MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis will have a lot riding on the outcome of Saturday's American Athletic Conference football game against Tulsa at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
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A win keeps the Tigers mathematically eligible for the West Division title, providing several other results unfold.
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A win qualifies the Tigers for a fifth straight bowl game, extending the program's record run.
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And a win moves coach Mike Norvell closer to setting a school mark for the most wins in three consecutive seasons. Norvell has 23. The record is 25.
The Tigers (5-4, 2-3 American) are coming off a 59-41 victory at East Carolina, the team's first road win of the season, and are seeking to build on the momentum the win generated.
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Tulsa (2-7, 1-4 American) is coming off a 49-19 victory over UConn, a win that snapped a seven-game losing streak.
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Norvell, a former Tulsa assistant, said the Golden Hurricane will present some challenges for the UofM passing game, led by quarterback Brady White and receiver Damonte Coxie. White passed for 362 yards and three touchdowns against ECU, while Coxie had a career-best 176 receiving yards and scored two TDs.
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Tulsa, however, has made some tweaks to its secondary, which could give White and Coxie fits.
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"They have done a really nice job," Norvell said. "They changed their defense up a little bit from what they have done in the past. They are utilizing a little more of three high safeties scheme, which is a challenge to be able to attack. You look at their numbers defensively and it is much improved. "
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Tulsa ranks third in the conference in pass defense (allowing 173.2 per game) and is fourth in total defense. Memphis ranks eighth nationally in total offense at 535.6 yards per game.
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"They are third or fourth in scoring defense in our league and the pass defense is one of the best in the country," Norvell said. "It is tough sometimes to find windows but you have to be efficient in every aspect of the concepts that you are trying to run.
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"These guys are going to attack and they have a couple of explosive guys up front that can get to the quarterback. It is really going to be one of those games where you have to be on point in every aspect. They have given trouble to every offense that they have played."
Memphis has dropped three of the past four games against Tulsa at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, but won last year's game in Tulsa, 41-14. A win Saturday keeps the UofM's bowl streak intact, one that began in 2014 when the season ended with a postseason victory over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl.
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"It is key for our program," Norvell said of becoming bowl eligible. "One thing that we strive to do every year is we want to be bowl champions. The first thing you have to do is get there.
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"This week we have an opportunity in front of us that if we can take care of business and focus on this one game, we know that we'll get an opportunity to play an additional game at the end of the year."
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Tiger RB Darrell Henderson remains the nation's most explosive back. He averages a Football Bowl Subdivision-best 9.48 yards per carry. He also ranks second nationally with 1,280 rushing yards.
Tulsa is coming off a lopsided win against UConn, a game in which the Golden Hurricane amassed a season-high of 638 total yards, including 470 – also a season-high – on the ground.
Memphis is playing its first home game in nearly a month. The Tigers last played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Oct. 13 against UCF.
Tigers WR Damonte Coxie is coming off back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. He accomplished the feat earlier in the season against Georgia State (123) and South Alabama (113).
