Expectations for Memphis are pretty simple this year: win the AAC and be the Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoff.
Despite not winning the conference title or making a New Year’s Six bowl game, the Tigers still put together a strong 2023 season. Their only losses were at Missouri — a seven-point game — and against Tulane and SMU, which were the two teams to compete in the AAC Championship. The Tigers, who return a few all-conference players, have some momentum after beating Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl and a productive offseason which saw Memphis add good transfers.
With that in mind, and considering SMU is heading to the ACC and Tulane is going through a coaching change, it’s no surprise Memphis is the favorite to take the AAC crown this season.
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Memphis Football’s AAC Title Odds
Memphis has the best odds to win the AAC at +210, via BetMGM.
Memphis Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Memphis’ win total Over/Under is 9, with Under 9 at -110 and Over 9 at -110.
Memphis Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 vs. North Alabama
9/7 vs. Troy
9/14 @ Florida State
9/21 @ Navy
9/28 vs. Middle Tennessee
10/11 @ USF
10/19 vs. North Texas
10/26 vs. Charlotte
11/2 @ UTSA
11/8 vs. Rice
11/16 vs. UAB
11/28 @ Tulane
Bold indicates AAC contests
Key Memphis Football Returners
2023 All-AAC 1st Team
LB Chandler Martin
2nd Team
WR Roc Taylor
OL Xavier Hill
QB Seth Henigan
Memphis Football Could Have An Elite Group of Five Offense
Memphis had a surprior offense compared to the rest of the Group of Five. And it helps the Tigers will have their star quarterback returning.
Seth Henigan is back after making the All-AAC second team last year. He led the conference with 3,883 yards and 32 touchdowns passing while ranking second with a 66.8% completion rate and throwing nine interceptions. He also rushed for 274 yards and five scores.
Wide receivers Roc Taylor and Demeer Blankumsee returning should also help the passing game. Taylor was Memphis’ leading receiver with 1,083 yards on 69 catches, as he scored four touchdowns through the air. Blankumsee caught 53 passes for 901 yards and a team-best seven TDs.
Memphis lost Blake Watson, who was second in the AAC with 1,152 rushing yards and first with 14 touchdowns on the ground. However, the Tigers return Sutton Smith, who was second on the team with 305 yards to go with two touchdowns rushing and added 152 yards and two scores on 18 catches.
Memphis will want to be strong up front again after allowing the third-fewest sacks (19) in the AAC. The Tigers bring back offensive lineman Xavier Hill, who made the all-conference second team, to help lead the way in the trenches.
The Tigers’ transfer class was ranked first in the AAC by 247Sports. Those new players should help them improve on both sides of the ball.
Memphis will want to make strides on defense especially if the Tigers are to contend for a conference title. They were ninth in the AAC last year in terms of total defense with 424.5 yards per game allowed and scoring defense with 28.8 points per game allowed.
Linebacker Chandler Martin, who made the all-conference first team in 2023, returns after recording a team-high 95 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and three sacks to go with two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Other defensive contributors including defensive back Greg Rubin (51 tackles) are back as well.
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2024 Memphis Football Season Prediction
I predict Memphis will win the AAC Championship and will go Over 9 wins.
The Tigers have pretty much everything going for them as of right now. They have a star quarterback like Henigan, they have a head coach in Ryan Silverfield who’s poised to lead his team to a conference title, and they have good players on both sides of the ball.
Looking at their 2024 schedule, their road trip to Florida State is the only game I count as a clear loss for the Tigers. I could see Memphis going 3-1 against non-conference opponents, including a win over Troy at home. I also don’t see the Tigers falling against Navy, North Texas, Charlotte, Rice, or UAB.
The problem is, Memphis has to take on Tulane, UTSA, and USF – which are regarded as the other frontrunners to win the AAC – all on the road. That’s going to be exceptionally difficult.
But I see Memphis winning two of those three games and becoming better through tough tests like that. That will set Memphis up nicely to take the AAC crown and, if it does go 10-2 in the regular season, to be the Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff.
