Where Memphis football landed in college football polls after Week 7 win over USF

After a solid 21-3 win over South Florida on Saturday, Memphis football made a return to the college football polls—sort of. The Tigers (5-1, 1-1 American Athletic Conference) had been out of the rankings for several weeks, ever since their disappointing 56-44 loss to Navy on September 21. But their victory over South Florida, a game that was rescheduled and relocated from Tampa to Orlando due to Hurricane Milton, earned them a modest recognition in the coaches’ poll. Memphis garnered four votes in the US LBM Coaches Poll, marking the first time the Tigers had received any votes since they dropped out of the rankings earlier this season.

Despite this return to the voting ranks, Memphis is still far from the elite tier of college football. The Tigers are essentially sitting at 37th in the coaches’ poll, with several Group of Five teams ahead of them in the vote totals. In fact, even though Memphis received votes, it is still trailing schools like Boise State (No. 19), Army (No. 24), Navy, UNLV, and Liberty—all of which have a higher vote count than Memphis. The Tigers even found themselves trailing James Madison (with 3 votes) and Tulane (with 2 votes), underscoring the competitiveness of the Group of Five ranks this season. Memphis also did not receive any votes in the Associated Press Poll (AP Poll), where Boise State (No. 15), Army (No. 23), and Navy (No. 25) represent the Group of Five.

Nevertheless, the return to the poll, even if only in the form of a few scattered votes, signals positive momentum for the Tigers. It was a much-needed sign of encouragement for a program that has been battling through its ups and downs this season. The win over South Florida was the type of performance Memphis needed to bolster its resume and potentially keep its goals of competing for an AAC title and even a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP) alive—if things break in their favor.

Memphis has a history of appearing in the College Football Playoff conversation in years past. The Tigers reached a high of No. 22 in the Coaches Poll earlier in the season, a mark that felt like it signified a potential breakout year for the program. However, their loss to Navy, a team ranked No. 24 at the time, caused them to fall out of the poll entirely. The Navy defeat, in which Memphis allowed more than 50 points, was a tough setback that led to questions about the Tigers’ ability to contend at the highest level in the AAC, much less crack the AP Top 25.

Since then, the Tigers have bounced back, showing resilience by stringing together wins, including this most recent one against USF. The game itself, originally slated to be played in Tampa, was moved to Orlando due to the potential impact of Hurricane Milton, which disrupted several college football schedules. Despite the change in location and the distractions that come with it, Memphis handled the disruption well, maintaining its focus on the field and securing a convincing 21-3 victory over the Bulls. The defense was especially sharp, limiting USF to just three points, while the offense did enough to seal the win.

This win over South Florida has not only helped Memphis regain a small presence in the national rankings but has also put the Tigers in a strong position for the remainder of their season. At 5-1 overall, the Tigers still have a shot at winning the AAC title, which would ensure a New Year’s Six bowl bid and provide a potential route to the College Football Playoff, albeit a difficult one. While Memphis’s chances of reaching the Playoff may be slim, the notion is not entirely out of the question—especially with a solid run through the rest of the season and some help from other teams around the country.

One of the Tigers’ key advantages heading into the second half of the season is their relatively favorable schedule. After a difficult road loss to Navy, Memphis now has a chance to get back on track, starting with a home game against North Texas this upcoming Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. North Texas (5-1, 2-0 Conference USA) will be another tough test, but it’s a winnable game for the Tigers if they continue to play at a high level. A win over North Texas would likely propel Memphis further up the rankings and could even result in the Tigers cracking the top 25 again, provided they continue to win in dominant fashion.

Beyond the challenge of North Texas, Memphis also faces games against teams like Tulane and SMU, both of which are competitive squads within the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers will need to navigate these matchups carefully to stay in contention for the conference title, which, as mentioned, would give them a shot at a major bowl game and perhaps even some national recognition.

The Tigers’ path to the College Football Playoff is also still technically open, although it would require an almost perfect finish to the season and a series of upsets across the country. For Memphis to reach the CFP, they would likely need to win the AAC Championship, and even that might not be enough unless they receive some help from other Group of Five teams or power-conference teams faltering in the rankings. Given the strong performance of teams like Boise State, Tulane, and Liberty, the Group of Five race remains incredibly competitive, but Memphis can still make a compelling case for inclusion with a string of wins.

The return to the polls and the modest recognition in the Coaches Poll may seem insignificant to some, but it’s an important moment in the context of Memphis’s season. This small acknowledgment shows that Memphis is still in the conversation, despite their early setbacks. The Tigers are likely on the outside looking in for the time being, but they are a team to watch closely in the second half of the season.

With head coach Ryan Silverfield at the helm, Memphis has the potential to finish the season strong. Silverfield’s leadership and ability to get his team back on track after setbacks will be crucial. The defense, which has been playing well in recent weeks, will need to continue performing at a high level. Similarly, the offense will need to remain consistent and reduce mistakes. Quarterback Seth Henigan, in particular, has shown flashes of brilliance this season, and if he can continue to play efficiently and make the big throws when necessary, Memphis will have a strong chance in every game moving forward.

Ultimately, Memphis football’s return to the rankings—albeit outside the top 25—provides a glimpse of hope for a team that has seen both highs and lows so far in 2024. While they have a long way to go to re-enter the national spotlight, this small achievement is a positive development that could lead to even greater things down the road. With games against North Texas, Tulane, SMU, and others still on the schedule, Memphis has the opportunity to climb back into the rankings and prove that they are worthy of a spot among the nation’s best. The road ahead may be tough, but Memphis football still has plenty to play for as they look to finish the season on a high note.