Memphis Tigers 2026 College Football Preview
Posted July 3, 2026
2025 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 8-5
The folks on Beale Street were more celebratory than usual as Memphis roared out to a 6-0 start. They looked as lethal as ever. And then we couldn’t believe how they SHAT the bed. They lost to the corpse of UAB as three-TD favorites and completely IMPLODED like an OceanGate toy submarine down the stretch, losing three consecutive regular season games. That wasn’t enough. They got their teeth kicked in by the ARRRRRRRRRRRRR Pirates of East Carolina in the Gasparilla Bowl and ended the year at 8-5.
New head coach Charles Huff comes to town, but he might’ve already quit and left for another school by the time you read this.
Memphis Tigers 2026 Outlook
OFFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (American):
- Scoring: 32.5 PPG (#5 American)
- Total Offense: 411.6 YPG (#7 American)
- Rushing: 183.2 YPG (#6 American)
- Passing: 228.4 YPG (#8 American)
- Sacks Allowed: 33 (#14 American, dead last)
The Tigers were okay on offense last year but they weren’t up to the standards that we’ve seen from Memphis football over the last several seasons. Former starting QB Brendon Lewis was a dangerous runner, but he just didn’t have the passing SKILLZ to make the offense hum.
New starting QB Marcus Stokes has a lot of upside, but it remains to be seen if he can handle the gig in an FBS setting. Stokes lit it up at something called West Florida last year (3,297 yards, 30 TD, 10 rushing TD), so there’s reason to be excited if you’re a Memphis fan. It’s worth noting that AIR Noland is the backup, and yes, we’ve JUMPED THE SHARK on human names.
The RB room is in rebuild mode like every other position on the roster as the Tigers lose their top-four producers. The good news is that the transfer portal haul looks promising, with potentially undervalued specimens such as Jaylin Carter (Southern Miss) and Dallan Hayden (Buffs, Ohio St) joining the unit. There’s a similar situation when it comes to the WR/TE weaponry, and it’s a CAVALCADE of new faces. Competition will be high during fall camp, and a few guys to keep an eye on include Tychaun Chapman, who showed big-play ability at Southern Miss last year (448 yards, 17.9 avg, 3 TD), and TE Hunter Tipton, who just might be the QB’s best friend in the red zone.
Memphis’s offensive line should be average to slightly above average in the American. It’s a veteran, experienced group that should be functional, but the heavy reliance on transfers makes it hard to project them as a strength. They’ll likely be more of a “steady” unit than a dominant one.
DEFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (American):
- Scoring: 23.2 PPG (#3 American)
- Total Defense: 358.2 YPG (#3 American)
- Rushing Defense: 131.0 YPG (#3 American)
- Passing Defense: 227.2 YPG (#6 American)
- Sacks: 21 (#10 American)
The defense was underrated last year, and quite frankly, we didn’t give the stop unit enough credit. They were solid across the board and ranked as one of the better units in the American despite failing to generate much in the way of PENETRATION.
That said, brace yourselves — the top-15 tacklers are gone. New DC Lance Guidry has some serious work to do replacing that kind of production. The good news is that there are a few pieces who should help soften the blow. Senior LB Mike Montgomery (Southern Miss) looks like the clear leader and most important player on this defense, while edge rusher J’Mond Tapp (7.5 sacks, Southern Miss) brings the highest upside on the front. In the secondary, Ahmere Foster (Southern Miss) should provide some stability at the STAR position.
There’s talent here, particularly with Tapp and Montgomery leading the way, but replacing that much experience won’t be easy. Expect some growing pains early, but this group has a chance to be functional — and maybe even a little better than expected — if the young pieces develop quickly.
SPECIAL TEAMS
RUH ROH.
Memphis had some productive specialists last year, but they need to replace everyone this season, including PR/KR Sutton Smith (TD) and PK Gianni Spetic (15/20 FG, 4-5 from 50+).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They’ve got a pair of layups in non-conference play, and a pair of games that’ll test their mettle (at UNLV, at Boise St). The American draw is slightly favorable as they miss UTSA and have a good chance to get rolling early with games against Charlotte and UAB. Playing at Navy and Tulane won’t be fun, though.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Boise St (Sept 12)
Boise St looks absolutely loaded, and it won’t be easy for everyone on this brand new Memphis team to get on the same page by Week 3. Also note that the Broncos will be looking to avenge the loss at Memphis back in 2023.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – July 3
Over 7.5 -125
Under 7.5 +105
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
Not too many teams have more turnover than the Tigers, and that makes it tough to gauge the right move on the season win total.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Local legend has it that in the early 1900s, one Beale Street saloon kept a live black bear chained near the entrance to draw crowds. One century later, the bars and clubs feature hordes of roaming cougars, desperately searching for fresh meat.
MUD ISLAND River Park features a massive scale model of the Lower Mississippi River, stretching from Cairo, Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. Complete with flowing water, elevation changes, sandbars, and tributaries, the replica is so detailed that it has long been used as an educational tool — and honestly, when you see all that mud and miniature river action, you start to think the city just pointed at the place and said, “Yep. Name’s done. Print the signs, yo.”
Memphis is a very impressive 57-12 at home over the L10Y.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Memphis has blown things up after a disappointing finish to a once-promising 2025 campaign. New head coach Charles Huff has stepped into a good long-term situation in Memphis, but it may take this season for everyone to find their footing. There’s too much uncertainty surrounding the team and too much variance in the potential outcome to call for anything other than the obvious — a bowl bid, but falling short of making the title game this season.
Go Tigers Go!