By Jacob Rice
Memphis (4-2, 3-2) is scheduled to hit the road to face Navy (3-4, 3-2), but that game has reached a level of uncertainty.
The trip to Annapolis is not guaranteed after Navy reported COVID-19 issues. Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said he has heard nothing about the status of the Navy game, but insists he and the team are still planning to compete.
"We are planning one-hundred percent for them," Silverfield said. "Our coaching staff is working hard to make a gameplan for Navy."
The Naval Academy's football team reported a handful of positive COVID-19 cases on Nov. 5. The Midshipmen were recently scheduled to take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, but paused all football activities 48 hours prior.
That decision to halt football activities was announced nine days prior to the scheduled game between Navy and Memphis. The Tigers' third away game has been shot into speculation after Navy's COVID-19 complications.
"I really, truly hope within the next 24 hours we have an answer," Silverfield said. "But we have to plan accordingly like we are playing regardless."
When the Memphis Football program had their COVID scare it wiped two games off the schedule and they went four weeks without an opponent. The Tigers canceled their game against UTSA and moved their game against Houston to December. At this point, any further games that get postponed may have issues getting rescheduled because both teams have limited space on the schedule.
Silverfield said if a decision is reached, he will find about it at the same time everyone else does.
If the game against Navy withstands the complications, Memphis will have a legitimate conference test in Maryland.
The Midshipmen were once leading in the American Athletic Conference standings. At their peak, the Naval Academy won three straight conference games.
Their first AAC game started with overturning a 24-point halftime deficit against Tulane and winning 27-24. The Midshipmen then defeated Temple 31-29 after stopping a game-tying two-point conversion. Then they beat East Carolina to go 3-0 in conference play.
Since then, the Midshipmen have dropped back-to-back conference games to Houston and SMU, each by two-possessions. Memphis and Navy are 3-2 in conference standings and listed in the upper half of the American.
Memphis, Temple and USF are the only three teams in the AAC that have yet to win an away game this season. The Tigers lost to both SMU and Cincinnati on the road and their trip to Annapolis may not prove to be so fruitful either if it ends up happening as planned.
Navy has managed 308.4 total offensive yards per game, making them the worst in the American. Most of those yards are earned running the ball. The Midshipmen boast the triple-option offense and specialize in rushing. Navy is in the upper half of the conference with rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns and total rushing yards.
"The reality of it is they're an efficient offense," Silverfield said. "They are really good at what they do. Once they get rolling, it's hard to stop."
Memphis has not faced a run-heavy offense so far, but the Tigers' defense has done good enough to be in the upper half of the league against the rush.
The Midshipmen have allowed 201 passing yards per game, making them the best in the conference. The Memphis offense has accumulated over 350 passing yards per game. The second-best passing offense will meet the best pass defense in the conference. Something must give Saturday in Annapolis.
O'Bryan Goodson celebrating after a hit on the Navy quarterback last year. The game between Memphis and Navy this season is uncertain after COVID-19 complications.
