NCAAF Game Preview - Memphis at South Florida
Sat Nov 23, 2019 4:00 PM EST

Ark
20
LSU
56
F
PSU
17
OSU
28
F
TxAM
13
UGA
19
F
WCU
3
Bama
66
F
Oreg
28
AzSt
31
F
Utah
35
Ariz
7
F
TCU
24
Okla
28
F
MIN
38
NW
22
F
Mich
39
Ind
14
F
Tex
10
Bayl
24
F
Purd
24
Wisc
45
F
BC
7
ND
40
F
Sam
0
Aub
52
F
Temp
13
Cin
15
F
Mem
49
SoFL
10
F
Ill
10
Iowa
19
F
Boise
56
UtSt
21
F
SMU
28
Navy
35
F
OkSt
20
WVU
13
F
TxSt
13
App
35
F
Pitt
0
VaTec
28
F
E Mi
45
NIU
17
F
Ohio
66
BGSU
24
F
Akr
17
MiaOH
20
F
Toled
30
Buff
49
F
NCSt
26
GATec
28
F
ColSt
7
Wyo
17
F
Ball
38
Kent
41
F
JMU
55
URI
21
F
UCF
34
Tul
31
F
ECU
31
UConn
24
F
Kans
31
IASt
41
F
Lib
27
UVA
55
F
MSU
27
Rut
0
F
BYU
56
UMass
24
F
HBU
14
SamHu
37
F
SoAl
15
GASt
28
F
E Ky
29
JacSt
23
F
AF
44
NM
22
F
GaSo
33
ArkSt
38
F
UCLA
35
USC
52
F
ETenn
0
Vand
38
F
LT
14
UAB
20
F
W Ky
28
SMiss
10
F
NorTx
14
Rice
20
F
Mer
7
UNC
56
F
Neb
54
MD
7
F
UT-M
7
KY
50
F
Marsh
13
UNCC
24
F
SJSU
35
UNLV
38
F
Cal
24
Stan
20
F
UTEP
35
NMS
44
F
Syr
34
Lou
56
F
OD
17
MidTN
38
F
CoCar
42
ULMon
45
F
Troy
3
ULLaf
53
F
FlAtl
40
UTSA
26
F
K St
30
TxTch
27
F
MiaFL
24
FLInt
30
F
Hou
24
Tuls
14
F
Tenn
24
MIZ
20
F
Abil
7
MissSt
45
F
Duke
27
Wake
39
F
OreSt
53
WaSt
54
F
Wash
14
Colo
20
F
NEV
35
Fres
28
F
SDSU
11
Hawaii
14
F
Ohio
52
Akr
3
F
WestMI
14
NIU
17
F
No. 18 Memphis looks for fifth in row on trip to USF
Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:10 AM

Memphis needs to win to ensure a share of first place in the American Athletic Conference West Division, and South Florida must win its final two games to gain bowl eligibility.

Those are some of the stakes in the teams' matchup Saturday afternoon in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

"I think everyone is in a must-win situation," Memphis coach Mike Norvell said as his 18th-ranked Tigers (9-1, 5-1 AAC) look to extend their winning streak to five games. "So are we. As a college football player, that's how you approach the game.

"Their sense of urgency to win this game will be no different than ours. We're going into it knowing we want to play to the best of their ability. They've got to win the next two to get to a bowl game, and we've got to win the next one. That's our approach."

With East Division leader Cincinnati looming for Memphis -- and a trip to UCF awaiting USF in its regular-season finale -- neither team can afford a slip.

"We've got two games remaining, and the key thing is just get to a bowl game," Bulls coach Charlie Strong said. "You gotta do it for our seniors."

The Bulls (4-6, 2-4) have lost their last two games -- to Cincinnati and Temple -- but they threw a scare into the then-No. 17 Bearcats last week before losing 20-17 on a field goal as time ran out. The defense, in particular, has played well, limiting the Owls to just one touchdown in USF's 17-7 loss before holding the Bearcats to just 278 yards in total offense.

The Bulls have had at least one takeaway in every game this season and are tied for third in the nation in turnovers gained (22).

"If you watch this defense, especially the last two or three weeks, it has played very well," Strong said.

On offense, Bulls running back Jordan Cronkrite needs to rush for 314 yards in the last two games to reach the 1,000-yard mark for a second consecutive season. He gained 1,121 yards in 2018.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan McCloud had a nice night for the Bulls against the Bearcats, topping the 200-yard mark passing for a second consecutive game with a season-high 267 yards.

"They have explosive playmakers and are working to put it all together," Norvell said. "We know they are capable."

For Memphis, running back Kenneth Gainwell has rushed for 1,166 yards -- No. 2 in the AAC -- and junior quarterback Brady White, a transfer from Arizona State, has passed for 691 yards in the past two games in posting league wins over SMU and Houston.

"There hasn't been a night-and-day change in him," Norvell said of White, who has completed 67.4 percent of his attempts for 285.2 yards per game. "He's been playing at a high level. He's completing the ball. We're moving the ball down the field and maximizing those opportunities. I think he's played at a high level throughout this season."

--Field Level Media

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