Memphis returns to action Saturday night against Arkansas State. The Tigers enter the game 1-0 following a road win against UNLV in week zero, but this will be the first game for the Red Wolves.
With it being the season opener for Arkansas State, Butch Jones didn’t release a depth chart, similar to what Charles Huff did last week against the Rebels. The Red Wolves have spent most of the offseason with a quarterback battle, and while it hasn’t been announced, it appears Texas transfer Trey Owens has the upper hand.
Owens appeared in only one game with the Longhorns, and it will be interesting to see how he looks if he is named the starter.
While Arkansas State will have a new quarterback, they return some key weapons at running back and receiver.
Jones returns his top two leading rushers from last seasons team. Devin Spencer returns after leading the team with 559 yards and three touchdowns, while Kenyon Clay comes back after going for 523 yards and three touchdowns a season ago.
The Red Wolves lost All-Time leading receiver Corey Rucher, who exhausted his eligibility, but Chauncy Cobb returns and will look to play a huge role at the receiver position. After recording four yards in 2024, Cobb had a breakout season last year and finished with 797 yards an a touchdown on 73 receptions.
Defensively, Arkansas State doesn’t return a lot of starters, but two of its top four tacklers from last year are back.
Here’s a look at how to watch the Tigers’ home opener against Arkansas State:
TV: N/A
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: 98.9 The Roar of Memphis
Line: Memphis -10.5
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
What to watch for in Memphis’ game against the Red Wolves:
It will be interesting to see the differences from week zero to week one on sides of the ball. Everyone within the program was thrilled with the win over UNLV, but both Charles Huff and Marcus Stokes said there were things that needed to be improved on.
Stokes threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns in the first game, but he showed some nerves early in the game. With one game under his belt with Tigers, he will be someone to watch against the Red Wolves.
In the first game, he threw a pass to eight different players, and it’s unclear if any pass-catcher will become Stokes’ go-to option. Tight end Hunter Tipton looks like the most likely candidate, but the Tigers have a ton of speed, and a guy like Jemyri Davis or Stonka Burnside could separate themselves with speed.
Memphis’ defense was the story in game one, but the weak link seemed to be the secondary. Most people believed that the secondary would be a strength for the Tigers, but they struggled at times in Las Vegas.
They will be a group to watch against the Red Wolves, but Arkansas State will likely use the run game often, especially early in the game. With a new quarterback making his debut and a pair of running backs returning, Jones might try to get the run-game going early.
The defensive line slowed Jai’Den Thomas last week, and they should have similar success tonight.
