Memphis Football Picked 4th in AAC Preseason Poll

AAC Media Days are underway in Arlington, Texas, showcasing the new look AAC for the first time with the additions of Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA.

Today, the preseason media poll released its rankings, picking Memphis at 4th place in the conference.

Does the preseason poll’s 4th-place ranking give the Tigers enough credit, or not?

Who’s Ahead of Memphis?

While Memphis has been competitive under Ryan Silverfield; some AAC programs have caught up.

Tulane is first in the AAC preseason rankings following last year’s Cotton Bowl victory over USC. UTSA and SMU follow closely behind the Green Wave at second and third respectively.

Memphis could very well end up having a better season than some of the schools selected above it. However, until Silverfield, his quarterback Seth Henigan and the rest of the Tigers prove they can consistently win games, fourth place is a fair position.

The #AmericanFB Preseason Media Poll 🏈 pic.twitter.com/5zqtzlJiqS

— The American (@American_Conf) July 25, 2023

Fans content with 4th Place?

After two consecutive 6-6 seasons, some fans have begun voicing their opinions on Silverfield’s job security. With the American conference being weaker this season, would a 4th-place finish be sufficient to satisfy fans?

In my opinion, this is a highly winnable conference for Memphis. The Tigers have bolstered several positions through the transfer portal, enhancing their roster significantly during the off-season. Anything below a 3rd place finish in the conference this year would be disappointing.

Overall

If the preseason rankings prove to be accurate, I wouldn’t anticipate Silverfield losing his job.

However, I do think his seat would start to grow noticeably warmer. Interest for the program has gone down significantly since he has taken over at the helm.

If Memphis wants to continue to set its ideas on joining a Power 5 conference, it needs to dominate the AAC in football.

The 2023 season has a lot riding on it for both the program and its current staff.