For months, the story around Memphis football was about all the unknowns.
That was by design, of course. New coach Charles Huff did not want to reveal much about his team ahead of the season opener at UNLV on Aug. 29, so the story in the offseason was mostly about uncertainty.
Now, four games in, there's a lot to chew on. Memphis is 3-1, having beaten UNLV before losing to Boise State and then bouncing back with a win over UT Martin. The Tigers have an open week before starting conference play at Charlotte on Oct. 3.
That makes it a good time to take stock of what we've learned and what we're expecting to see moving forward. Here are three questions that will define the rest of Memphis' season.
Can Memphis' offense find balance, especially against stacked boxes?
Running back Jaylin Carter was the breakout star the first
two games, but Boise State saw the film that everyone else did. The Broncos loaded up against the run, daring the Tigers to beat them anywhere else. The results were mixed — quarterback Marcus Stokes threw for a career-high 384 yards, but Memphis struggled to sustain drives and ultimately lost 38-20.
The passing game was efficient against UT Martin, with Stokes tossing four touchdowns in a game that was never really competitive. Even against the FCS Skyhawks, the Tigers didn't have a ton of success running the ball until the second half.
Finding balance offensively will be a key throughout the conference slate. While tight end Hunter Tipton has emerged as Stokes' go-to target, the Tigers have taken a wide receiver-by-committee approach to the passing game as a whole. If the run game is working, though, everything else will open up.
Will Memphis' defense up the consistency?
The Tigers' defense has shown flashes of dominance throughout the season. But there also have been moments where it hasn't looked cohesive.
The defensive line's display in the second half against UNLV set an almost impossibly high bar, but that unit clearly has the ability to completely take over a game. On the flip side, though, the defensive front wore down against Boise State's heavy rushing attack, and Huff won't want to see that happen again.
The secondary struggled in the first half against UNLV, but they forced four turnovers against Arkansas State the next week. Turnovers will be a stat to watch the next few games.
How does Memphis handle being out of the spotlight?
The Tigers had plenty of reason to get up for their first three games. The UNLV game came in an exclusive window on national TV, and Memphis went in with something to prove as an underdog on the road. The Arkansas State game was Memphis' home opener in a renovated stadium in front of an announced sellout crowd. And the Boise State game took place on a national stage with Group of Six supremacy on the line.
Losing to Boise State meant Memphis won't be at the forefront of the CFP race for at least the immediate future. And when the Tigers start conference play against Charlotte and UAB, they won't be getting much national attention.
There will be several games that Memphis enters as a significant favorite, and it has to get up for those just like all the other ones. It's possible the Tigers will be favored in every game the rest of the season. So the path to a first American Conference title since 2019 is absolutely there.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Three questions for Memphis football as Tigers prepare for American Conference play
