South Florida seems to be firing on all cylinders, while Memphis will be looking to rebound after getting upset.
The Tigers surely will have a tall task to take down the current titans of the American Conference when they welcome the No. 18 Bulls to town on Saturday afternoon.
Memphis (6-1, 2-1 American) was looking to come into this matchup with a lot at stake. They were No. 22 in the AP poll and in line to firmly cement themselves in the driver’s seat for the Group of Five College Football Playoff spot with a potential win over South Florida (6-1, 3-0).
That was all before they fell as more than three-touchdown favorites to UAB, led by an interim coach, 31-24 last Saturday. The Tigers will need to claw back to regain their standing within not just the CFP but also the American conference.
“We put that game in the past. We learn from it, we grow from it,” coach Ryan Silverfield said on Monday. “We know the tremendous challenge we have this Saturday. We’re excited about an explosive team coming to town, glad to be back home. But our focus is 100% on South Florida and excited to have a great week of preparation.”
It’s unclear if the Tigers will have starting quarterback Brendon Lewis this week after he left the UAB game in the third quarter with a lower-body injury.
Silverfield said Lewis is considered “day-to-day,” and either freshman A.J. Hill — who came in in relief of Lewis last Saturday — or Arrington Maiden could start in his place. Silverfield also said it’s possible they play multiple quarterbacks.
Lewis was 9-for-10 with 68 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the cameo.
The Tigers have been known as a ground-and-pound team, currently 15th in the country in rushing yards per game with 221.6. They were held at bay against the Blazers with just 119 yards, by far their lowest total of the season.
If Lewis can go — 1,337 yards and eight scores through the air and 440 with seven TDs on the ground – it will open up the run and pass game a lot more for Memphis.
South Florida, meanwhile, is riding high after dispatching Florida Atlantic 48-13 behind another complete game from its own two-way quarterback Byrum Brown.
Brown finished the game completing 14 of his 24 passes for 256 yards and three TDs, to go along with 111 yards and a TD on the ground. He’s come alive as of late, accounting for 18 TDs across his last four games.
In Brown’s one career game against Memphis, he threw for 357 yards and 5 TDs in a 59-50 loss in 2023.
The key to the Bulls’ success this season has been their high-tempo offense, constantly running hurry up. Their average time of possession per game is just 25 minutes, and only three teams in the entire country have held the ball for less time.
Playing away from home has been a challenge for South Florida in recent history, posting a woeful 9-20 record on the road across the last five seasons. Six of those wins have come in the last two seasons, which is why coach Alex Golesh has some optimism heading into Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
“We’ve gone on the road in really good environments and have been able to compete and do what we’re supposed to do,” Golesh said. “I’m really, really excited. This one will be really, really fun.”
Memphis has eight wins in its last 10 games against South Florida, including the last four.
