QB
C+Lewis at QB (82, senior, injury 93). Top-3 of 76.7.
**Dynasty-start roster (CFB 26)**DC Rating 7.0 / 10
Memphis
Strategist Silverfield with B+ coach stability, Tennessee Tier-3 home, and a senior-heavy 77-overall American roster.
The Dynasty Verdict
If you want a Ryan Silverfield program where Tennessee Tier-3 home meets a five-Tier-2 Mid-South cluster and B grades on every line, Memphis is the American team built for one Year 1 conference contention sprint. Wilson anchors strong safety at junior 85 with stamina 91 and pursuit 89. Peasant breaks the line at senior HB 84 with acceleration 93 and speed 92. Whitlow Jr. sets the edge at senior REDG 84 with toughness 93. Lewis runs the offense at senior QB 82 with throw power 91 and toughness 92. Adams holds the right tackle at senior 82 with pass block power 89. Smith stretches the field at junior WR 81 with acceleration 97 and speed 95. Eight top-10 seniors paired with Wilson and Smith at junior give Memphis a senior-heavy contention launch with a two-deep multi-year bridge.
What makes Memphis different from the other 2.5-prestige Group of 5 programs is the Silverfield-built coach infrastructure and the recruiting board's depth. SMU at 3.5-prestige operates above the G5 line. Liberty at 1.5 prestige operates below the conference contender line. Memphis asks you to ride 2.5 prestige with B coach prestige plus B+ coach stability (among the strongest coach-grade combinations in Group of 5), plus Tennessee Tier-3 home plus five Tier-2 Mid-South reaches (Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Metro Atlanta). Same conference layer, different roster shape and recruiting reach: Memphis is the American program built to dominate the conference.
The 7.0 lands on the senior-class density (eight seniors at 81+), the B grades on both lines and at DB, the Tennessee Tier-3 home, and Silverfield's B+ coach stability mark, which sits among the strongest at the 2.5 prestige tier. The catch is the 77 overall sitting below the highest American programs and the 8-of-10 senior cliff that drains the launch roster after Year 1, leaving Wilson at junior SS and Smith at junior WR as the only multi-year top-10 bridges. Don't pick Memphis for a four-year cohort build. Pick Memphis for the senior contention sprint where Silverfield's Strategist scheme rides Peasant, Whitlow Jr., Lewis, and the senior LB-DL spine to American championship contention while Wilson and Smith mature for Year 2.
Head Coach
Ryan Silverfield
StrategistSilverfield is a Strategist archetype with B coach prestige and B+ coach stability — among the strongest coach-grade combinations at the 2.5 prestige tier in CFB 26. The launch hands him eight seniors led by Peasant, Whitlow Jr., Lewis, Adams, Desrosiers Jr., Young, Burris Jr., and Brumfield, with Wilson at junior SS and Smith at junior WR as the only multi-year top-10 bridges. The B/B+ coach grades are the structural advantage Silverfield plays into; the catch is the 77 overall and the 8-senior cliff that put the entire Year 2-3 floor on the Year 1 recruiting class plus Wilson and Smith.
Team at a Glance
| Conference | The American |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Ryan Silverfield · Strategist |
| Team Prestige | 2.5 stars |
| Team Overall (in-game) | 77 |
| Top Position Group | Defensive Back · B · top-3 avg 82.0 |
| Weakest Position Group | Tight End · C · top-3 avg 72.3 |
| Stadium Atmosphere | C |
| Brand Exposure | C- |
| Coach Prestige | B |
| Coach Stability | B+ |
| Top-10 Senior Departures After Year 1 | 8 of 10 |
Top 10 Players
By overall rating at dynasty start
| # | Player | Pos | Yr | OVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Kamari Wilson | SS | Jr | 85 | Stamina 91 |
| 02 | Frank Peasant | HB | Sr | 84 | Acceleration 93 |
| 03 | William Whitlow Jr. | REDG | Sr | 84 | Toughness 93 |
| 04 | Brendon Lewis | QB | Sr | 82 | Injury 93 |
| 05 | Chris Adams | RT | Sr | 82 | Stamina 90 |
| 06 | Greg Desrosiers Jr. | HB | Sr | 82 | Injury 90 |
| 07 | CJ Smith | WR | Jr | 81 | Acceleration 97 |
| 08 | Isheem Young | SS | Sr | 81 | Toughness 93 |
| 09 | Marcus Burris Jr. | DT | Sr | 81 | Toughness 95 |
| 10 | Sam Brumfield | WILL | Sr | 81 | Awareness 88 |
Position Group Grades
RB
BPeasant at HB (84, senior, acceleration 93) and Desrosiers Jr. at HB (82, senior, injury 90). Top-3 of 81.7.
