In the second annual Thanksgiving game of the year, the Memphis Tigers will welcome the Midshipmen of Navy to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for a highly anticipated American Conference matchup. Despite not having the season go the way they intended, with three losses to UAB, Tulane, and East Carolina, the Tigers have long been eliminated from contention for winning the American and reaching the College Football Playoff, but the Tigers still have a lot to play for when they host Navy on Thursday night for the Thanksgiving special. 

With a win over Navy on Thanksgiving night, the Tigers would improve to 9-3 in the regular season and open the door wide for another ten-win season for the program and Coach Silverfield. Last season, the Tigers finished the season with 11 wins, giving the Tigers a program-record 5th ten-win season, and Coach Silverfield has the opportunity to give Memphis a back-to-back ten-win season for the second time in program history. Another ten-win season would be the 6th in program history, dating back to the first in 1938. Memphis has to win first, and that won’t be an easy feat, as Navy is among the best teams in the American while remaining in contention for the American Championship bid and a long shot to reach the College Football Playoff. 

Taking a look at the Navy Midshipmen is like going to your grandparents for the 100th time; you know what you’re getting when you face Navy. A dynamic triple option offense that can score a good bit of points, but can also manage a lead with stellar clock management that makes coming back on the Midshipmen nearly impossible. 

Navy does have a familiar face at quarterback in Blake Horvath, who is one of the best quarterbacks and all-around players in the American Conference. Horvath brings his senior leadership and a unique skill set that makes it hard to game-plan for if you’re Coach Jordon Hankins and the Memphis defensive unit. Navy also has Alex Tecza at running back, a dynamic back not afraid to lower his shoulder to take the hits while gaining the extra yards after contact that makes the Midshipmen’s offensive units so hard to stop. 

Thursday night’s matchup between Memphis and Navy will be the 11th all-time, with Memphis leading 6-4. The Midshipmen took the game last season in a rare 56-44 shootout. 

On the offensive side of the ball for Memphis, it’ll be interesting to see the health of Brendon Lewis following the bye week for the Tigers. Lewis has battled through multiple lingering injuries all season, and it’ll be interesting to see what he can do on Thursday night after a week off. Elsewhere around the offense, Coach Tim Cramsey will look to dial up the scoreboard while putting Navy in an uncomfortable position needing to score a lot of points with a slower-paced offense. 

For Memphis to be victorious on Thursday night, the Tigers need to jump out early and not let off the gas. Navy isn’t a team with the weapons to play an up-tempo comeback game. If Coach Silverfield and the boys can jump out to an early lead, the defense can do its thing while keeping the Midshipmen behind the eight ball. What can’t happen is letting Navy jump out to an early 14-0 lead or something along those lines because with the tempo they play with, mounting a comeback might be difficult for the Tigers to overcome. 

Memphis and Navy will get underway on Thanksgiving night under the lights at the Liberty Bowl with a kickoff slated for 6:30 on ESPN. 

Photo Credits- Memphis and Navy Football on X