The American Athletics Conference on Wednesday announced its new football programming format, which allows members to play 8 league games starting September 19.
The AAFC resolution also gives its member establishments the freedom to program up to 4 unconventional games. Memphis has chosen to play an 11-game schedule, starting September 5 in the house opposite the state of Arkansas. The Tigers’ away game opposed to Purdue on September 12 was already canceled when the Big Ten took the resolution of playing a convention schedule only this fall, leaving coach Ryan Silverfield’s team with an additional week of openings.
“We are confident that the protocols developed through our Medical Advisory Group will bring consultants back into the game,” University of Memphis President David Rudd, chairman of the AAFC’s board of directors, said in a statement. “As medical data evolves, we will update our plans taking into account national, state and local lines of consultants.”
The Tigers receive Houston on September 19 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. A non-conference in Texas-San Antonio is scheduled for September 26.
The other non-AAC game for the Tigers in the original calendar is UT Martin on November 21.
Memphis will go to SMU on October 1, receive Central Florida on October 16, receive Temple on October 24, Cincinnati on October 31, receive South Florida on November 7, play with the Navy on November 14, and take a road vacation to Tulane on November 28.
Memphis sports director Laird Veatch aired on a Wednesday, saying the sports branch will announce a variety of features for season ticket holders, as fan participation is limited to all games in the house.
“Our staff has worked tirelessly with health, city and stadium officials to expand fan remote social engagement plans at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, with an emphasis on protecting everyone on the premises,” Veatch’s said. “On Thursday, information will be published that will provide our subscription holders with features based on their non-public circumstances. We will remain transparent and talk as the plans evolve.”
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Contact Jason Munz sports on [email protected] or Twitter @munzly.