Memphis Tigers Football: The Complete 2026 Guide

If you follow college football, you've heard the name Memphis. The Memphis Tigers are the University of Memphis's NCAA Division I FBS team, playing in the American Conference — and in 2026, they're one of the most interesting teams in the Group of Five. A brand-new head coach, a roster rebuilt through the transfer portal, and a 5-1 start that has Tiger fans talking about a conference title run.

This is an independent fan guide: who's coaching the team, how the season is going, which players matter, where the games are played, and how you can watch or follow along.

Quick Facts

• Team: Memphis Tigers (University of Memphis)
• Level: NCAA Division I FBS
• Conference: American Conference
• Home stadium: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
• Head coach: Charles Huff (first season, hired December 2025)
• 2026 record: 5-1 overall, 2-0 in conference (before the Oct. 16 game at Tulane)
• Colors: blue and gray

The 2026 Season So Far

Memphis opened 2026 with a statement. Traveling to Las Vegas for a standalone Week Zero game on August 29, the Tigers beat UNLV 27-21 — the first time Memphis ever played a Week Zero contest, and the first time a Memphis head coach won his debut on the road. Down 14-7 at halftime, Memphis stormed back, outscoring UNLV 20-7 in the second half behind a defensive line that racked up six sacks. Defensive end Elijah Kinsler led the way with 2.5 sacks, and fellow transfer J'Mond Tapp added one of his own.

Week 1 brought the home opener: a 42-24 win over Arkansas State on September 5. That one meant a little extra — it was the 63rd meeting between the two programs, and the series goes all the way back to 1914. Memphis kept the momentum rolling on September 19 with a 45-21 win over UT Martin, the first meeting with the Skyhawks since 2013.

The lone loss came September 12 at Boise State, a 38-20 defeat to a ranked Broncos squad on the road. Nobody panics over that one — Boise is one of the toughest road trips in the Group of Five.

Then came October, and Memphis found another gear. On October 3 the Tigers went to Charlotte and won 59-8 — their most lopsided result of the year. A week later, the "Battle for the Bones" returned to Memphis: UAB came to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and left with a 38-13 loss. Memphis has now won three of the last four meetings with the Blazers.

The Charles Huff Era

Everything in 2026 runs through the new man in charge. Charles Huff arrived in December from Southern Miss, replacing Ryan Silverfield, who left for Arkansas. Huff has never been afraid of a rebuild — he won 32 games in four years at Marshall, including an upset at Notre Dame and the program's first-ever Sun Belt Conference title in 2024, then went 7-6 with a bowl berth in one season at Southern Miss.

He's rebuilt programs before — 32 wins in four years at Marshall, capped by the program's first-ever Sun Belt title in 2024, then a bowl berth in one season at Southern Miss.

Huff's debut didn't go unnoticed. After the UNLV win, he was named the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Week — a strong first impression for a coach who says he's chasing a conference championship.

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Players to Know

Marcus Stokes (QB) — the quarterback who threw the big second-half passes in the UNLV comeback, connecting with Stonka Burnside through the air.

Jaylin Carter (RB) — the workhorse on the ground, doing damage against UNLV, Arkansas State, and UAB. His 101-yard night against Tulane kept the chains moving in a tough road game.

Stonka Burnside (WR) — Stokes's favorite target, with nearly 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Tulane game.

Elijah Kinsler (DE) — the anchor of that ferocious defensive line, with 2.5 sacks in the opener.

J'Mond Tapp (DE) — another Southern Miss transfer on the edge, named the Shrine Bowl Defensive Player of the Week after the UNLV game.

What's Left: The Rest of the Schedule

As of this writing, six games remain on the 2026 slate:

• Oct. 16 — at Tulane (Yulman Stadium, New Orleans)
• Oct. 22 — vs East Carolina (home, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
• Oct. 31 — vs Army (home; the Black Knights' first trip to Memphis since 2002)
• Nov. 12 — at South Florida (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa)
• Nov. 21 — at Navy (Annapolis)
• Nov. 27/28 — vs Temple (home, regular-season finale)

Memphis also had open dates on September 26 and November 7. The home stretch is friendly: three of the final five games are in Memphis, and the October 31 date against Army has Halloween-night potential as a season-defining game.

How to Watch and Follow

Tiger games land on a mix of national and streaming platforms. The UNLV opener aired on FOX, the UAB game was on ESPN2, and several home games have streamed on ESPN+. Weeknight games tend to land on ESPN or ESPN2, and the November dates against South Florida and Navy are slated for ESPN.

If you want the full breakdown each week — kickoff times, TV channels, and score updates — the best places to look are the usual sports schedule pages and the university's own athletics site. We keep this guide focused on the bigger picture rather than minute-by-minute updates; check the contact page if there's something you'd like us to add.

Tickets: What It Costs

Memphis made a point of keeping football affordable this year. Season tickets started at $99 — a $50 cut from last season. Single-game tickets use tiered pricing: Army starts at $25, UAB, Arkansas State, and East Carolina start at $20, and UT Martin and Temple start at $15.

One thing to know: prices go up $5 during game week and another $5 on gameday at the box office, so buying early saves real money. There's also a mini plan that lets you pick any three games starting at $60 — a solid option if you can't make the whole season. Buy through the university's official ticket channels; we don't sell tickets and we don't link to resellers.

The Stadium

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium sits in the heart of Memphis and holds roughly 57,000 fans on gamedays. It has hosted Tiger football for decades — the Liberty Bowl name carries real history in this city, and the building still fills up for the big rivalry weekends. The west side chairbacks include access to Landers Plaza, a pregame gathering spot that fans rate highly. If you're visiting for the first time, the Battle for the Bones (UAB) or a Halloween-night date like Army are the atmospheres you want.

Program History: The Golden Era

Memphis enjoyed a remarkable run from 2014 through 2025: annual bowl appearances, regular appearances in the rankings, and wins over SEC programs that put the Tigers on the national map.

Rivalries define the calendar. Arkansas State goes back over a century. The Battle for the Bones against UAB is the one Memphis fans circle. And Army's rare visits — the Black Knights had only one win in the series before 2026, back in 1985 — always draw a crowd.

The 2026 season is a new chapter: a new coach, 71 new players, and the same expectation that has followed this program for a decade — win the conference, make noise in the playoff conversation, and pack the Liberty Bowl while doing it.

FAQ

Who is Memphis's head coach in 2026?
Charles Huff, hired in December 2025 after one season at Southern Miss and four at Marshall, where he won the 2024 Sun Belt title.

What is Memphis's record in 2026?
The Tigers were 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the American Conference heading into the October 16 game at Tulane, with wins over UNLV, Arkansas State, UT Martin, Charlotte, and UAB, and a loss at Boise State.

Where does Memphis play home games?
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

What conference is Memphis in?
The American Conference (AAC). The Tigers have been a fixture there for years and carry Power-conference ambitions.

Who is Memphis's quarterback?
Marcus Stokes, who engineered the second-half comeback in the season-opening win at UNLV.

When is the next home game?
East Carolina visits on October 22, followed by Army on October 31.

How much do tickets cost?
Single-game tickets start at $15-$25 depending on the matchup, with season tickets from $99.

The Bottom Line

Memphis football in 2026 is a program in transition that refused to wait its turn. A first-year head coach, a rebuilt roster, and a 5-1 start have the Tigers sitting near the top of the American Conference with everything still to play for. If the defense keeps playing the way it did in the opener — and the offense keeps finding Carter and Burnside — December could be very interesting in Memphis.