Tulane officially claimed the AAC championship with a 34–21 win over North Texas, closing out the conference season behind a masterful defensive performance and a statement game from newly hired Florida head coach Jon Sumrall. But while Tulane looked dominant against the Mean Green, one of the Green Wave’s closest battle of the season came weeks earlier against a team now directly tied to the SEC’s future: Ryan Silverfield’s Memphis Tigers.
As Arkansas fans evaluate what their new head coach brings to Fayetteville, one of the clearest datapoints is how Silverfield’s Memphis team performed against the same Tulane squad that just controlled the AAC title game. And that comparison tells an interesting story.
Tulane Smothers North Texas in the AAC Title Game
North Texas entered the championship boasting the No. 1 offense in the AAC, a unit known for explosive play design under outgoing head coach Eric Morris. But Tulane, under Sumrall, completely flipped the script.
Freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker posted 294 yards and 2 touchdowns, numbers that look fine until examining the mistakes that proved fatal: three interceptions, each giving Tulane extra possessions, added time of possession, and even more control over the tempo.
By halftime, Tulane led 24–7, suffocating North Texas at every turn. Even as the Mean Green found slight offensive adjustments in the third and fourth quarters, Sumrall’s defense always had an answer. The game was never truly in doubt. This looked like a mismatch, the AAC champion flexing its strength on the big stage.
Silverfield’s Memphis Played Tulane Much Tighter
On November 7th, Tulane faced a different challenge. Memphis, then coached by Ryan Silverfield, pushed the Green Wave far deeper into discomfort than North Texas managed in the championship.
Tulane won 38–32, but Memphis made it a genuine fight:
- 435 total yards of offense
- 368 passing yards
- 6.3 yards per play
- 6-of-13 on third down (46%)
- More time of possession than Tulane
The Tigers moved the ball fluidly, sustained drives, hit explosive plays, and showed creativity in offensive structure that consistently forced Tulane to adjust.
Defensively, Tulane still found success, posting six sacks and winning the turnover battle by one, but Memphis matched Tulane punch-for-punch in a way North Texas couldn’t. The Tigers kept the pressure high and the score tight into the fourth quarter.
If the AAC title game looked like Tulane overpowering an opponent, the November 7th matchup looked like two equal heavyweights trading blows.
A Glimpse Into Silverfield vs. Sumrall in the SEC
Now, with Sumrall at Florida and Silverfield at Arkansas, the SEC may have stumbled into a future coaching rivalry with roots in the AAC.
The 38–32 November game offered a preview: Two aggressive minds scheming against each other, high-level adjustments on both sidelines, and a battle that came down to execution, not talent disparity.
Memphis looked far more prepared for Tulane’s physicality than North Texas did. And that matters for Arkansas fans searching for signs that their new head coach can hold his own in the SEC gauntlet. Silverfield didn’t just compete, he pushed the conference champions to one of their toughest games all season.
Hiring a coach from the Group of Five often leaves fanbases asking one question: How does his team stack up against good competition? If the Tulane comparisons are any indication, Arkansas could be stepping into a future where close, intense, high-level battles against Florida become the norm.
Two former AAC coaches now leading SEC programs? Get ready. The Matchup is coming.