As the final seconds ticked off the clock in 2026 Battle for the Bones, Memphis once again ran away with a conference foe this season, dominating UAB 38-13 before shifting focus to a road test at Tulane on Friday night. For Coach Charles Huff, the Bones trophy was just another game, as his goal is to win Memphis the American Championship, then get Memphis to the College Football Playoff, and let the chips fall where they may. For the Tigers, after losing to Boise State, they quietly turned the corner and appear to be developing into the team many expected to see from year one of the Coach Huff era at Memphis.
Since losing to Boise State, Memphis has outscored UT Martin, Charlotte, and UAB, 142 to 42, a 100-point difference in the Tigers and their opponents since September 13th. Not only have the Tigers been on a winning streak, but the Tigers have been dominating, compared to years past when Memphis might be on a winning streak, but the Tigers would barely be getting by teams like UT Martin and Charlotte; even last year under Coach Silverfield, the Tigers were embarrassed on the road by a UAB team that had just made a midseason coaching change. For Memphis to not only win these games, but to dominate in the fashion they’ve been dominating, has repositioned the Tigers for a strong finish to the 2026 season where, despite the loss in September, the Tigers are still very much in play for the College Football Playoff. The Tigers will need Boise State to lose two more times, but at the very least, the program has hope and excitement around a possible American Championship and a chance to earn a trip to the College Football Playoff.
There are a lot of people around the fan base, or around college football, who have tried to figure out what might be different from the Memphis team that lost on the road to Boise State on September 13th, and honestly, after seeing this team since that loss, everyone on the roster has completely bought into what Coach Huff and his staff have built, and now the Tigers have turned into a well-oiled machine where the excitement is backed up by the play on the field.
Starting on the offensive side of the ball, everyone knows their role, including Marcus Stokes, Jaylin Carter, and Hunter Tipton, who have all settled into not only being three of the best offensive players, but three guys that the other guys on the roster can rely on to be leaders for the Tigers this season. All three have already made a case for their own trophy cases, with personal accolades galore coming their way after the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers have also drastically turned into one of the most feared defensive units in the conference, with guys like Zach Ruffin, Elijah Kinsler, J’Mond Tapp, Mike Montgomery, and Ian Foster all playing monster roles for the Tigers’ defense that has really shaped up since the Boise State loss.
So what does Memphis have to do going forward to keep the momentum going? It’s a rather simple answer; don’t overcomplicate it. Just win. Simply win football games, keep playing your brand of football, and dominate the teams you need to dominate. It’s really that simple. If you’re a fan and want to scoreboard-watch as the season progresses, you’re allowed to, but all Memphis has to do is win. Take care of business and don’t let the rat race of gunning for a College Football Playoff escape the fact that the Tigers are in the driver’s seat to play for the American Championship. Sure, earning a place in the College Football Playoff would do wonders for the program, but it’s also important to take each game at a time and then compete for the conference championship.
Memphis and Tulane will kick off at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans on Friday night at 6:30 on ESPN.
Photo Credits- Memphis football on X