WR
C+Smith at WR (81, junior, acceleration 97). Top-3 of 76.0.
TE
CTop-3 of 72.3.
OL
B-Adams at RT (82, senior, stamina 90). Top-3 of 78.3.
DL
BWhitlow Jr. at REDG (84, senior, toughness 93) and Burris Jr. at DT (81, senior, toughness 95). Top-3 of 80.0.
LB
B-Brumfield at WILL (81, senior, awareness 88). Top-3 of 79.3.
DB
BWilson at SS (85, junior, stamina 91) and Young at SS (81, senior, toughness 93). Top-3 of 82.0.
ST
CTop-3 of 73.0.
Recommended Playbooks
Offense
Spread (Memphis Default)
Run Spread because Lewis at senior QB plus Peasant at senior HB plus Smith at junior WR anchors the design. Lewis runs the show at senior QB with throw power 91 and stamina 92. Peasant breaks the line at senior HB with acceleration 93 and speed 92. Desrosiers Jr. rotates at senior HB with injury 90 and acceleration 89. Smith wins the boundary at junior WR with acceleration 97 and speed 95, the roster's top deep-threat speed. Adams protects the edge at senior RT with pass block power 89 and stamina 90.
Why this fits
A B RB grade plus the senior QB plus a B- OL grade gives the Spread the full Year 1 offensive identity. Smith's junior eligibility carries the multi-year skill identity into Year 2. The 8-senior cliff is the structural cap on the four-year ceiling.
Defense
4-3 Multiple (Memphis Default)
Run the 4-3 Multiple because the senior front-three plus dual-SS anchors the design. Whitlow Jr. sets the edge at senior REDG with toughness 93 and injury 90. Burris Jr. clogs the interior at senior DT with toughness 95 and injury 94. Brumfield reads run-pass at senior WILL with awareness 88 and play recognition 87. Wilson reads downhill at junior SS with stamina 91 and pursuit 89. Young rotates at senior SS with toughness 93.
Why this fits
A B DB grade led by Wilson plus Young plus a B DL grade led by Whitlow Jr. and Burris Jr. plus a B- LB grade gives the 4-3 Multiple the full Year 1 defensive identity. Wilson's junior eligibility carries the multi-year secondary into Year 2.
Recruiting Outlook
Pipeline regions
- TennesseeTier 3
- AlabamaTier 2
- ArkansasTier 2
- MississippiTier 2
- LouisianaTier 2
- Metro AtlantaTier 2
- South GeorgiaTier 1
- North FloridaTier 1
- South FloridaTier 1
- North TexasTier 1
You'll recruit a six-region Mid-South cluster. Tennessee at Tier-3 is the home anchor, paired with Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Metro Atlanta at Tier-2 — premium recruiting infrastructure for a 2.5-prestige Group of 5 program. Below that, four Tier-1 long-distance reaches aren't worth the spend. Silverfield at B coach prestige plus B+ coach stability is the structural advantage that lets Memphis compete with bigger SEC and ACC programs for specific Mid-South recruits.
Position priorities for Year 1 are dictated by the 8-senior cliff. Quarterback is critical because Lewis graduates after Year 1 with no top-10 QB behind him. After QB, replacement HB depth behind Peasant and Desrosiers Jr., replacement REDG behind Whitlow Jr., replacement DT behind Burris Jr., replacement OL behind Adams, replacement WILL behind Brumfield.
