Tigers vs. Arkansas State gets prime time slot on ESPN
Finally, Memphis football has a time for its season opener and it will be in prime time on Sept. 5.
The AAC announced Wednesday that the Tigers will host Arkansas State at 7 p.m. on ESPN. It's one of seven games scheduled for next Saturday and arguably the best matchup.
Memphis is coming off a 12-win season and a trip to the Cotton Bowl last year after winning the AAC championship. The Tigers begin the season 26th overall in the preseason AP Top 25 poll and 30th overall in the Amway coaches preseason poll, which both ranked nine teams that are not playing this season.
Arkansas State won eight games last season, including the Camellia Bowl.
Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said earlier this month that he hoped the game would be a national showcase. Prior to the announcement, he once again campaigned for the game to be featured in prime time.
“If the fans are limited in the stands, we'll be able to put on for the country and that certainly excites us a little bit more,” Silverfield said.
The Tigers are no strangers to prime time games.
They defeated SMU last season in ABCS national game of the week and won all four games last year that were featured on ABC, including a 15-10 win over Ole Miss.
Memphis' athletic department has yet to announce seating capacity for Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium but tickets are limited to season ticket holders, families of parents and students.
Fans must sit at least 12 feet apart, must wear face coverings at all times on stadium grounds and no tailgating is permitted. But even with smaller crowd, the Tigers are ready for another chance to be shown on a bigger platform.
“We take pride in the fact that we're one of the few teams that's still playing,” linebacker Tim Hart said. “Just having that spotlight and an ability to showcase against a group of guys that's formidable, it's always an opportunity.”