2026 Memphis vs 2026 Arkansas State

Memphis
5–1 · 7.6 (48th of 138)
vs
Arkansas State
2–4 · SP+ −8.0 (104th of 138)

Hypothetical

Memphis by 16.5

88% to win

High confidence — 5 games in — see our accuracy

Hypothetical forecast · SBR sbr-2r

Why this number

MemphisIn-season results +4.7Preseason baseline +3.3
Arkansas StatePreseason baseline −4.0In-season results −2.0
Memphis home field +2.5

How they're built

0–100 percentile · higher is stronger

Compare the whole profile, then explore each dimension.

2026 Memphis Offense · SP+ 2026: 34.1, 81st percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Memphis Defense · SP+ 2026: 26.6, 44th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Memphis Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.0, 37th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Memphis Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 189.2 pts, 48th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Memphis Experience · returning production 2026: 6% returning, 7th percentile (2026 roster)2026 Arkansas State Offense · SP+ 2026: 26.2, 43rd percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Arkansas State Defense · SP+ 2026: 34.2, 11th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Arkansas State Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.0, 37th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Arkansas State Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 183.8 pts, 39th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Arkansas State Experience · returning production 2026: 30% returning, 35th percentile (2026 roster)0100Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026
  • 2026 Memphis Offense · SP+ 2026: 34.1, 81st percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Arkansas State Offense · SP+ 2026: 26.2, 43rd percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Memphis Defense · SP+ 2026: 26.6, 44th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Arkansas State Defense · SP+ 2026: 34.2, 11th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Memphis Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.0, 37th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Arkansas State Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.0, 37th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Memphis Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 189.2 pts, 48th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Arkansas State Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 183.8 pts, 39th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Memphis Experience · returning production 2026: 6% returning, 7th percentile (2026 roster)
  • 2026 Arkansas State Experience · returning production 2026: 30% returning, 35th percentile (2026 roster)
Emphasize a team

Offensive production relative to that season’s field. Compare an offense with the opposing defense in the scouting report.

Recruiting and experience add context; the five axes aren't equal weights in the forecast.

The numbers behind the profiles

Measure2026 Memphis2026 Arkansas State
Offensive / play0.2883rd percentile0.1857th percentile
PPA allowed / play0.0648th percentile0.2111th percentile
Points per game38.584th percentile6 games28.246th percentile6 games
per game20.866th percentile6 games28.819th percentile6 games

Programs don't stand still

SP+ percentile among FBS teams, by season. The marked point is each compared season.

2026 Memphis2026 Arkansas State
Memphis 2026: 66th percentileArkansas State 2026: 25th percentile2000200520102015202020250255075100

Momentum

Memphis↘ falling (−11 pctl over 3 seasons)
Arkansas State→ steady (+2 pctl over 3 seasons)

Talent in, results out

Recruiting-class percentile feeding each roster, compared with its SP+ result.

2026 Memphis
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
52nd percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
66th percentile
Outperforming its talent (+13)
2026 Arkansas State
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
43rd percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
25th percentile
Underperforming its talent (−18)

Campus distance

65 miles apart

There's more to the matchup.

Supporting context, ready when you want it.

In the trenches · both directions
MatchupO-lineD-line
2026 Memphis OL vs 2026 Arkansas State DL307.5 lbs267.4 lbs
2026 Arkansas State OL vs 2026 Memphis DL310.8 lbs275.4 lbs

2026 Memphis line yards 3.54 · 2026 Arkansas State stuff rate 13.0%

2026 Arkansas State line yards 3.24 · 2026 Memphis stuff rate 14.5%

Fans swear big lines win games. They're half right — big-line teams do win more, but only because good programs recruit big linemen. Once we account for talent and last season, line size adds nothing to the prediction. Across 11 seasons, no measurable effect on margin.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

Backtested effect: 0.42 pts at 1σ.

Head-to-head · Memphis leads 10–4 since 2000

Memphis has won 6 straight

SeasonScoreVenue
2026Memphis 42–24 Arkansas StateSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium · Memphis home
2023Memphis 37–3 Arkansas StateCentennial Bank Stadium · Arkansas State home
2022Memphis 44–32 Arkansas StateSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium · Memphis home
2021Memphis 55–50 Arkansas StateCentennial Bank Stadium · Arkansas State home
2020Memphis 37–24 Arkansas StateSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium · Memphis home
2013Memphis 31–7 Arkansas StateSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium · Memphis home
2012Memphis 28–33 Arkansas StateCentennial Bank Stadium · Arkansas State home
2011Memphis 3–47 Arkansas StateCentennial Bank Stadium · Arkansas State home
2008Memphis 29–17 Arkansas StateSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium · Memphis home
2007Memphis 31–35 Arkansas StateArkansas State home
2006Memphis 23–26 Arkansas StateSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium · Memphis home
2004Memphis 47–35 Arkansas StateArkansas State home
2003Memphis 38–16 Arkansas StateSimmons Bank Liberty Stadium · Memphis home
2000Memphis 19–17 Arkansas StateArkansas State home
Coaching & program context
2026 Memphis

HC

  • Charles Huff (First season as Memphis's head coach)

OC

  • David Weeks (co-OC)
  • Kevin Decker

career average +26.8 SP+ offense

Scheme: Veer and shoot (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Run-heavy, average pace (threw on 38% of its run–pass plays, 15th percentile of 2026 FBS; 68.7 plays a game, 61st percentile)

DC

  • Lance Guidry

career average +24.0 SP+ defense

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

2026 Arkansas State

HC

  • Butch Jones

OC

  • Garrett Altman

no career track record on file

Scheme: no scheme listed

Style: Pass-heavy, grind-it-out (threw on 49% of its run–pass plays, 75th percentile of 2026 FBS; 60.2 plays a game, 8th percentile)

DC

  • Griff McCarley

career average +33.5 SP+ defense

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia, 2025 listing)

A new coordinator feels like it should swing a game. Across 11 seasons, the change doesn't move the final margin beyond what the roster already tells us. Shown as context, not a factor in our number.

Run-heavy team meets a defense that can't stop the run — feels like extra points waiting. Across 7 seasons the matchup adds nothing beyond what the two ratings already say; if anything the point estimate leans the other way.

Scouting reports

No upcoming game between these teams is on the schedule.

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