The first College Football Playoff Rankings were released this week and if the playoff started today Mississippi State and Ole Miss would hold seeds one and four respectively, with Florida State No. 2 and Auburn No. 3.

2. Tigers Hope to ‘Grind’ Win Against MTSU - Friday, September 19, 2014

It’s a big game. Big enough that the University of Memphis got the Grizzlies’ Tony Allen – “The Grindfather” – to do a short video urging fans to come out for the football game this Saturday, Sept. 20, against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

3. Wade: College Football Returns With Passion - Friday, August 29, 2014

First off, I don’t believe everything that Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper says.

“Coach Lane Kiffin is a great coach and a great person to be around,” Cooper said of the Crimson Tide’s new offensive coordinator. “Coach is a likable guy.”

4. Tigers’ Progression Dependent on Solid Defense - Tuesday, August 5, 2014

When the Tigers’ 3-9 season was done, there were not a lot of statistics to point to with pride. But the University of Memphis did finish the 2013 college football season ranked 12th nationally against the run, and a respectable 39th nationally in total defense.

5. Fuente Keenly Aware of Job’s Ups, Downs - Friday, November 1, 2013

It was a postmortem that sounded like a lot of other postmortems from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

“Our guys battled their tails off,” University of Memphis coach Justin Fuente said after his team lost, 34-21, to Cincinnati on Wednesday, Oct. 30. “Again, our margin for error is not very big.”

6. Tigers Need Defense Against Cincinnati - Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The best part of the Tigers’ 34-29 loss to SMU – if there can be a best part – was linebacker Ryan Coleman tying an NCAA record by returning two fumbles for touchdowns.

7. Tigers See Bye Week as Advantage - Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Most of the college football world is in the midst of game week. The University of Memphis is not, having to wait until 3:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to play Duke.

“I’d rather be playing as soon as possible,” Tigers defensive end Terry Redden said.

8. Optimism Reigns as Tigers Prep for Season - Friday, August 9, 2013

There is no reliable way to determine if a losing football program is on the precipice of becoming a winning football program. If there was, we’d all be getting rich betting the games.

But there is something to be said about change starting at the top. Second-year University of Memphis coach Justin Fuente and several players – all members of the team’s Leadership Council – met with the media on Wednesday, Aug. 7, the official reporting date; the first of four helmet-and-shorts practices was to begin the next day, and then on Tuesday, Aug. 13, the first practice in full pads.