Memphis heads into another early-season test Tuesday night, this time making the short trip down Interstate 40 to Nashville for a matchup with Vanderbilt on Nov. 10.
The Tigers arrive at 2-0 after squeezing past VCU 89-88 on Nov. 7, a game decided when Jayden Reid knocked down the go-ahead free throws with five seconds left. Vanderbilt is also 2-0 and comes in off a win over Wake Forest on Nov. 5, its first major test of the season.
Tipoff is set for 6:15 p.m. from Memorial Gym in Nashville, and the game will stream nationally on SEC Network+.
Memphis has already opened the month with a win over Iowa State, 80-74, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before surviving VCU. The Tigers’ next stretch includes a Nov. 15 home game against Louisville at 12 p.m. on ESPN, followed by Evansville on Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
The schedule keeps moving quickly after that, with Memphis set to face Penn State in the Bahamas on Nov. 25 in Battle 4 Atlantis at 4 p.m. on ESPNU, then a TBD opponent on Nov. 27. The Tigers close out November against Dayton in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. on ESPN.
December brings a packed run as well, with games against Jackson State, Baylor, Grand Canyon, Texas, Arkansas-Little Rock and East Carolina before the calendar flips to January. The conference slate includes trips to South Florida, FAU, UAB, Charlotte, Wichita State, Tulane, UTSA and North Texas, plus home dates with Rice, Wichita State, North Texas, UAB, Charlotte, Utah State, Tulsa, South Florida and Tulane.
In Other News...
Memphis Women Are Off To A Start Tigers Fans Havent Seen In Years
Memphis has opened the season with a kind of steadiness the program has not shown in years, and Sundays 62-48 win over Little Rock was another sign this start is real. The Tigers are 3-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 season, and they have done it by leaning on defense, depth and a balanced scoring approach rather than any one player carrying the load. Tamya Smith, Tierney Kelsey, Ainaya Williams and Daejah Richmond all chipped in as Memphis controlled the paint and got useful production from the bench.
What stands out most is how little room the Tigers have given opponents to settle in. Little Rock shot just 28.1 percent, a number that reflects the kind of pressure Memphis has brought early in the year, and the Tigers also won the battle for bench points and interior scoring. For a team trying to build on a rare fast start, the next question is whether this mix of toughness and balance can keep holding up once the schedule gets a little less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Memphis Has A Jayden Reid Problem Fans Should Be Watching
Memphis opened the 2026-27 season with a pair of statement wins over favored opponents in Iowa State and VCU, and Jayden Reid was right in the middle of both. He was named American Conference Player of the Week after averaging 29 points, four assists and two and a half steals, and he also reached 1,000 career points along the way, giving the Tigers an early star turn to build around.
Still, the first two games have also shown why the Tigers need more than just Reid carrying the load. Memphis has leaned heavily on him offensively, and the defense has had its own issues to sort through, all while key contributor Nemanja Popovi remains unavailable because of NCAA restrictions. The wins buy the Tigers time, but they also leave an obvious question hanging over the start of the season: how long can this level of dependence hold up? [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Stokes Is Giving Memphis A Real Award Season Story
Marcus Stokes has turned a strong season into something bigger for Memphis, earning a spot in the Davey OBrien QB Class of 2026 and putting himself in line for one of college footballs top quarterback honors. The recognition fits the way he has played all season, with Stokes ranking among the nations best in several passing and total offense categories while piling up weekly awards along the way.
For a Memphis program that has leaned on his production, the award watch now adds another layer to the finish line. The winner will be revealed live on ESPN on Dec. 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards, and Stokes has done enough to make sure the Tigers have a real reason to keep an eye on that stage. [Read more 🡒]