The show goes on for the Memphis Tigers as they return home on Saturday, as they welcome Tulsa to the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for another opportunity to showcase to the world exactly where Tigers football stands in the pecking order of the College Football Playoffs. Depends on where you get your college football news, but some folks have Coach Silverfield and his Tigers in the driver’s seat as the G6 representative for the College Football Playoffs. Some people are comparing the 2019 Memphis team, which competed in the Cotton Bowl, to the 2025 team, which has upside potential to reach the College Football Playoff and win another American Conference Championship. 

As the Tigers return home, the focus shifts to a sneaky upset-minded Tulsa team that will come to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with a 2-3 overall record, but a dismal 0-2 start to AAC play after losing to Navy, and Tulane, but like the Tigers the Golden Hurricanes have a win over a P4 team as they went into Stillwater, Oklahoma, and took down the Cowboys of Oklahoma State 19-12. Weirdly enough, Memphis and Tulsa both saw the coaches of the P4 programs they defeated let go of their positions in the coming weeks. 

From a matchup perspective, the Tigers have the better roster and coaching staff, likely leading to a win on Saturday night. Anything can happen in the game of football, but the Tigers are on another level when it comes to the G6 level of college football. Currently, there are a few programs at the G6 level that could automatically compete within a P4. Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, Boise State, Army, and Navy are among those that have the budgets and depth to compete. Tulsa has some potential on the roster to pull an upset or two, but games like these come down to depth. 

According to the Memphis game notes, the Tigers have now scored 20 points or more in their last 45 games. Despite losing Seth Henigan and others in the offseason, the Memphis offense not only reloaded but also appears to have improved. Not only do the Tigers have the weapons across the board, but they also have a three-deep quarterback room that has the potential to compete with just about anyone in the country, combined with Sutton Smith and Greg Desrosiers at running back, and the Tigers can not only light up the scoreboard but can and have boatraced people off the field. 

On top of all that, during the Coach Ryan Silverfield era at Memphis, the Tigers are 29-6 when they play inside the friendly confines of Simmons Bank Liberty Bowl Stadium. Memphis has won ten consecutive home games dating back to the 2023 season, when they last lost to SMU 38-34. Memphis has won six out of the last eight games against Tulsa, with the last loss coming in 2021 when the Golden Hurricanes held home-field advantage, defeating the Tigers 35-29. 

Memphis and Tulsa will get underway under the bright lights of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with a kick-off slated for 7:00 on ESPNU. 

Photo Credits- Memphis Football on X