Ranking the 2022 Memphis football opponents by toughness
Memphis, Tenn.. 6. Tulsa Golden Hurricane. player. 2377. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Nov. 10
Tulsa is better than last season’s record indicates. They lost six games last season; however, four of them were by 8 points or fewer.
The Golden Hurricane will have an experienced offense for 2022, featuring senior QB Davis Brin and senior wide receivers Keylon Stokes and JuanCarlos Santana.
Additionally, Tulsa boasts one of the best kickers and punters in the AAC in Zach Long and Lachlan Wilson, respectively.
Long was an outstanding 22 of 23 on field goal attempts last season and Wilson logged 45.7 yards per punt attempt— one of the best averages among all returning punters in the AAC.
If the game comes down to the final possession, Tulsa may have the upper hand. It happened last season when Wilson booted a 64-yard punt to force the Tigers to begin their final drive of the game, down six, on their own 11-yard line. Memphis ended up turning the ball over on that final possession, securing a win for Tulsa.
Greenville, N.C.. East Carolina Pirates. 5. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Oct. 15. 932
ECU will surprise a lot of people in 2022 and should probably be in the conversation as a dark horse to win the AAC this year. The Pirates return 14 starters on offense and defense and have been doing a terrific job on the recruiting trail.
ECU returns QB Holton Ahlers, a 3,000+ yard passer, and Keaton Mitchell, a 1,000+ yard rusher.
The Pirates have owned the Memphis football team as of late, coming out on top in 8 of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2006.
This will be the Memphis football team’s first road game after a four-game home stand in the middle of the season.
Southern Methodist Mustangs. 4. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 884. Nov. 26. Dallas
As long as Tanner Mordecai is under center for SMU, the Mustangs will have a chance against just about anybody.
Mordecai is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the conference, finishing with more than 3,600 passing yards and 39 touchdowns in 2021— enough for fifth-most in the country.
New head coach Rhett Lashlee, a former quarterback himself, may be able to help Mordecai take another leap forward in his game.
Memphis upset SMU last season, and will try to do so again this season on the road in Dallas.