Montgomery Bowl
Tigers come with a healthy roster ahead of the game against Florida Atlantic.
Memphis is set to take on Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl on Wednesday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).
It's the third postseason trip to Alabama for Memphis since 2015, and the Tigers are 0-3 in bowl games there. Memphis has played Florida Atlantic once before – when the Tigers lost the New Orleans Bowl in 2007.
Can the Tigers pull off their first bowl win since 2014? Here are five things to know about the Montgomery Bowl.
Tigers are healthy
Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said Sunday that he's expecting to have his full roster available.
"I do believe we should have hopefully all the bullets in the gun to be able to go," Silverfield said. "We are a little bit banged up just like we always are this late into the season, but I think we'll have our guys."
He said that tight end Sean Dykes, who left during the second -half of the Tigers' win over Houston, is listed as day-to-day.
Is this Brady White's last game?
Senior quarterback Brady White will have one year of eligibility left because the NCAA granted all Division I fall athletes an extra year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, he's been in college since 2015 and is already the Tigers' all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, and quarterback wins.
He hasn't announced whether or not he'll use that extra year yet.
"I'm just really cherishing every moment," White said. "Every day at practice and in the locker room and being around my teammates and my brothers. .... Just all the little things that might not ever be the same if you move on to that next phase of life."
FAU defense will be one of the strongest Memphis has faced
FAU averages 326.4 yards allowed per game, which is 17th in the country. The Owls are holding opponents to 16.5 points per game.
"They're one of those teams that's going to try to light you up on third down," Silverfield said. "That's where they're really, really good. And then base downs within that three-four defense, then bring pressure from both sides...i think they do a variety of things and you can see why offenses struggle. And they're pretty darn consistent."
Will the Tigers win a bowl game after five-straight losses?
The Tigers are an 8.5 point favorite, according to BETMGM.
Memphis has ended its season with a bowl game loss every year since it beat BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014.
"The coaches have definitely emphasized it," White said. "I think it's just known from everyone who has been there...we just know that would be a historic event and that would mean a lot not only this team and this year specifically but also for this program and its history."
Can Memphis get it done on the road?
Memphis is 1-3 away from the Liberty Bowl this season.
The loss to SMU was close, but games against Tulane and Cincinnati were decided by 14 points or more.
Memphis has been held to 21 points or less in each of its road games except for the loss to SMU. Memphis has won four of its last five.