The Memphis football team heads into its bye week with five-straight wins and a new ranking in the national polls.

On Sunday, the Tigers moved up two spots to No. 19 in the latest USA TODAY coaches poll and were ranked No. 20 in the newest Associated Press top 25.

Memphis (8-1, 5-1) debuted at No. 23 in the initial College Football Playoff selection committee rankings last week and a new set of those rankings will be released on Tuesday night.

Central Florida and South Florida were the only other teams from the American Athletic Conference, or any other Group of Five conference, to be ranked.

After beating SMU Saturday, UCF rose to No. 12 in the coaches poll and No. 14 in the AP rankings. USF, which defeated UConn on Saturday, was ranked No. 23 in the coaches poll and re-entered the AP poll this week at No. 22.

More:Memphis 41, Tulsa 14: 5 things we learned

The highest-ranked team from a Group of Five conference at the end of the season earns a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game. That distinction is determined by the College Football Playoff rankings, where UCF is currently ranked No. 18.

Memphis defeated Tulsa, 41-14, on Friday night and can clinch the AAC West division title with a win over SMU on Nov. 18 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The Tigers would then qualify for the AAC championship game against either UCF or USF.

“I see a football team that’s progressing," coach Mike Norvell said after this latest victory. "They want to put themselves in position to do something special."

To that end, Norvell and his players emphasized Friday night that this bye week would be "a work week" focused on improvement and healing nagging injures following six-consecutive weeks featuring games.

More:Memphis 41, Tulsa 14: Best and worst moments include WR Anthony Miller's trick play

If Memphis wins the remainder of its games, including the AAC championship, a spot in the Peach Bowl or Cotton Bowl would likely be in the cards.

The Tigers have reeled off wins in eight of their first nine games of the season for just the seventh time in program history, and no Memphis football team has finished with one or fewer losses since 1963.

“Right now, we feel like the only team that can beat us is us," running back Tony Pollard said Friday night. "As long as we keep playing the way we’re playing and staying focused and playing together, we’re unstoppable.”

Norvell to speak at Touchdown Club

Norvell will be the featured speaker at Monday's meeting of the Touchdown Club of Memphis.

In addition, 2018 Tigers commitment Tyler Badie of Briarcrest will be honored as the club's high school player of the week.

The event will be at the Hilton Memphis. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with Norvell speaking at 7:15. Cost is $40 for guests.

For more information, contact Bill Harper at 901-486-6086.

Contributing: John Varlas



