Sources: AAC targets Army to join conference for football

Army has emerged as the American Athletic Conference's top expansion target, sources said.

After a call with AAC presidents and ADs on Friday morning, it was clear that Army was the league's top choice to replace SMU, according to sources. Commissioner Mike Aresco has begun informally exploring Army as an expansion candidate.

Aresco has engaged with Army AD Mike Buddie about potential membership, sources said. The addition of Army would only be for football, a similar arrangement that Navy has with the AAC.

No decision is imminent, as both sides need to explore more details, per sources. Army would take the spot left by SMU, which joined the ACC on Friday and left the AAC with 13 teams. Army…