USF's showdown with Memphis includes uncertainty hanging over the Tigers

As USF heads to Memphis for one of the biggest games in its football history, the Bulls have had to prepare for three of the Tigers' quarterbacks.

The regular starter, Brendon Lewis, was knocked out of the Tigers' shocking loss last week at UAB in the third quarter with a lower-body injury.. Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said Lewis is "day-to-day" (but aren't we all?).

If Lewis can't go, Silverfield will turn to either freshman A.J. Hill or Arrington Maiden. To make things even more interesting, you might see multiple quarterbacks line up for the Tigers.

"We'll see. We'll find out, I guess, when everybody else finds out who's playing," Bulls coach Alex Golesh said.

Golesh said he is familiar with Hill, who was 13-for-25 for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception after taking over.

"Uber-talented freshman, big, athletic, has a cannon, and came in and played in the second half of the UAB game. So there's some film there. But for us, we got to prepare, obviously, for all three, which presents its own unique challenge," he said.

"And start with stopping the run game and being able to affect the quarterback, as it does every single week."

Cornerback De`Shawn Rucker said he'll be prepared for whatever Memphis throws at him.

"I don't think it's too many challenges," he said, referring to the uncertainty about the Tigers' quarterback situation. "I think just going into it, you've got to see how they all move.

"You might have one that's mobile. So then obviously, just seeing where the quarterback wants to look, some of my activities, so just being able to have the whole field covered, about what the quarterback was."

Lewis brings a rushing element to the Tigers' attack. He has the most carries on the team, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He has seven rushing touchdowns.

Even with the Tigers loss last week -- their first of the season -- this still figures to be one of the top American Conference games this season.

Memphis still believes it can make the College Football Playoff if it runs the table, and obviously, the Bulls have their sights set on the same thing. Losing to Memphis would potentially give the Tigers the tiebreaker over USF in qualifying for the American championship game -- if it comes to that.

This is where Golesh said his team can draw on the experience of having success in hostile stadiums and high-stakes games this season. The Bulls have trailed in four of their seven games so far, including three on the road, but rallied to win three of those contests.

The Bulls don't panic because they stay grounded in the moment. That's why that despite what's at stake in Memphis, to USF, this game is just the next one on the schedule.

"The next one is more meaningful than any other. The next one's the only opportunity you've got. That's what I was saying earlier," Golesh said. "You've only got one opportunity right now, and it's this one, and there's no do-overs, you know, my bad, no excuses.

"It's right here, right now. Like at the entrance every day to practice. I asked each one, Where are you at? I'll tell you right here, right now. It's the only thing that matters. Where am I at? Right here, right now."