USF Football Hosts Memphis in Clash of AAC Contenders

The USF Bulls (6-1, 3-0) are charging into a pivotal Saturday afternoon matchup, fresh off winning their homecoming game against the FAU Owls. This 48-13 victory, which featured the Bulls pulling away after leading 21-6 at the half, vaulted them into second place in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Now, only the Navy Midshipmen stand ahead of them in the standings, but the biggest test of the season looms: a road game against the formidable Memphis Tigers (6-1, 2-1). This game is monumental for both programs.

The Tigers’ Sudden Stumble

The Memphis Tigers, long favored to win the AAC, suffered a shocking setback last week, falling to the UAB Blazers. The Blazers, playing under an interim head coach after firing Trent Dilfer, stunned Memphis. Aside from a nail-biting one-point victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Tigers had largely dominated their opponents before the upset.

The loss to UAB revealed cracks in the Memphis armor. While the Tigers only trailed by three points at the half, UAB’s winning touchdown came in the fourth quarter. Memphis gave up 470 yards of offense, struggling against UAB’s balanced ground and air attack. Despite winning the turnover battle—a stat the Bulls have historically struggled with—Memphis may have been caught overlooking UAB, knowing their biggest challenge was the surging USF Bulls waiting in Week 9.

Momentum vs. Mastery: USF’s New Edge

The USF Bulls were warned that the FAU Owls game was a trap, given Memphis’s historical dominance over them. The Bulls have the momentum coming into this game, unlike in the past. In fact, the Tigers have won this matchup four years in a row. The last time the Bulls won was in 2016, a 49-42 shootout on the road.

The current Bulls team is a scoring machine, having poured in a combined 228 points in their last four games. They showed control and efficiency against FAU, holding the Owls to just 312 total yards, mostly through the air. The most encouraging sign: the Bulls did not commit a single turnover and won the turnover battle with an interception. The Bulls’ balanced offense—a key to winning consistently—will look to use the same game plan for Saturday’s crucial contest.

The AAC Driver’s Seat is Up for Grabs

Kickoff will be at 12:00 PM EST at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. For the first time in quite a while, USF is not a heavy underdog. Most sports betting sites have the two teams very evenly matched. The Tigers are favored, but only by a narrow margin.

The significance of this AAC battle cannot be overstated: the Bulls are the only team in the conference undefeated in league play, while the Tigers are trying to avoid a second conference loss. Either way, the winner of this game will be firmly in the driver’s seat for the American Athletic Conference title. The weather forecast for the mid-60s temperature at game time should set the stage for an exciting, decisive mid-October showdown.