(BCSNN) — Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will host one of the most anticipated non-conference match-ups of the week, if not the season, when Memphis (3-0) welcomes Arkansas (2-1) for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on ABC this Saturday. The Razorbacks are coming off a narrow 41–35 loss at Ole Miss, while the Tigers rolled past Troy 28–7 last weekend. It marks the first meeting between these two programs since 1998.

Quarterback play will be central to Saturday’s outcome. Arkansas’ Taylen Green enters as one of the nation’s top dual-threat signal-callers, having thrown for 866 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions through three games. He’s also rushed for 307 yards and two scores, including a 115-yard performance against Ole Miss. Memphis counters with sixth-year senior Brendon Lewis, who has completed 55 of 75 passes for 608 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Lewis has added 190 rushing yards and two scores, giving the Tigers a steady, mobile presence under center.

Both teams lean heavily on the run. Arkansas ranks 12th nationally with 245.3 rushing yards per game, led by Mike Washington (65 yards, 2 TDs vs. Ole Miss) and Braylen Russell, who has returned to form after a late-season injury in 2024. Memphis averages 218.3 yards per game on the ground, with Sutton Smith pacing the backfield at 247 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries. Lewis’ ability to extend plays has opened lanes for both Smith and "change-of-pace back" Makari Bodiford, while Greg Desrosiers Jr. remains sidelined with a lower-body injury.

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman praised Memphis’ offensive identity, calling their inside zone read “really good” and “hard to defend.” He added, “To beat Memphis, defensively you’ve got to eliminate that. And they’re good at it.” Pittman also noted the Tigers’ exotic 3-3-5 defensive scheme, saying, “They play a little bit different each and every week… very confusing defensively.” The Razorbacks will need to protect Green and avoid negative plays against a Memphis defense allowing just 11.0 points per game.

Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield emphasized the opportunity ahead: “It’s going to be a tremendous opportunity on a national stage to continue to showcase who we are and what we’re all about.” He lauded Green’s play making ability, describing him as a “Heisman candidate,” and putting up “video-game numbers.” Silverfield also highlighted the emergence of wideouts Cortez Braham Jr. and Jamari Hawkins, who combined for 124 receiving yards against Troy and have become reliable targets in Lewis’ progression.

Defensively, Arkansas has allowed 331.7 yards per game and 20.7 points per contest, with tackling in open space cited as a concern by Pittman. Memphis, meanwhile, has surrendered just 33 total points through three games and ranks 21st nationally in scoring defense. The Tigers managed to hod Troy to just 112 total yards last week, showcasing a unit that thrives on speed and confusion.

This game’s outcome could shape both teams’ trajectories. A win for Arkansas would restore momentum ahead of a brutal SEC slate that waits on the other side of a game with Notre Dame, while Memphis seeks validation as a legitimate contender for a College Football Playoff spot, and capable of competing with any Power Four program. The Tigers have won 21 of their last 24 games and are 9–1 in home games aired on ABC since 2015.

This really could go either way, but the odds currently favor the 'Backs with a prediction of Arkansas 38, Memphis 31. Expect a high-scoring affair with explosive plays on both sides, but Green’s dual-threat ability and the Razorbacks’ depth in the run game give them a slight edge. If Memphis can get its offense firing early, while its "exotic" defense slows down Arkansas, it could mean a win for the home team in Bluff City.