West Virginia and Memphis will play each other in the Miami Beach Bowl (Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl) on Tuesday, December 17, as part of the 2024–25 CFB playoffs. This is the Tigers and Mountaineers’ first encounter on the football field, and it will take place at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. Memphis defeated Tulane on November 28 to wrap up another strong year under HC Ryan Silverfield, finishing 10-2 and recording the school’s first consecutive double-digit winning season. In addition to defeating the Green Wave, this program amassed ten victories in 2024 by defeating Florida State (20–12) and securing victories against North Texas and South Florida in the AAC. Memphis will have the second-most win total (11) in the school’s history if they triumph.

On the other hand, following a 52-15 loss to Texas Tech in their most recent game, WVU wants to use the playoffs to gain some breathing room. Neal Brown’s time in Morgantown came to an end with that defeat, and in 2025, former coach Rich Rodriguez took over as head coach after 24 years. Although Rodriguez won’t be playing in this one, the game and practices will reveal who will be on the team and match the program’s scheme come next season. But do you know what makes this Miami Beach Bowl matchup between Memphis and West Virginia so special?

Chad Scott, West Virginia’s offensive coordinator, will take Neal Brown’s place as interim head coach for this bowl game. Hope this is the first time the team will play without a head coach. Fans are drawn to see the contest tomorrow because it’s so exciting. Scott has been on the WVU staff for six seasons and has served as OC for two of them, in case you were unaware. However, according to Scott, “These players didn’t ask to be in this position, and the resiliency they’re showing right now is phenomenal. The attitude, effort and energy they’re putting in is phenomenal.”

Conversely, quarterback Garrett Greene said, “The season obviously didn’t go the way that we had hoped.” Additionally, it will be the last game for a Memphis senior class that has significantly influenced the program. Seth Henigan will play his final collegiate game. Other notable players who will be wrapping off their careers include Greg Rubin, Jonah Gambill, Roc Taylor, and more. The team will, therefore, do everything in their power to win. Nevertheless, despite their 6-6 record, WVU is not far behind in the race.

But why this matchup attracts people across the country remains a mystery. Let’s explore it in more detail.

West Virginia vs. Memphis: Fans’ attraction

Prominent players like Tigers QB Seth Henigan, who has amassed over 3,200 passing yards and 23 TDs this season, are featured in the game. Conversely, Garrett Greene has been the QB1 for the Mountaineers for the past 2 seasons and has been a member of WVU since 2020. With 13 TDs and 11 interceptions, he passed for 1,972 yards this season. Additionally, he ran for 656 yards and five scores, so a Memphis defense that has struggled to stop QB runs will need to be extremely vigilant.

“We look forward to hosting this great matchup and welcoming the teams and their passionate fan bases to Frisco, Texas, for an exciting week of bowl events and a fantastic game at Toyota Stadium.” said Sean Johnson, the chief executive of the Bowl. WVU is 2-1 in its last three playoff outings, while Memphis prevailed in its last 3 bowl games, if you are unaware. WVU will therefore be determined to win. Now, the primary factor drawing in supporters from all across the country is not just the players, the intensity of the games, and their historic significance, but also the atmosphere of the gameday.

Since it began as the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014, the Frisco Bowl has changed. It has evolved into a venue for exhibiting teams from different conferences since moving to Frisco in 2017, and this year it boasts its first Big 12 representation in West Virginia. Hence, the game will witness a huge crowd nationwide and give both teams a chance to end their seasons on a high note, in addition to being a tough contest. While the experts favor Memphis (38% winning probability) over West Virginia (27% winning probability), we’ll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.