Memphis Football: 2022 Way-Too-Early Game Predictions
By Kathryn Rose
Memphis starts off the year with Mississippi State in Starkville.
Much has been made of future NFL offensive tackle Charles Cross leaving, but wideout Makai Polk takes his 1,046 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to the NFL too. The offense still has Will Rogers, though, and two do-everything backs who are deadly.
On defense, Mississippi State returns nearly all its major contributors. Linebacker Aaron Brule did transfer to Michigan State, but it’s a solid defensive unit still.
Memphis starts the year with a loss.
Final score: Mississippi State 41, Memphis 30
Pick Analysis. September 10. Annapolis, MD. player. Scouting Report. Navy Midshipmen. 2. 2394
Up next, the American Athletic Conference slate opens with a trip to the Naval Academy.
There’s no sugarcoating it; Navy was bad last year. At 4-8, they didn’t look anything like the Midshipmen fans are used to. Quarterback Tai Lavatai was the only real major contributor on offense, and even then, he doesn’t move the needle that much.
On defense, it doesn’t look great either. Leading tackler Diego Fagot is a servicemember now, and 2021 starter Johnny Hodges transferred to TCU.
Tiger football gets a needed 1-0 start in conference play.
Final score: Memphis 35, Navy 13 (Memphis 1-1, 1-0 in AAC)