Countdown to Kickoff: Memphis Football First Four Opponents
As we near the start of the 2025 Memphis Tigers football season, we continue our countdown to kickoff. With this, we are now nine weeks away and the suspense is building seemingly day-by-day. We have looked at national publications, coaches, and 10 wins of impact thus far in this article series.
Now, we analyze, briefly, the first four games of the schedule, the opponents for Memphis, and a brief overview of the program. We will have more in-depth analysis of these opponents when the game week arrives on podcasts and here in our written coverage.
We also bring to the table that the home stadium of the Tigers, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, will still be under reconstruction. This upgrade is still set to be completed in time for the 2026 season. With this being the case, there are many games of importance both in and out of American Athletic Conference play.
The fans of Memphis have a history of only showing up for the “High profile” games yet in the new era of college football, this needs to change. We at 4 Star Sports have been vocal about the consistent support of this program from its fans. We have been harsh at times, but this season is new, and we will have eyes on attendance in 2025.
Chattanooga Mocs – August 30, 2025
The season kicks off on August 30, 2025 with the “901 Game” against the Chattanooga Mocs. A program of sustained success at the FCS level, the Mocs enter Memphis looking to test the Tigers early. Led by Rusty Wright, Chattanooga will continue to play a physical style of football along with a disciplined and run-heavy approach.
Winners of the Southern Conference in 2019 and 2022, the Mocs will present their challenges in the opener. On the offensive side of things, it starts with the quarterback. In comes transfer Camden Orth from Bowling Green. The 6’3 senior spent three years with the Falcons while competing in two. In these games, Orth threw for 864 yards on 73-of-125 passing for eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Orth also toted the ball 86 times for 259 yards.
On the ground along with Orth will be fellow transfer, Ryan Ingram, running back from Wofford. The 5’11 senior played in 39 games while starting in 26 for the Terriers. He has amassed 432 carries for 2,020 yards, the 16th Terrier to reach this mark, and 19 touchdowns. In addition, Ingram hauled in 12 receptions for 68 yards and one score. The talented back has rushed for 100 or more yards in six games while averaging 4.8 yards per carry and 53 yards per game.
The wide receivers are young. To describe just how young, there are no Seniors or Juniors on the roster as of the writing of this article. While many may see this as a negative, we think the opposite. With youth comes zeal and drive. This will be a group of unproven talents that cannot be taken lightly.
Defensively, this team will attack you in multiple levels. The defensive line, specifically defensive tackle, has become a staple of the Mocs program. The physical play of the offense only mirrors the defensive side as this is turned up to another level. This starts with the line play as their consistency and experience. This unit is hungry to bring pressure for the Mocs in 2025.
While on paper this is a massive mismatch, the Mocs will come into the Bluff City confident in their style of play. This game will be scorching hot as the temperatures are likely to be in triple digits. With this, the action on the field may be even hotter.
Georgia State Panthers – September 6, 2025
In week two, on September 6, 2025, the Tigers will hit the road to Atlanta, Georgia, as they battle the Georgia State Panthers from Center Parc Stadium. The game will kick off at 6 pm central time and be streamed on ESPN+. While many across the fan base instantly groaned when the schedule was released has forgotten this game was originally canceled in the 2020 season. Because of this, Memphis will now make the trip to battle the Panthers.
Coached by now second-year head man, Dell McGee, the Panthers are focused on being the best they can be. In what was a 2-10 season in his initial season, McGee looks to find the confidence of this group behind Christain Veilleux, his quarterback. Veilleux, the winning signal-caller in both wins, will look to bring his quick decision-making in wins to the Memphis game.
The Panthers will see two new coordinators as Hue Jackson will lead the offense. The former Cleveland Browns head coach will look to boost this offense that is riddled with transfers. Jackson will have the luxury of six returners and this unit will be more potent in 2025.
From the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers bring in Travis Pearson, formerly of South Alabama. In Mobile, Pearson served in the same position as he holds for the Panthers. Plagued by an inexperienced secondary, this unit may struggle to keep opposing offenses from torching them through the air. With only four returners, this unit is one that looks to play inspired football.
