Memphis is four games into the 2026 season, and the picture on offense is starting to come into focus.
The Tigers are 3-1 heading into their open week, and the biggest development so far is the steady climb of new starting quarterback Marcus Stokes. After arriving from West Florida and taking over at the FBS level for the first time, Stokes is already looking more settled in Kevin Decker’s offense than he did in Week 1.
That growth matters because Memphis has spent the first month showing two very different versions of itself. The ground game has been the foundation, and early on it carried the offense in a big way. Running back Jaylin Carter looked like a star through the first two games and entered the UT Martin matchup as the nation’s leading rusher, though Memphis had played one more game than most teams.
Then Boise State forced the Tigers to show something else.
The Broncos crowded the run game and made Memphis lean almost entirely on the passing attack. Stokes responded with a career-high 384 passing yards, but the offense couldn’t keep enough drives alive and Memphis fell 38-20. It was a clear reminder that conference opponents will study that blueprint closely when American play begins on Oct. 3 at Charlotte.
Still, the Tigers showed a different side of themselves against UT Martin. Memphis had 12 different receivers catch at least one pass, and Stokes finished 26 of 32 for 258 yards and four touchdowns before Air Noland took over in the third quarter with the game out of reach for the Skyhawks. Huff said he challenged Stokes to stay away from turnovers, and the quarterback delivered an efficient performance.
“I think what you saw today was the flexibility in the offense,” Huff said. “I think what you saw today was Marcus getting more comfortable in the system.
I think what you saw today was the receivers getting more comfortable. Because a lot of what we do, the receiver and the quarterbacks have to be on the same page with what they’re seeing.
It works with timing. So it was good to have that timing today.
It was good to have the flexibility today.”
That timing is the next step for Memphis during this open week. The Tigers have already packed in an upset at UNLV, an emotional home opener at the renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium against Arkansas State, the loss at Boise State and the win over UT Martin. It’s been a fast-moving season, and now the coaches have time to sort through the film and push for more consistency.
Stokes, for his part, sounds convinced the group is moving in the right direction.
“We're 3-1 with a brand-new team,” Stokes said. “Obviously, yes, we did lose a game. But I think that says a lot about our team and how we're able to even get connected with the short amount of time that we've had with each other.”
And he left no doubt about the mindset inside the locker room.
“We're hungry for success,” Stokes said. “We're hungry for success. I want y'all to know that.”
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Marcus Stokes Has Memphis Fans Feeling Better About This Offense
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Through three weeks, Stokes has already put himself among the national leaders in several passing and offensive categories, which helps explain why Memphis fans are feeling better about the direction of the attack. For a team that wants more consistency under center, the early returns from Stokes suggest the Tigers may have found a real spark as the schedule starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]