As the dust settles on the 2023 college football season, the Memphis Tigers find themselves in a position of reflection and anticipation. While they fell short of their goal to clinch the AAC title, Head Coach Ryan Silverfield led the team to a historic milestone: their first-ever 10-win season under his watch. The triumph in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl over Iowa State solidified their status as a premier Group of Five program and reignited hopes of a brighter future. Looking ahead to the 2024 campaign, the Tigers are poised to capitalize on newfound momentum, especially with expanding the college football playoffs to include eight teams.
Under the new format, which prioritizes the four highest-ranked conference champions and reserves a spot for the top Group of Five contenders, Memphis stands as a formidable contender. With expectations soaring to unprecedented heights, this article aims to dissect the Tigers’ upcoming schedule, offering insights into the matchups that could pave their path to a historic playoff berth.
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— Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) February 29, 2024
North Alabama: August 31 (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
In the last meeting, the Tigers routed the Lions by 59 points in the 2022 matchup. Don’t expect that to change in 2024.
Troy: September 7 (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
Does this game have the same meaning now that Jon Sumrall has become the new head coach of the Tigers conference foe, the Tulane Green Wave? The program is now under the watch of first-year head coach Gerard Parker. The Trojans lost over two dozen impact players from its back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championship rosters. Overall, the Tigers should play Troy earlier in the season than the latter.
Florida State: September 14 (Doak-Campbell Stadium)
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell faces his former team, the Memphis Tigers. It will do wonders for their playoff hopes if Memphis can pull off the upset. That’s a huge if.
Navy: September 21 (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
Navy will be the first conference game on the Tigers AAC slate for 2024. Last season, the Midshipmen almost left the Liberty Bowl with an upset victory until the Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter.
Middle Tennessee: September 28 (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
After a two-game road trip on the East Coast, the Tigers face a program that’s within the state of Tennessee. No, it’s not the Tennessee Vols; instead, it will be the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders are coming off a 4-8 season and will feature a new head coach, Derrick Mason.
South Florida: October 11 (Raymond James Stadium)
If we are being honest, the October 11 matchup with South Florida could have playoff implications written all over it. Alex Golesh’s squad was one of six teams that qualified for bowl games last season. In 2023, the Tigers outdueled the Bulls in a 59-50 shootout at the Liberty Bowl. Memphis needs to at least be 4-1 by the time they head to Raymond James Stadium to face South Florida.
North Texas: October 19 (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
Will the Tigers be able to take advantage of a North Texas team whose roster was raided by way of the transfer portal? Last season, the Tigers had to utilize a last-minute effort to defeat a Mean Green squad that was better than expected.
Charlotte: October 26 (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
The 49ers are heading into year two of the Biff Poggi experience. Are the Tigers in for another surprise? In last year’s thriller, Memphis surrendered over 200 rushing yards, ending in an overtime win.
UTSA: November 2 (Alamo Dome)
Since it was announced that the Roadrunners were joining the AAC, this game has been circled on the calendar. In 2021, the Tigers surrendered a 21-point lead in the second half, leading to a 31-28 Roadrunners upset. Like the South Florida game, the rematch with UTSA could have playoff implications.
Rice: November 8 (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
During the basketball season, the Owls pulled off a shocking upset against the Tigers at FedEx Forum. Will the trend continue during the football meeting? By now, we should know if the Tigers are playoff-bound.
UAB: November 16 (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
Year two of the UAB Blazers being members of the AAC will determine if the Trent Dilfer experience is worth trying for another year. In the renewal of the Battle of the Bones rivalry, the Tigers routed the Blazers 45-21. The showdown now heads to the Bluff City for 2024.
Tulane: November 28 (Yulman Stadium)
The Tigers will have to slay the giant one day. Maybe that will be in 2024. Tulane has won two straight games over Memphis since 2022. The matchup’s winner will likely place themselves in the driver’s seat for a playoff berth and a spot in the conference title game. Willie Fritz is no longer the head coach of the Green Wave, but his replacement, Jon Sumrall, may be just as good.
