Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPNU
- Location: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium — Memphis, TN
- Spread: Memphis (-20.5)
- Over/under: 56.5
- All-time series: Memphis leads, 20-12
- Last meeting: Memphis 26, Tulsa 10 — November 10, 2022
- Current streak: Memphis, 1 (2022)
Setting the scene
These longtime conference rivals met multiple times in every decade from the 1960s to the 2020s. There have been notable moments throughout the years, ranging from Tulsa’s thrilling 2009 overtime win to the seismic moment in 2019 when the Golden Hurricane missed a chip shot field goal at the buzzer — providing Memphis a pathway to a New Year’s Six and conference championship.
Right now the Tigers are riding the FBS’s longest win streak at nine consecutive games. Memphis has won 27 of its last 32 under
Ryan Silverfield, and the Tigers will receive the backing of their home crowd as they strive to sustain their success. On the visiting side is Tulsa which enjoyed a signature win in year one under Tre Lamb after knocking off Oklahoma State in Week 4. The Golden Hurricane dropped their conference opener a week ago but look to cause more chaos in a road environment.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane outlook
Tulsa (2-3, 0-1 American) drew national headlines in Week 4 for storming into Stillwater and winning a game that shook the college football world. The Golden Hurricane’s 19-12 road upset over Oklahoma State resulted in the firing of Mike Gundy after two decades of an accomplished coaching tenure, and it marked Tulsa’s first win over the in-state opponent since 1998.
But Tulsa is here to talk about a first-year coach: Tre Lamb. The fourth-youngest FBS head coach at age 36 is injecting new life into the program, hoping to take the Golden Hurricane back to their glory days of the 2020s. The follow-up act after an emotional win over Oklahoma State is never easy, but Tulsa hung tough with perennial conference contender Tulane — knotted 14-14 in the late second quarter with the Green Wave before the game ended on a 17-0 run.
One decision Tulsa must make against Memphis involves its starting quarterback. Incumbent starter Kirk Francis took first team reps the first two weeks until suffering a concussion against New Mexico State. Backup Baylor Hayes started the last three contests and played the entirety of the Tulane game. Both quarterbacks will be evaluated throughout the week before the first-year coach decides on a starter against Memphis.
Tulsa must focus on protecting whatever quarterback fits the role this week. Last Saturday against Tulane, the Golden Hurricane surrendered six sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and five quarterback hurries as the Green Wave defensive line feasted in the backfield. Memphis’ backfield pressure can also be lethal, so Tulsa will need a quarterback with quick feet and escapability in order to counter this matchup.
The Golden Hurricane offense is primarily built on the run game. They feature a trio of transfer running backs — Dominic Richardson (Baylor), Ajay Allen (Nebraska), and Braylin Presley (Oklahoma State) — whom all average at least 5.0 yards per carry. Richardson is the bellcow of this group and he ranks fourth in the entire FBS with 98 rushing attempts on the season. He went over 140 yards twice this year and looks to wear down what has been a stout Tiger run defense to this point.
Another Tulsa skill position player ranking high in an individual category is Zion Booker. The former FCS Western Carolina wide receiver is ninth in the country with 33 receptions — heavily utilized on screens on slants to maneuver the offense. No other Tulsa receiver has more than 12 catches, but the Golden Hurricane occasionally work in tight end Brady Foley and wide receiver Micah Tease on posts and down the seam.
The greatest difference between 2024 Tulsa and 2025 Tulsa is unquestionably the defense. After ranking second-to-last nationally in scoring defense a year ago, the Golden Hurricane are 58th — allowing 22.6 points per game with Navy, Oklahoma State, and Tulane among the opponents. Junior inside linebacker Ray Coney, who followed Coach Lamb from East Tennessee State, is the leader of this movement as the standalone FBS leading tackler with 56 takedowns. Another force looking to limit Memphis’ stellar run game is J’Dan Burnett who is tied for second in the nation with 5.5 sacks in this study front.
Memphis Tigers outlook
Memphis (5-0, 1-0 American) is in prime position for a College Football Playoff spot. The Tigers are 5-0 for the first time since 2019, and they’ll need to attain something else for the first time in six years in order to qualify — win the American Conference.
Memphis is off to a scintillating start after throttling Florida Atlantic 55-26 on the road, thanks a 24-0 fourth quarter run to keep the win streak alive. The Tigers are one of two FBS programs to cover every spread this year, consistently living up to and exceeding expectations in Ryan Silverfield’s sixth year at the helm. The 18-point comeback over Arkansas in Week 4 instilled plenty of confidence in this team which is largely comprised of a melting pot of transfer portal talent.
The Tigers realized their true specialty in that Arkansas game, and that’s their ability to run the football. Memphis ranks 11th nationally in rushing yards per game, collecting 6.0 yards per carry. The Tigers dominate this facet with a premier running back tandem of Sutton Smith and Greg Desrosiers Jr. There are only five recipients of the Doak Walker Award National Running Back of the Week, yet Smith and Desrosiers took home the prize in Week 4 and Week 5, demonstrating the depth and talent in the backfield. Smith eclipsed the century mark twice this year and Desrosiers crossed 200 yards last week and both exhibit the ability for breakaway runs.
Also contributing to the elite ground game is quarterback Brendon Lewis, who recently produced Memphis’ first 100-yard rushing performance at quarterback since 2005. The veteran 6’3” quarterback, with previous stops at Colorado and Nevada, ranks sixth at his position with 353 rushing yards, but his arm talent is equally evident. Lewis is connecting on an efficient 66.9 percent of throws, re-establishing tremendous rapport with his former Nevada receiver Cortez Braham Jr. in a new location. Memphis desperately needed a new WR1 this season, and Braham is living up to the challenge with American Conference highs of 382 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a dominant downfield threat.
Memphis’ offense ranks top 15 in scoring after a season-high 55 points in the conference opener. The defense is also thriving to an extent, holding opponents to 18.0 points per game to rank 34th in the country. Memphis has struggled at times containing the air, and lapses were present when allowing 28 first half points to Arkansas. But the Tigers can sniff out a run very well, stifling teams to 91 rushing yards per game on 3.1 per attempt. This run defense fueled that 18-point comeback in Week 4, and the group ranks top 15 nationally in tackles for loss per game.
Key contributors manning this unit — which starts returning all-conference defensive end William Whitlow Jr. and 10 first-year transfers — include the linebackers Everett Roussaw Jr., Sam Brumfield, and Drue Watts. They comprise of three of the four leading tacklers and combine for 5.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Moving backward to the secondary, strong safety Chris Bracy has been one playmaker of note with three pass breakups and a game-winning forced fumble last time the Tigers played at home.
Prediction
One guarantee is Memphis will score at least 20 points. The Tigers own the longest active streak in the FBS, accomplishing that feat for 45 consecutive games. Tulsa’s run defense is vastly improved and should provide a decent counter to Memphis’ ground game, but the Tigers will ultimately overcome it. There’s too much talent to go around with Sutton Smith, Greg Desrosiers Jr., and Brendon Lewis and Memphis will find its way to post points.
It might be a slow start for the Tigers — just about every game this year has been — but Memphis will first find its footing on defense, and then the offense will follow. Ryan Silverfield’s team will extend the FBS’s longest win streak to 10 games and win its 11th-straight at home in front of a blue and silver Liberty Bowl crowd.
Prediction: Memphis 34, Tulsa 17
