In what was a week of surprising news, Arkansas will play Memphis at 11 am on ABC in week four. With this, we at Last Word got to thinking (scary, we know), could this be a marquee matchup on the slate of games on September 20th? We take a deeper analysis of the four reasons Memphis and Arkansas deserve the national time slot.
Four Reasons Memphis and Arkansas Deserve The National Time Slot
Regional Battle
Do you find it odd that two programs 317 miles apart have only played five times? With this, the game on the 20th will be the first contest in nearly three decades. That game, a 23-9 Arkansas win, was also played in Memphis. Including this win, since the 1995 season, Arkansas is a perfect 6-0 in games played in Memphis. This, plus the recent success in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl for Arkansas and Memphis, should essentially feel like home for the Hogs.
This gives this meeting even more appeal to a national audience. The network, ABC, can replay great highlights from both programs in the limited series to inform fans. Moments for Arkansas, such as Clint Stoerner tossing a 52-yard touchdown pass in the most recent meeting. For Memphis, the historic 1992 game where Ken Irvin set an NCAA record with four blocked punts in a single game. This doubled the previous record and was later tied, in 2001, by James King from Central Michigan. A regional battle is just the first reason why this prime time slot is deserved.
Top G5 vs SEC
As fans scan the games each week, names and logos stand out. We could also say this applies to the AP voters as well, to be honest. With this, in week four, seeing an SEC logo and a top “Group of Five” logo will draw eyes. In addition, the Memphis Tigers are elite inside Simmons Bank Stadium. Under Tigers head coach Ryan Silverfield, Memphis is 29-6 at home. This should garner attention, especially when you take into account Memphis is 31-1 in its last 32 nonconference home games.
When you add in the Arkansas Razorbacks logo, plus a fan base that will travel, this game has the makings of an early morning heavyweight fight. Pittman has led the Hogs to five consecutive nonconference victories and enters the game 7-15 as a coach on the road. After all, these television executives saw something in these teams to make this decision. These factors undoubtedly give context to why these teams deserve this national time slot.
Points Galore
One thing that draws attention is the points. In this meeting, this should not be an issue as both teams find the endzone with regularity. Entering the game, Arkansas currently has the advantage in this average, 47 points to 37, over Memphis. With the Hogs’ offense in sync, their points can reach even higher than average. With Bobby Petrino calling plays, this game may reach well over the projected “Over” of 60 points.
In the case of Memphis, the points may be a deficit, but the ingredients are there for more. In their games thus far, the run game has been a focal point, along with a “Read” option off of this base plan. With the Nevada transfer, Brendon Lewis, this offense looks mightily different from years past. A dual-threat quarterback battle will always garner attention. With points scored with ease, this is easily the number three reason Arkansas and Memphis deserve this time slot. Who will win the showdown at almost noon? We will soon find out.
Early Risers Dream
We mentioned the noon time slot because, over the history of college football, it has been iconic. Many classic matchups have set the tone for the day of college football, and this game is no different. With potent offenses along with stingy defenses, the Tigers and Razorbacks look to make national noise early in the day. For many, this is just what they are looking for when plotting their games to watch.
This is another reason these programs deserve national attention. With fans dressed in blue and red packed in the stadium, the energy will be thick. The play on the field looks to be just as intense for four quarters with these two consistent winners competing. These two teams will look to make fireworks to go along with pancakes and orange juice as fans cheer on in the stands and on televisions across the country.
In closing, these two teams earned this position. With the wins on the season thus far and regional bragging rights, Arkansas and Memphis look to wake the nation up with great football. With a top group of five programs hosting a SEC foe, along with points galore, this game surely will have fans up early and on the edge of their seats. As the grills and griddles are fired up, and games for the day are being discussed across the nation. Memphis and Arkansas will be on many televisions, along with attention and intrigue.
Main Image: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
