The 2025 college football season couldn’t get past Week 1 without creating ripples in the College Football Playoff race for non-power conference schools.

Last year, Sutton Smith tore his ACL during the Tigers’ first game, and his 2024 season was over in less than 15 minutes of game time. This year, things were different. 

The 2025 college football season has opened in chaos, but not in Memphis. The Tigers were all business in taking care of Chattanooga in their season opener.

Nine tackles-for-loss, DeMarco Ward’s pick-six highlight a good day at the office for the Memphis defense.

Memphis running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. suffered a lower-body injury in the first quarter of Saturday’s season opener against Chattanooga and did not return. 

Box score for Saturday’s college football game between the Memphis Tigers and Chattanooga Mocs played at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

New Tiger quarterback Brendon Lewis completed 22-of-28 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 81 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown in his first start for Memphis.

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Box score: Memphis 45, Chattanooga 10

The Brendon Lewis officially begins for the Memphis Tigers against Chattanooga. The Nevada transfer quarterback is one of several new faces who have banded together in hopes of doing something special. 

Memphis football beat writer Frank Bonner II and columnist John Martin discuss the Tigers’ chances of winning the American Conference, the backup quarterback situation and what to expect in the season opener. 

Former Carolina Panther and current Memphis Tigers defensive back coach Reggie Howard broke his neck in his final game as a Memphis player. He still managed to spend seven years in the NFL. 

Four recent former Tigers were waived or released by NFL teams in the past week.

Which transfers will be the most impactful Memphis Tigers football offensive and defensive addition? Which returnee will have the best breakout season?

Tigers athletic director Ed Scott discussed Big 12 rejection, Memphis’ deal with FedEx and SEC scheduling before teeing off at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic.

Some fans were alarmed when the Memphis football account posted on social media last Saturday — a week before the home season opener — that Memphis is holding walk-on tryouts for defensive backs. 

The Tigers released their first depth chart of the 2025 season. Part of the two-deep was expected, but one omission raised eyebrows.

“Now that we’ve officially reached Week 1 of the college football season, here’s a heads up on what’s going to happen in 2025.”

“The new deal isn’t a panacea for Memphis athletics like getting into the Big 12 would be, but it’s the next best thing to keep the Tigers afloat in the intermediate.”

The late FedEx founder, who died on June 21, was a longtime supporter of the University of Memphis and was crucial to the sports department’s financial growth.

The relationship with FedEx continues to be a game-changer for a Memphis sports department looking to keep up in the new revenue-sharing era.

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The Tigers start the season against Chattanooga on Aug. 30, and coach Ryan Silverfield gave insight into the offensive line depth chart earlier this week. 

Nevada transfer receiver Cortez Braham is officially listed on the Memphis roster after committing to the Tigers on July 31. How much of the playbook will he be comfortable with by the season opener? 

“If you’re Memphis … it’s all about putting your best foot forward for when the next TV contract comes along,” CBS Sports college football insider Tony Barnhart said Monday. “Right now, at this time, it didn’t work out for Memphis. Maybe next time, it will.”

With the Tigers open the season with a home game against Chattanooga on Aug. 30, one player is out for the season. This is the second straight year he has suffered a significant injury during preseason camp.

Accomplishing that milestone would put Ger-Cari Caldwell in rare company.

Coach Ryan Silverfield named Nevada transfer Brendon Lewis as the starter earlier this week following a competition with true freshman AJ Hill and redshirt freshman Arrington Maiden.