Avoid the long-distance Tier-1 cluster (South Georgia, North Florida, South Florida, North Texas) entirely beyond a single targeted player. Lock the six-region Mid-South plan and let Silverfield's B coach prestige close position-replacement classes from Tennessee Tier-3 plus the five-Tier-2 ring.
Your Year-by-Year Path with Memphis
Year 1
The Senior American Year
You're inheriting a 2.5-prestige roster with a 77 overall and eight top-10 seniors at 81+. Don't experiment. Run Spread, ride Lewis and Peasant behind Adams, let Smith stretch the field, anchor the defense behind Whitlow Jr., Burris Jr., Brumfield, and the dual-SS Wilson-Young pair. Year 1 is American championship contention at 9-10 wins on the senior class. While you're winning, sign the QB-and-DL Year 1 class that Tennessee Tier-3 plus Silverfield's B coach prestige closes.
Goal
American championship contention, 9-10 wins, top-50 recruiting class with QB and DL at the top.
Years 2-3
The Wilson-Smith Window
Eight senior anchors graduate. Wilson becomes the senior SS; Smith becomes the senior WR. The Year 1 QB recruit becomes Year 2 starter. Silverfield's Strategist archetype turns the Year 1 class plus the two senior multi-year bridges into a continued American contention window.
Goal
8-9 wins, Wilson at 88+ as a senior, Tennessee Tier-3 class held.
Year 4+
The Silverfield Compound
By Year 4, the dynasty depends on whether the Tennessee Tier-3 plus five-Tier-2 plan compounded into a multi-year talent base under Silverfield's premium G5 coach grades. Realistically, sustained 8-9 wins in the American with a possible prestige climb toward 3 if the recruiting volume holds.
Goal
Stable 8-9 win American program with the Tennessee Tier-3 pipeline and Strategist identity intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memphis good for dynasty mode in CFB 26?
Yes for a Strategist Silverfield American championship contention sprint with premium coach grades, with caveats. Memphis enters CFB 26 with a 77-overall roster, B coach prestige and B+ coach stability under Strategist Ryan Silverfield, and B grades at OL, DL, LB, and DB. The 8-of-10 senior cliff is the structural cap on the four-year build.
What's Memphis's prestige in CFB 26?
Memphis enters CFB 26 with a 2.5-star prestige rating, paired with B coach prestige and B+ coach stability — among the strongest coach-grade combinations at the 2.5 tier. The Tennessee Tier-3 home plus five Tier-2 reaches (Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Metro Atlanta) form a six-region Mid-South recruiting cluster.
What playbook does Memphis use in CFB 26?
Ryan Silverfield's Memphis runs the Spread offense and the 4-3 Multiple defense. The Spread fits Lewis at senior QB plus Peasant at senior HB plus Smith at junior WR. The 4-3 Multiple deploys Whitlow Jr. at REDG (84, senior, toughness 93), Burris Jr. at DT (81, senior, toughness 95), and Wilson at SS (85, junior, stamina 91).
Who is Memphis's best player in College Football 26?
Kamari Wilson at 85 OVR, junior strong safety, with stamina 91, toughness 90, and pursuit 89. Wilson is the highest-rated player on the roster and the multi-year defensive identity for Silverfield. Frank Peasant at HB (84, senior, acceleration 93) and William Whitlow Jr. at REDG (84, senior, toughness 93) round out the top three.
Should I rebuild Memphis or take an easier team?
Memphis is a Year 1 American contention sprint plus a Wilson-Smith multi-year bridge, not a long rebuild. The Year 1 ceiling is American championship contention; the Year 2-3 floor depends on Wilson and Smith maturing into senior anchors as the Year 1 class fills the senior cliff. Take Memphis if you want premium G5 coach grades plus Tennessee Tier-3 home recruiting. If you want a similar G5 profile at lower prestige, look at Liberty in Conference USA.