Memphis football opened its 2023 campaign last Saturday with a 56-14 obliteration of Bethune-Cookman.
The Tigers allowed just 91 total yards defensively and shut out the Wildcats’ offense. The latter’s only points came from two defensive touchdowns, the second one occurring with just 1:25 left in the fourth quarter. Despite the offense playing sloppily at times, Memphis looked very impressive in its season-opening victory.
The Tigers’ season, however, truly begins this weekend. Memphis will travel to Jonesboro to take on cross-state rival Arkansas State for the second time in three years. This will also be the fourth year in a row the two schools play each other.
A Long-Tenured Feud
The Red Wolves are one the Tigers’ fiercest rivals historically. The two programs have faced off 61 times dating back to 1914. Memphis leads the all-time series 32-24-5 and has won the past four matchups. Arkansas State hasn’t beaten Memphis since 2012.
Both schools have been on downward trajectories in the 2020s after being two of the best Group of Five programs of the 2010s. ASU has particularly struggled since it hired former Tennessee coach Butch Jones after Blake Anderson’s departure to Utah State. In two seasons under Jones, the Red Wolves have gone 2-10 and 3-9 respectively and won just two conference games in that span.
Year three doesn’t seem like it’ll be any better. Arkansas State was throttled by Oklahoma 73-0 in its season opener last week. Chances are that this will be Jones’ last season in Jonesboro if the Red Wolves can’t improve.
Memphis, meanwhile, has also struggled in recent years under Ryan Silverfield. The Tigers are coming off two consecutive 6-6 (3-5 AAC) campaigns. Those hardships are nothing compared ASU’s, though. And Memphis could certainly be turning a new leaf after reloading its roster in the transfer portal.
But here’s the thing: none of what was just mentioned above matters.
Why Memphis Could be in Trouble on Saturday
Yes, Memphis is more talented.
Yes, Memphis is the better program.
And yes, Memphis is favored by 21.5 points.
None of it matters, though.
Arkansas State wants to beat Memphis. Badly.
One could even say that Memphis is Arkansas State’s “Super Bowl.” The Red Wolves have definitely treated the past two matchups as such.
2021’s game in Jonesboro saw the two teams go down to the wire in a 55-50 shootout. Despite trailing 55-36 in the fourth quarter, Arkansas State had a chance to win the game in the final moments. Fortunately for Memphis, however, time ran out on the Red Wolves’ offense.
Arkansas State got even closer to beating the Tigers last season in Memphis. The Red Wolves erased an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to take a 32-31 lead over the Tigers with 4:22 left in the contest. But they then collapsed soon after, and Memphis scored two late touchdowns to secure a 44-32 victory.
Don’t fool yourselves. The Tigers could be in major trouble on Saturday if they don’t come into this matchup with the right mentality. This game will reveal exactly who this Memphis team is.
If Memphis rolls over Arkansas State as expected, it’ll likely be a legitimate AAC contender like most anticipate. If Memphis plays down to competition again, however, perhaps the Tigers are exactly what they’ve been the past two seasons.
Let’s not get this twisted. Memphis should easily defeat the Red Wolves on Saturday. In fact, it shouldn’t even be close. But considering the futility of Silverfield’s tenure thus far, one cannot help but be skeptical of the Tigers’ chances to take care of business.
The good news is Memphis has every ability to change this narrative in just a few days.
All it has to do is actually take Arkansas State seriously.
