Can Memphis football bounce back from a devastating loss?
That's the only question that really matters after the Tigers (5-2, 2-1 American Conference) lost 31-17 at Tulane on Oct. 22 in stunning fashion. Memphis turned the ball over six times — five from quarterback Marcus Stokes — and lost to a Green Wave team that had come in with a losing record.
The Tigers' faint College Football Playoff hopes ended with that loss, but there's still a path for them to get to the American title game. That path likely will need them to win their final five games of the season, and that starts on a short week against East Carolina (3-3, 1-1) on Oct. 22 (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2) at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The Pirates are coming off a tough loss of their own.
They led 17-9 late against UAB on Oct. 15 before allowing the Blazers to go the length of the field in the final minutes, then lost in overtime. UAB scored a touchdown and then returned an interception for a touchdown in the extra session, becoming just the fourth team since overtime was adopted in 1996 to win a college football overtime game by double digits.
Here's our primer for Memphis vs. East Carolina.
Was Memphis' turnover party a one-off or a worrying trend?
Through the first six games of the season, Memphis had been one of the best teams in the country in terms of taking care of the ball. But there's no way to describe the Tigers' offensive performance against Tulane except to call it a debacle.
Stokes threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles. Manny Covey lost a fumble. The Tigers had two other fumbles that it recovered. Stokes was sacked seven times — a shocking number considering Tulane had gone into the game with one sack for the entire season. Even against an underwhelming Tulane offense, Memphis couldn't overcome its own self-inflicted wounds.
It was the first time in 20 years that Memphis had turned it over six times in a game. It can't happen again if the Tigers want to get back to winning ways.
Former Memphis defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins returns
Hankins was on staff at Memphis from 2021 to 2025 and was the Tigers' defensive coordinator for the final two years of his tenure in Memphis. He left for East Carolina after Charles Huff was hired as coach in late 2025.
There are other Memphis connections. Linebackers Cade Law and Crews Law, as well as defensive back Myles Pollard, played for Memphis last season, and they've all had significant roles for the Pirates.
East Carolina leads the country in tackles for loss with 10.2 per game. And the Pirates' defense will have plenty of confidence after watching what Tulane's defensive front did to Memphis.
East Carolina's offense has struggled in 2026
Like most Group of Six teams, the Pirates had massive amounts of roster turnover in the offseason. Most importantly, they lost offensive coordinator John David Baker to Ole Miss and quarterback Katin Houser to Illinois.
Jordan Davis replaced Baker, while quarterback has been a bit of musical chairs between Mitch Griffis and Emory Williams. It has been Williams the past few games, but the Pirates struggled to sustain drives against UAB.
There have been signs of life in the running game. T.J. Engleman Jr. has rushed for more than 100 yards in three straight games, and the Pirates likely will lean heavily on him against a Tigers defense that has at times had issues defending the run.
Memphis vs East Carolina score prediction
Memphis 31, East Carolina 21. The Tigers minimize turnovers and get back on track with a win over the Pirates.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football vs East Carolina prediction, preview for Week 8 game
