With the Memphis Football season around the corner, we wanted to get started on the season’s information. What better way to start than with the schedule of opponents? Below we provide an analysis of the 2023 Memphis Football Schedule as well as some historical perspective on each opponent.
2023 Memphis Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 2 – Bethune-Cookman
This game serves as the season opener for Memphis. Bethune-Cookman is an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent, and Memphis should be heavily favored to win. It’s an opportunity for the Tigers to face its first of three opponents for the first time in program history.
It is also a chance for Memphis to extend their home opener winning streak to 10 games. Memphis will look to start the season with a win in front of their home fans. The Tigers will look to get off to a hot start in 2023.
Saturday, Sept. 9 – at Arkansas State
In their second game of the season, Memphis takes to the road to face a familiar opponent in Arkansas State. Arkansas State has traditionally been a competitive team, and its strong offensive capabilities could pose a challenge for Memphis. This game will provide a good test early in the season.
Historically these programs have battled no matter where the game is played. Memphis leads the overall series 32-24-5 and has won the last 5 contests. In Memphis, the Tigers hold a 24-10-4 lead. In games played in Jonesboro, Memphis is 8-14 in this series.
Thursday, Sept. 14 – Navy
This marks the first conference game for Memphis, and it’s an intriguing matchup against the Navy Midshipmen. The Navy is known for its unique triple-option offense, which can be difficult to defend. Memphis will need to prepare well and adapt to the Navy’s offensive style to secure a victory.
This series began in 2015 and has been a competitive one. Memphis holds the lead, 5-3, in this series and is currently on a four-game winning streak. This streak, which started in 2019, is the longest of its kind in this series. The Tigers also hold a 3-1 series lead in games played at Memphis.
Saturday, Sept. 23 – vs. Missouri (St. Louis, Mo.)
Memphis will face a formidable SEC opponent in Missouri at a neutral site in St. Louis. Missouri has a history of success in the SEC, and this game will be a significant challenge for Memphis.
It also provides an opportunity for the team to showcase their skills against a Power Five conference opponent. This will be the 5th time these programs have met in their history. This will also mark the first game since the 2018 season. Memphis currently trails in this series,3-1, which includes a two-game losing streak.
Saturday, Sept. 30 – Boise State
Another non-conference matchup awaits Memphis, this time against Boise State. Boise State has been a consistent contender in the Mountain West Conference and has a reputation for strong performances.
This will be the second team on tbe schedule that the Tigers will face for the first time in program history. These two teams are scheduled to play, in Boise next season. This game will likely be highly competitive and could have implications for both teams’ postseason aspirations.
Friday, Oct. 13 – Tulane
Returning to conference play, Memphis faces Tulane. Tulane has shown improvement in recent years and has the potential to make this game competitive. These rivals have had some memorable games as of late with the Tigers holding a 24-14 series lead.
In games played in Memphis, the Tigers hold a 15-2 record and will look to add to this in 2023. Tulane comes in as the favorite but as we see any game played in Memphis you can’t count the Tigers out. This one will be another fun one to watch.
Saturday, Oct. 21 – at UAB
Memphis hits the road for a conference game against the UAB Blazers. UAB has experienced a resurgence in its football program and has become a competitive team.
This matchup brings a trophy game to the schedule for both teams. When these teams meet they have named the the “Battle Of The Bones” game with the winner taking home a trophy of a bronze rack of ribs. Memphis currently trails the Blazers 10-5 in this series.
This will mark the first time these programs have met since the 2012 season. In that game, the Tigers won, in Birmingham, 46-9. In games played in Memphis, the record does not favor the Tigers as they trailed 2-5.
Saturday, Oct. 28 – at North Texas
Another conference road game awaits Memphis as they face the North Texas Mean Green. Memphis currently leads the series,17-4, which includes a 44-34 win, in Memphis, last season.
In games played in Denton Memphis leads the series 8-1 and will look to improve on this season. This game will be crucial for maintaining momentum and staying in contention within the conference.
Saturday, Nov. 4 – USF
Memphis returns home for a conference game against the USF Bulls. USF has struggled in recent years, providing an opportunity for Memphis to secure a victory. Memphis leads the overall series, 7-4, which includes a two-game winning streak.
This will mark the first contest between these since the 2020 season. Memphis may hold a 3-2 lead in games played at home but they can’t take the Bulls lightly. However, they must avoid complacency and maintain focus to avoid any potential upsets.
Saturday, Nov. 11 – at Charlotte
In a new conference matchup, Memphis travels to face the Charlotte 49ers. This will be the third opponent that Memphis will face for the first time in program hosiery. Charlotte is an emerging program that has shown improvement in recent years.
This game could be an interesting test for Memphis and an opportunity to gauge their performance against a rising team. This has the potential to be the beginning of a great series with an up-and-coming program.
Saturday, Nov. 18 – SMU
This conference game against SMU could have significant implications for both teams. SMU has been a strong program in recent years and has often fielded a high-powered offense. In recent games, Memphis and SMU have had some instant classics with points brought scored almost at will.
Memphis will need to be prepared to face a potent passing attack and find ways to slow down SMU’s offense. Memphis leads the overall series with the Mustangs 10-5 and will be glad to play this game at home. In games played in Memphis, the Tigers lead 6-2 in the series.. The outcome of this game could have an impact on the conference standings and potentially the divisional race.
Friday, Nov. 24, or Saturday, Nov. 25 – at Temple
Memphis concludes its regular season with a conference game on the road against Temple. Temple has had its ups and downs in recent years, but it can be a competitive team on its home turf. The series, which began in 2013, has been one of the exciting moments as it is all knotted up at four games a piece..
Memphis will return to Philadelphia in 2023. In their last game, there was a loss, 34-31. The Tigers have not performed well on the road in the series as they have a 1-3 record away from home. This game will be crucial for Memphis in terms of solidifying its position in the conference standings and potentially securing a spot in the conference championship game. Memphis will need to bring their best effort and execute their game plan effectively to come away with a victory.
2023 Outlook
Memphis has the potential with this schedule to have a historical season. How many games can the Tigers win? Can they make a return to the New Year Six games? Can Silverfield finally get the fans off his back?
We will find out very soon when the 2023 Memphis Tigers Football team takes the field!
