The Memphis Tigers are two victories away from posting a 10-win season for the second straight year and it would be the first time in program history that Memphis has reached double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons and the sixth 10-win season overall.

Yes, it wouldn’t be the American Athletic Conference Championship the Tigers were hoping for.

But Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield reminded everyone during his weekly press conference on Monday that the Tigers, with two conference losses, aren’t mathematically eliminated from the title race. Technically, Memphis (8-2, 4-2, AAC) is still in contention heading into their final home game of the season against UAB on Saturday (7 p.m. ESPN2).

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“Until you tell me we’re dead, I’m going to keep fighting,” Silverfield said. “That’s the goal, right, is to play for a conference championship. But all we can do is focus on beating UAB.”

The route to the championship game is improbable but the scenario does exist. If Memphis wins its final two games against UAB and Tulane, it could lead to a four-way tie for second place. The Tigers would need Navy to beat Tulane while East Carolina wins its final three games against Tulsa, North Texas and Navy. 

Memphis, Navy, East Carolina and Tulane would have two conference losses in the unlikely chance that Memphis receives all the right breaks. The head-to-head would not apply, so the tiebreaker would trickle down to the College Football Playoff rankings. If no team is ranked, the deciding factor would be the computer rankings. Army, No. 25 in the CFP rankings, is the only undefeated team in the AAC. 

Silverfield said the Tigers don’t spend time talking about scenarios and probabilities.

“The goal is to go 1-0 this week,” Silverfield said. “I know that sounds like coach speak but it hasn’t changed. It really hasn’t. We haven’t talked about playoffs. We haven’t talked about (the conference championship).”

Memphis was voted as a preseason favorite to win the AAC and was expected to be in contention for the playoff. The CFP hopes have plummeted, and the Tigers need all the stars to align for a chance at the AAC title. Missing out on the championship game would be disappointing for a team that had such high expectations. Even though it appears the season won’t end the way Memphis hoped, Silverfield said nobody is quitting in the locker room.

“Come out and watch practice (on Tuesday) and you’ll see that this game (against UAB) is as important as any game of the season to these guys,” Silverfield said. “Watch how they prepare. Watch how they are at meetings. Watch how the locker room is like after a game. It’s important. It means so much.”

Saturday will be the final home game for several Memphis seniors, including players like defensive back Greg Rubin and quarterback Seth Henigan, who have been starting since they were freshmen in 2021.

The Tigers have won at least one more game than the previous year in every season since Memphis posted a 6-6 record in 2021. Memphis still has the chance to improve from last year’s 10-3 record if it wins out the regular season and is victorious in the bowl game.

“I don’t think in 108 years Memphis has ever had back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 108 years,” Silverfield said. “If that’s something we’re able to reach, I think you sit back and say ‘OK, wow that was a nice deal.’ Regardless if people want to say ‘Hey, it wasn’t the season you were expected to have.’ I get that, but we’re still playing for a lot right now and the focus currently is to go 1-0 this week.”