The new College Football Playoff structure has opened the door to playoff action for the best teams in the Group of Five, and Memphis has perfectly timed its arrival as a true contender to rule the lot. In Ryan Silverfield’s fourth season in charge, the team took significant steps forward to secure a 10-3 record and overcome a few years of poor away form.
The Tigers benefit from a talented and experienced offensive core and a long list of reinforcements on defense via the transfer portal, making them a popular pick to become the Group of Five’s representative in the playoffs. Given that the team has never tasted playoff action, now is the time to capitalize for Memphis. Not only to get the job done this year but also to set themselves up for a period of dominance in the Group of Five that leads to regular playoff appearances and, maybe, an entry into a Power 4 conference. This is how the Memphis Tigers can secure playoff permanence.
Understanding the new College Football Playoff Structure
The new College Football Playoff structure will welcome eight extra teams into the postseason festivities moving forward. Under the new system, the four highest-ranked conference champions will receive a first-round bye, with the remaining eight spots being given to the teams ranked 5 through 12. The one small caveat is that the highest-ranked Group of Five teams will be included in those 12 teams, regardless of where they rank. For example, if Memphis were to earn a 15th place ranking, they would take the 12th spot and nudge one of the Power 4 teams down.
Given the turnover in personnel experienced by other contenders in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and the wealth of experience on the Memphis roster, the Tigers have never been better placed to secure their first taste of playoff action.
However, nothing is a given, especially as the path to that coveted playoff berth requires Memphis to earn a higher ranking than any other team in the Group of Five conferences. That will almost certainly mean being crowned AAC Champions, something they have not done since 2019. In contrast, most teams that go through to the playoffs from the Power 4 will do so without having to win their conference. Memphis does not have that luxury, making every game even more important.
Sustaining Success
Now that they are primed and ready for a run, the Memphis Tigers must get the processes to stick around at the top of the division and the Group of Five. They must utilize the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities to do so. They have got off to a good start by bringing in a strong cohort of transfers in 2024, but that level of incoming talent now needs to be the baseline to ensure sustained success.
The introduction of NIL deals has transformed the college game, providing athletes with financial incentives to join and remain with a program. If Memphis wants to be the best in the Group of Five, they will need to do what they can to entice players in with such offers. Competing with some powerhouses in the Power 4 conferences will be impossible. Still, the Tigers did at least get a major boost when Memphis-based giant FedEx announced they would start a NIL program to benefit them.
The University will benefit from $ 5 million a year from FedEx for the next five years, which will go a long way to encouraging athletes to come and represent the Memphis Tigers football and basketball teams primarily. They have already started to see the benefits of this lucrative new deal, with Ryan Silverfield impressing fans with a talented group of transfers in 2024 and a few exciting names to look forward to in 2025. Headlining the 2024 transfers are names such as Elijah Herring from Tennessee and Kobee Minor from Indiana, and the money from FedEx will be pivotal in ensuring moves like that keep coming.
With some of the Tiger’s most consistent offensive producers, Seth Henigan, Roc Taylor, and Koby Drake, leaving at the end of this year, the recruiting and transfer process has never been more important. Thankfully, positive signs have already started appearing, with exciting players such as Antwan Hill and Rahim Hutchins committing to Memphis for the 2025 season.
Hill is a four-star quarterback who fielded offers in the double-digits before choosing Memphis over Florida. That was a huge win for Memphis, who will also enjoy the services of wide receiver Hutchins, who opted to join the Tigers in 2025 instead of Houston and Nebraska. It is a good time to be a Tigers fan, and these two suggest a bright future is ahead.
The Power Four Ambition
While the ambition to reach the playoffs this year is rightfully front and center, a bigger picture for Memphis should also garner some attention. Even if they achieve their goal and land back-to-back playoff berths as the pick of the Group of Five, they should still do all they can to enter a Power Four conference.
Power Four conferences enjoy significantly more exposure on television, resulting in better sponsorship deals and overall exposure. A better platform and more lucrative NIL deals would give players more reasons to become Tigers, and there would be more money to improve the facilities, coaching staff, and recruitment processes. If they want to ensure sustained success, then the platform of a Power Four conference would be the best way to get it.
Conclusion
The new playoff structure, combined with a strong roster and weaknesses among their AAC rivals, offers the Memphis Tigers an unprecedented opportunity to transform their future. With the foundations already in place, it’s time for the Tigers to turn this potential into a golden era of football. Securing consistent playoff appearances is the priority, laying the groundwork for a potential move to a Power Four conference in the future.
Subscribe on YouTube
Don’t miss out on the latest and greatest content surrounding the Memphis Tigers! Stay connected and up to date by liking, commenting, and subscribing to our YouTube channel, Memphis Wire. Doing so ensures you never miss a beat regarding news, highlights, analysis, and interviews related to your favorite teams. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or love following the action, our channel is your go-to destination for all things Memphis Tigers. So, hit that like button, leave a comment to join the conversation, and subscribe to Memphis Wire to ensure you’re always in the loop!