In the end, this will be the first road test for Memphis, yet, the Tigers should have the edge. No road game is a cake walk and the Tigers will have to be prepared for Atlanta.
Troy Trojans – September 13, 2025
In what will be a back-to-back road game for Memphis, the Tigers hit the road to Alabama to tangle with the Troy Trojans. Last season, this exact scenario did not work well for Memphis, but, we will see what 2025 holds. In what is an early kickoff, 11 am on ESPNU, fans will have breakfast and football from Troy, Alabama. These programs are no strangers to eachother, as they met last season for the first time since 1941. In the end, Memphis came away with a 38-17 win despite being all knotted up at seven early.
In that game, the Tigers roared to 24 unanswered points to put the Trojans away in Memphis. Led by former Notre Dame offensive coordinator, Gerald Parker, the Trojans have much potential based on returners.
This starts with the quarterback position as Goose Crowder returns to run the offense. The former West Virginia Mountaineer has played well for Troy in the past and will look to continue. Winners of the final three of four games, Troy utilized this to bring in the Sun Belt’s top recruiting class.
Despite four wins last season, this program cannot be slept on. If Memphis fans think back to last season, the Navy game is where this game sits on the 2025 slate. Will Memphis drop another road game in a back-to-back situation? With a win in each of the first two road games, Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield could be just one game shy of a .500 [ potentially a 12-13 record] mark in his career.
The offensive pace of Troy can be an issue for Memphis. This will need to be a key for this game, yes, in July, as it nears. For an offense that struggled early last season, they found their groove late as Troy averaged 37 points per game and 450 yards in the last four games.
Defensively, the Trojans return five starters and three of their top five tacklers. This unit will be more experienced and have a better understanding of what Parker and staff expect. Will this create more wins? We will soon find out.
Memphis cannot sleep on Troy in what is an early kickoff. This is one game on the road where the business approach must be taken. If not, potentially the first loss of 2025 could occur.
Arkansas – September 20, 2025
The Tigers are back home for the fourth game of the season, and their largest nonconference task, against the Arkansas Razorbacks. On September 20, 2025, the first of a currently scheduled three-game series, with television to be announced, as the Tigers and Hogs are no stranger to eachother. Memphis leads the overall series 3-2 despite not meeting since the 1998 season. This contest will be the second home game for the Tigers of the season and follow a “Rhythm ‘n’ Roar” theme. For further context, the environment will be embracing the rich culture and history of the Memphis music scene. Fans of the Tigers are asked to wear Memphis blue as thry look to out-roar the calling of the Hogs.
While Arkansas comes from the SEC, Memphis is not backing down. In what will be a massive home game, bragging rights will be on the line. Led by Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks are no strangers to Memphis as they are the winners of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl twice in recent seasons. Pittman made quite the splash when he hired former head coach, Bobby Petrino, to run his offense. With this, fans saw Petrino’s hand-picked Boise State transfer Taylen Green to be his quarterback.
In what was a rocky 6-6 regular season for Arkansas, they, again, were able to get upsets along the way. The 19-14 win over #4 Tennessee was the highlight of the regular season that included another field-storming occurrence under Pittman.
In what will be a transitional season for Memphis defensively, this game will be a great litmus test to see where this unit stands. In addition, the offense of Memphis will be tested with multiple looks from a defensive staff that prides themselves on being aggressive playcallers.
Can Memphis close out the non conference slate with a massive win versus the conference that sports “Just Menas More”? We will soon find out as this game will be upon us before we know it as the season seems to fly by once starting.
In closing, the first four games, all out of conference, will be a good test for coaches, and fans, to have an understanding of where the program is at the moment. Despite what we are coining as a “Transitional” season, the talent for Memphis is there along with a very favorable and manageable schedule.
What games are next? Stay tuned next week, as we look at week 8 before kickoff. With this, we will briefly assess the next four games on the schedule.
