Early look at Florida State football's Week 3 opponent Memphis

Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat

Week 3 of Florida State football's 2024 season will be a blast from the past for Mike Norvell.

The Seminoles play his former team, the Memphis Tigers. This non-conference matchup will be a noon game at Doak Campbell Stadium.

It will be televised on ESPN.

With an open spot available when making the schedule at the time, why not go toe-to-toe against go against your former team, where you built the program the way it is today?

Since Norvell left, the Tigers continued its success led by his former assistant Ryan Silverfield.

FSU's defense will be tested as Memphis will enter the season with a high-powered offense and potential NFL QB prospect Seth Henigan.

Who is Memphis' head coach

Memphis' head coach Ryan Silverfield runs off the field after Tulane defeated Memphis 31-21 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium before the game in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, October 13, 2023.
Memphis' head coach Ryan Silverfield runs off the field after Tulane defeated Memphis 31-21 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium before the game in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, October 13, 2023.

Silverfield will be entering his fifth season with the Tigers. Before that, he served as Norvell's assistant and offensive coordinator for two years.

Silverfield went 12-2 in his first year. Memphis has had a winning record each season during Silverfield's tenure. The Tigers went 10-3 last season.

He is 31-19 in his coaching career.

Before joining the Tigers, he was the Detroit Lions' assistant offensive line coach in 2015. He also served as a member of the Minnesota Vikings' coaching staff (2008-13).

FSU-Memphis all-time record

10-7-1, FSU

Last meeting between FSU and Memphis

FSU beat Memphis 35-3 on Nov. 17, 1990 in Orlando, Florida.

Memphis' top players

Offense:

QB Seth Henigan, 3,883 yards, 32 TDs; WR Roc Taylor, 69 rec., 1,083 yards, 4 TDs; WR Demeer Blankumsee, 53 rec., 901 yards; OL Xavier Hill

Defense:

DL CorMontae Hamilton, 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks; LB Chandler Martin, 95 tackles, three sacks, two INTs, 1 TD

Memphis' key losses, additions

Additions:

RB Mario Anderson; CB Kobee Minor; Vic Alobwede DE/OLB; LB Elijah Herring; LB Javante Mackey, DE/OLB Reggie Grimes II

Key losses:

RB Blake Watson, OL Jacob Likes, DL Jaylon Allen, LB Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, S Simeon Blair, S Cameron Smith

Mike Norvell's first head coaching gig was at Memphis

Memphis head coach Mike Norvell (left) during spring football practice.
Memphis head coach Mike Norvell (left) during spring football practice.

Norvell got his first start as a head coach at Memphis on Dec. 4, 2015. In his debut, the Tigers went 8-5. His final year was his best year in 2019 when the Tigers went 12-2, including clinching the AAC title.

In his four seasons with the Tigers, he is 38-16. His 71.7 winning percentage was the highest in program history. Under Norvell, the Tigers went to three consecutive AAC championship games.

Outlook on Memphis

This ACC vs. AAC matchup will not be a walk in the park for the Seminoles. The Tigers are experienced on both sides of the field and are good enough to leave Doak Campbell Stadium with an upset.

The Tigers' first two games are North Alabama and Troy. On paper, Memphis could enter Week 3 with a 2-0 record and high confidence against FSU.

Henigan was No. 4 in the country in passing yards and tied for sixth in touchdown passes. Memphis's offense is one of the top 15 in the country.

A 3-0 start is likely, but it won't be given for the Seminoles. A win against the Tigers could create momentum for the Seminoles before its next two ACC matchups against the expanded teams, California and SMU.

Mike Norvell's thoughts on playing Memphis

Back in May, Norvell spoke about the Tigers on "The Gabe Kuhn Show" on 929ESPN, which was published by The Commercial Appeal.

He also spoke highly about the Tigers. He expects a big year from them this season after their 10-win season last year.

He also credited his former assistant, Silverfield, for picking up where he left off.

"Memphis, I think, is going to have one of the best teams in the country next year," Norvell said. "Ryan (Silverfield) has done a great job, very experienced group. Obviously, Seth (Henigan) is an awesome quarterback, some great playmakers around him. It's going to be a heck of a matchup.

We're going to have to be hitting on all cylinders because I think it's one of the most experienced but also explosive teams in the country. I love Memphis. I love everything about the program, and just the work and everything that's gone into it. So I'm really proud of where the program's continuing to push to. But I know it's going to be a great challenge having to compete against it."

Florida State Seminoles 2024 Football Schedule

  • Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at 7:30 p.m., ESPN

  • Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN

  • Sept. 14 vs. Memphis

  • Sept. 21 vs. California

  • Sept. 28 at SMU

  • Oct. 5 vs. Clemson

  • Oct. 18 at Duke

  • Oct. 26 at (U) Miami

  • Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina

  • Nov. 9 at Notre Dame

  • Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern

  • Nov. 30: Florida

  • Dec. 7: ACC Championship

BOLD = ACC

* = Neutral Site

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Way-too-early season preview: Florida State football vs. Memphis

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