A Look Back at 2024
The 2024 campaign will be remembered as both a success and a missed opportunity for Memphis football. The Tigers finished 11-2, their first 11-win season since 2019, and capped it with a 42-37 victory over West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl. They also snapped Tulane’s three-game winning streak in the series and notched their fifth-straight bowl victory.
Yet, despite those accolades, the lingering frustration was the same: Memphis once again missed out on the American Conference Championship Game. Losses to Navy and UTSA ultimately ended those hopes, and critics pointed out that even with the program’s most talented roster in years, Ryan Silverfield still has not delivered the elusive title game appearance.
That backdrop sets the tone for 2025. Expectations are high, but so are the questions. Memphis faces a season of transition with more than 30 new faces on the roster, a new quarterback under center, and the challenge of integrating transfers and young players into a cohesive unit. The good news? The Tigers have the resources, the schedule, and the talent to remain firmly in the title hunt.
Offensive Preview
The most pressing storyline on offense is replacing quarterback Seth Henigan, who leaves as one of the most decorated passers in program history. His successor, Brendon Lewis, brings experience from stints at Colorado and Nevada, where he totaled over 5,300 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in his career. While not the polished passer Henigan was, Lewis adds a dangerous dual-threat dimension that could redefine the Tigers’ offensive identity.
The running back room will be the strength of the unit, just as head coach Ryan Silverfield suggested this offseason. Sutton Smith returns from injury, Greg Desrosiers showed flashes of explosive playmaking skills in 2024, and transfer Frank Peasant adds depth and power. This trio provides Memphis with versatility and stability, giving the offense a reliable core while the passing game finds its footing.
At wide receiver, it’s truly a “grab bag,” in Silverfield’s words. The Tigers lost their top three pass-catchers from last season, and now the room will rely on players like sophomore Brady Kluse, transfers Jadon Thompson (Louisville) and C.J. Smith (Purdue), and FCS standout Ger-Cari Caldwell to emerge as go-to targets. The group has plenty of upside, but unproven health and experience raise questions heading into the opener.
The offensive line also underwent turnover, but the staff used the transfer portal to replenish depth. For Lewis to succeed and for the running backs to thrive, this unit will need to gel quickly.
Defensive Preview
Defensively, Memphis essentially starts from scratch. William Whitlow Jr. is the Tigers top returning starter from the 2024 Week 1 lineup after briefly entering — and then withdrawing from — the transfer portal. His return provides a much-needed leader for a front that will feature new names up and down the depth chart.
The Tigers struck the portal hard to address defensive needs. Edge rushers like Rayyan Buell (Colorado) and Marcus Burris Jr. (Indiana) bring Power Four experience, while the secondary received a boost from Omarion Cooper (Florida State) and Chauncey Logan Jr. (James Madison). The hope is that these transfers can step in immediately and raise the unit’s ceiling.
The linebacker corps is arguably the most stable part of the defense. Transfers Sam Brumfield and Everett Roussaw Jr. arrive with proven production and should form the backbone of coordinator Jordon Hankins’ scheme. Their ability to anchor the middle will be critical against run-heavy opponents like Navy and Army, as well as versatile attacks like South Florida.
The defense won’t be without growing pains, but the infusion of experience and athleticism suggests this isn’t a rebuild — it’s a reset.
Projected Outlook for 2025
So, what does it all mean for Memphis in 2025?
The Tigers will enter the season as a contender in the American Conference, but not without uncertainty. The offensive backfield is strong, the transfer haul on defense adds optimism, and the coaching staff has experience building winning rosters through roster turnover. The key question will be how fast this new-look group can come together.
The schedule sets up favorably. Memphis plays all of its marquee opponents — Arkansas, South Florida, Navy, and Tulane — at home in the Liberty Bowl. If they can hold serve in those matchups, the Tigers could very well find themselves in the conference championship mix late in November.
Realistically, Memphis looks like a 9-to-10-win team in 2025. A 10-win season with a home win over Arkansas would put the Tigers firmly in the CFP conversation as the Group of Five’s representative. A 9-win campaign without a conference title appearance would keep the criticisms of Silverfield alive, but still mark another strong season in a program that values consistency.
The 2025 season is about opportunity. Memphis has been knocking on the door of the American title game for years, but the program hasn’t been able to take the final step since 2019. With a favorable schedule, a revamped roster, and expectations high, the margin for error is slim.
If Silverfield and his staff can bring this group together quickly, Memphis has the pieces to challenge Navy, Tulane, and South Florida for a spot in the title game. Fail to capitalize, however, and the pressure surrounding the program’s inability to clear that hurdle will only intensify.
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