Ranking the 2022 Memphis football opponents by toughness

This is going to be a really fun matchup for Memphis as they’ll get a chance to face former QB Grant Gunnell, who transferred to North Texas after suffering an injury and losing the starting job to true freshman Seth Henigan in 2021.

Gunnell was a four-start QB in the class of 2019 but is on his third team in as many seasons after previously being with Arizona. Expect Gunnell to have a massive chip on his should and give his former team all they can handle whenever the Mean Green’s offense takes the field.

This is the first meeting between the two teams since 2003, but expect to see a lot more when North Texas joins the AAC in July 2023.

Just 75 miles separate regional rivals Memphis and Arkansas State, playing each other for the third consecutive season after going seven years between meetings.

The Red Wolves haven’t gotten a win over Memphis since Gus Malzahn was their coach and the year was 2012. If you want an even deeper statistical nugget, A-State has not defeated Memphis at the Liberty Bowl since 2006.

In 2022, these Red Wolves (2-10 in 2021) are still deep into a rebuild under Butch Jones, who is in his second season at the helm in Jonesboro.

Expect some struggles from the Red Wolves early in the season.

Navy is a difficult matchup for anyone on a given week. Their patented triple-option is difficult for teams to plan for on a week’s notice.

It will be especially difficult for the Tigers this season with the game coming in the immediate aftermath of defending Mississippi State’s air raid offense— the polar opposite of the Navy’s offense.

They’ll go from defending against the pass almost exclusively in Week 1 to defending the run almost exclusively in Week 2.

The Midshipmen started last season very poorly, going 1-6 in their first seven games, but finished stronger with a 3-2 record.