2024 marks the beginning of an exciting new era of college football, with a new playoff structure opening the doors for more teams to enjoy postseason action. For the Memphis Tigers, any aspirations of joining in the fun will hinge on their ability to thrive away from the comforts of their home field.
After a strong 10-3 season in 2023, the Tigers hope to represent the Group of Five in this year’s newly expanded playoffs. To do so, they will have to improve on their record from last season, and that will involve defeating five of their toughest opponents on the road. Performing on the road hasn’t exactly been a strong point for Ryan Silverfield’s men, so their road to glory will be defined by their success away from Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Background
Ryan Silverfield has been in charge of the Memphis Tigers for four seasons, producing a 10-3 record in 2023 that was very much needed after two mediocre seasons in 2021 and 2022. One of the big differences last year was the team’s success in away fixtures, boasting a very handy 5-0 record, depending on whether you count the team’s loss to Missouri at a neutral venue as an away fixture. This will have come as a big relief to Silverfield, who managed just one away success in each of his first three seasons in charge. This culminated in a 3-11 record on the road between 2020 and 2022.
Quarterback Seth Henigan enters the 2024 season after a career-best 3,883 yards, 32 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 2023, continuing his gradual improvements since his freshman season. His connection with Roc Taylor, who had 1,083 yards, was promising for the Tigers, and the addition of several useful defensive transfers will help propel the team forwards greatly. Inspired by the improvements in 2023, the Tigers are on the hunt for postseason success and have gone to great lengths to try and be the best that the Group of Five offers in 2024.
Road Game Challenges
With Memphis expected to clean up in their home fixtures against the likes of North Alabama, Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, and more, the games away from home are the most important. These are as follows:
Florida State (Sept 14):
A tough non-conference game against the reigning ACC champions, the Florida State Seminoles. After going 13-1 last year, the Seminoles controversially missed out on playoff action and will be a crucial early season clash for Memphis. This could set the tone for the rest of the season.
The Seminoles have lost several key contributors to the NFL, but Mike Norvell has found several nice reinforcements in the transfer portal. The Noles’s primary strength last season was their swarming defense, which should be a top unit again in 2024 despite losing a few big names. All eyes will be on the offense to start the season. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei looked solid in the spring showcase, and it will be interesting to see whether he can thrive in his new colors.
Recent history: These two teams have not faced each other since 1990. Between 1980 and 1990, the teams played seven times, and Florida State won all of them.
Navy (Sept 21):
Navy is always a challenge, with their triple-option offense keeping opposing teams guessing. Brian Newberry’s first year in charge produced a 1-win improvement over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and he will be hoping for even more this year, with Alex Tecza and Eli Heidenreich returning after stellar 2023 campaigns. On defense, the Midshipmen benefit from the return of First-team All-AAC linebacker Collin Ramos and Safety Rayuan Lane III.
The weakness for the Navy has to be their quarterback room, though, with no one sure what to expect from the combination of Blake Horvath and Braxton Woodson.
Recent history: Memphis has played Navy 9 times, winning six and losing three. Their away record is 2-2; however, they have won their last five fixtures dating back to 2019, including two away games.
South Florida (Oct 11):
The South Florida Bulls improved drastically in 2023, with their seven wins eclipsing their total of 4 wins from the previous three seasons. Head Coach Alex Golesh started with a bang and has plenty to be excited about. Primarily because his redshirt freshman quarterback Byrum Brown was sublime. He celebrated his elevation to starter by throwing for 3,292 yards and 26 touchdowns whilst adding another 809 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He is a thrilling dual-threat athlete set up to thrive again, with most of his primary weapons returning in 2024.
The weak spot for the Bulls is their defense, which ranked 127th in the nation regarding passing yards conceded. Their secondary was a liability in 2023, which means Seth Henigan should enjoy this away trip.
Recent history: Memphis has an 8-4 record against South Florida, including a 4-1 away record. They are on a 3-game win streak against the Bulls and a 4-game away win streak dating back to 2004.
UTSA (Nov 2):
UTSA has been a consistently good performer in the Group of Five recently, but quarterback Frank Harris’s departure will be a concern for their 2024 outlook. Owen McCown is the quarterback expected to try and fill his shoes, which is the key potential vulnerability for this Roadrunners team.
McCown will at least benefit from the help of some exciting playmakers on offense. Kevorian Barnes, Robert Henry, and Rocko Griffin averaged at least 4.6 yards per carry last year, registering at least 480 yards each. Devin McCuin headlines an exciting young wide receiver corps, and tight end Oscar Cardenas is arguably the best in the conference. This group of offensive playmakers is the strength for UTSA, and it’s McCown’s transition into the starter role that will determine their success.
Recent history: Memphis has only played the UTSA Roadrunners once, in a losing effort in 2021.
Tulane (Nov 28):
Tulane have been the best team in the conference in recent years, but the departure of head coach Willie Fritz and quarterback Michael Pratt will make them vulnerable. This game may not be as tough as it used to be, but it will still be important this close to the end of the season.
Jon Sumrall is the new man in charge, and he has decisions to make at quarterback, along with new faces in the wide receiver room. The strength of the offense at this stage looks to be the run game, with Makhi Hughes returning after registering over 1,300 rushing yards last year, in addition to Rashad Green, one of the best offensive tackles in the conference.
Recent history: Memphis has a 24-15-1 record against Tulane, but they have lost their last three away games against the Green Wave. Can they buck the trend this year?
Expectations and Predictions
It won’t be easy for the Tigers in 2024, but personnel changes at Tulane and UTSA undoubtedly open the door for Memphis to strike in the AAC. Quarterback Seth Henigan gives this team a big step up on most of their opponents, which means you must feel good about their chances.
The road fixtures are the most important, with the toughest coming against Florida State. That may well be the only game that Memphis enters as underdogs, which gives them a great chance to put forward a strong case for the AAC title. Even if they drop another away fixture to settle on a 3-2 away record, the easier home fixtures should allow them to post a 10-2 regular season record, making them a frontrunner for the best of the Group of Five.
Importance of Road Victories
The Memphis Tigers have high hopes for 2024, hoping to continue building on the momentum of a better campaign last year. They will likely have to improve on their 10-3 record from 2023 if they want to proceed to the newly expanded playoffs, and doing so will require a good run of form away from home. Ryan Silverfield has not always had an answer for away fixtures, and with five of their toughest opponents all benefiting from home-field advantage in 2024, form on the road has never been more important. There are no two ways around it; the journey to the playoffs takes place away from Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Silverfield’s team made good progress in away fixtures last year, registering a 5-0 record. Ticking a couple more off early will be vital in helping the team build the confidence and morale they will desperately need if they are to go all the way.
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 simply 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!
