The talk of SMU’s game against Memphis began on the sideline during the Mustangs' romp over Stephen F. Austin on Saturday. It quickly became the center of discussion in the locker room after the game.
Getting a sizable win over the Lumberjacks was nice, but it was expected. Next up was arguably the toughest test of the season — a date with the defending American Athletic Conference champions. So the focus was quick to shift.
“I think our guys — you know, it’s our first conference game,” said SMU head coach Sonny Dykes. “I think that’s the biggest thing, is just trying to get off to a good start in conference play. … I know it’s been a long time since SMU has beaten Memphis, I don’t know how long.”
The last time SMU beat the Tigers was Oct. 13, 2013. In 2019, a year when the words “the first time since” were written numerous times to contextualize the Mustangs' various accomplishments, a win over Memphis was still elusive. SMU marched into Memphis with an 8-0 record last year and came out licking its wounds from its first loss.
This time, the game is overshadowed by some uncertainty. Memphis has missed its last two games with a COVID-19 outbreak. It’s unclear just who will be available, but Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield said Monday his team would not be at full strength.
This week also marked the first time in the last few weeks that SMU didn’t publicly say it had zero positive COVID-19 cases. The school declined to answer that question.
“We do feel like we’re over the massive hump we had to overcome,” Silverfield said Monday. “I feel like we’re headed in the right direction. I do feel like we are getting healthier. We do have the majority of our team back.”
Silverfield said conditioning will be enough of a concern that players who have been out because of COVID-19 will probably not be able to play a full game.
Even with all of that, this is still a nationally ranked Memphis team. It’s a team that is superior to the opponents the Mustangs (3-0) have handled in the first month of the season. And it’s still a hugely meaningful game.
“It’s definitely, it’s a big game,” Dykes said. “And that’s one of the things that we’ve been trying to do really is point toward the importance of competing for a conference championship. And you start off 0-1, and sometimes it’s hard to get back in the race.”
5 Key Stats
28 days: It’s been 28 days since Memphis has played a game. Both teams opened the season Sept. 5. Memphis got a win over Arkansas State that day. Since then, games against Houston and UTSA were called off. The Houston game was rescheduled for December. The 28 days off will have some impact, but it remains to be seen if it’s a positive or a negative for the Tigers.
18 of 19 in red zone: SMU has scored in 18 of its 19 red-zone trips this season. That’s an extremely successful rate. The Mustangs were pretty unstoppable against the competition they’ve faced thus far in 2020. Memphis presents a whole different level. But this number is also reflective of SMU’s ability to confidently kick field goals, although 15 of those 18 scores have been touchdowns.
4 TFLs: SMU defensive tackle Elijah Chatman has four tackles for a loss this season, including two sacks. All of those came in the Texas State and Stephen F. Austin games. He’s already eclipsed his season totals from his freshman year in 2019. The Mustangs have relied on new personnel on the defensive line this year and Chatman has been good thus far.
47-37: Memphis has only played one game, but in that game it ran the ball 47 times and threw it 37 times. That might not be totally indicative of what will happen Saturday. But it shows an idea of what Memphis' offense might look like. The Tigers are going to run the ball, with or without Kenny Gainwell, the all-league player who opted out.
10.6: Uylsses Bentley IV is rushing for 10.6 yards per carry, making him one of the best running backs in college football. This will be his first true test to see if his success is transferrable to big-time opponents.
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