College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25, Week 3

Memphis was scheduled off in Week 2 after opening the year with a 37-24 victory over Arkansas State over Labor Day weekend. Even without Kenneth Gainwell, who elected to opt out of the 2020 season and begin preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft, the Tigers had plenty of offensive firepower.

Brady White threw for four touchdowns and 275 yards on 26-of-36 passing. Rodrigues Clark picked up the slack in the backfield with a 20-carry, 105-yard performance that included a rushing score.

When Memphis will play again, though, is a question without a definite answer. The Tigers’ September 18 game against Houston was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the team stemming from a joyride on a party bus after the victory over the Red Wolves. 20 players have tested positive, with another 20 in quarantine after contract tracing.

The situation speaks at once to the danger of playing football in the midst of a pandemic, and the challenges in preventing college kids from being college kids. Hopefully the players all recover without long-term issues and the Tigers can return to the field sooner rather than later.