The Charles Huff era at Memphis starts with the biggest Week 0 game in the country: the Tigers visit UNLV at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, August 29 in a primetime FOX matchup between two Group of Six playoff contenders — a game with automatic-bid implications before September even arrives. The first-year head coach inherits an American Conference frontrunner and a schedule loaded with statement chances: a trip to Boise State, a Friday night at Tulane, and three weeknight games built for national TV.
Kickoff times for several games are announced closer to game week based on TV selections, so check back weekly — this page is updated as times, networks, and results come in.
Games That Will Decide Memphis’s Season
| Aug 29 at UNLV | The Group of Six eliminator, in primetime on FOX. The winner starts the year holding the head-to-head card in the race for the playoff’s automatic bid. |
| Sept 12 at Boise State | A trip to the blue turf against the Pac-12’s new anchor program — the kind of nonconference win that separates a playoff résumé from a nice season. |
| Oct 16 at Tulane | Friday night in New Orleans against the program Memphis has traded American Conference supremacy with — usually a de facto title-game preview. |
| Nov 12 at South Florida | A Thursday-night trip to Tampa against a rising USF team — the November road test that will make or break the conference race. |
How the Schedule Sets Up
Memphis learns who it is immediately: UNLV and Boise State inside the first three weeks are the two hardest games on the schedule, and both come with national playoff currency. From there the American slate breaks kindly — six home dates, a bye before the Tulane trip, and a second bye before the Thursday-night USF game. Win the two September measuring sticks and the Tigers control their own path to the automatic bid; here’s how the College Football Playoff works and how a Group of Six champion gets in. The FBS structure is governed by the NCAA.
The Bottom Line
UNLV in Week 0, Boise in Week 2, and a TV-friendly American slate behind them — Memphis’s 2026 schedule front-loads the drama and leaves the Tigers’ playoff fate in their own hands. Bookmark this page — times, networks, and results are updated throughout the season.