC

After playing as a football independent to this point in its 135-year history, Navy was officially introduced Wednesday as the 12th member of the American Athletic Conference.

Navy joins Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa in the AAC West division, while Cincinnati, Connecticut, East Carolina, Temple, UCF, and USF will play in the AAC East division.

"I am proud and delighted to take this opportunity to welcome the United States Naval Academy into the American Athletic Conference as a football-playing member," AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said in an official release.

"As I have said on many occasions, the Midshipmen represent the best this country has to offer. We are proud and grateful for the service they render to our country, and we are privileged to have them in our Conference. We all look forward to Navy's inaugural Conference football game against familiar foe East Carolina on Sept. 19 and we know that Navy's players and coaches will have a great experience competing in the American Athletic Conference."

The two division winners will meet for the AAC's first-ever championship game on Dec. 5.