Memphis football has sky-high expectations in 2024.

The Tigers already have been picked in plenty of preseason projections to represent the Group of Five in this year's expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. To make the playoff, Memphis almost certainly will need to go 10-2 or better and win the American Athletic Conference title.

It's certainly in the realm of possibility. But the Tigers are facing a difficult schedule, at least relative to the conference.

The three most difficult games will all take place away from Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. And Memphis' marquee non-conference game is away at Florida State.

Winning on the road had been a struggle for Memphis under coach Ryan Silverfield until last season, when the Tigers went 5-1 and ultimately finished with 10 wins. Here's why the road will tell the story of the Tigers' 2024 season.

Road record under Ryan Silverfield

The road was not kind to Memphis during the first three years of Silverfield's tenure. Memphis went 1-3 in 2020, 1-4 in 2021 and 1-4 in 2022. While the Tigers were much better at home, those seasons ended with regular-season records of 7-3, 6-6 and 6-6.

Silverfield knew improving on the road was a must heading into 2023, and the Tigers pulled it off. Though there were plenty of near-misses — a blown 21-point lead against North Texas, an overtime escape against Charlotte, a bizarre series of opening drives against UAB — Memphis won all of its conference road games.

The only road loss was against Missouri in St. Louis, a game that Missouri insisted was a neutral site and Memphis insisted was a Missouri home game.

Memphis' road schedule in 2024 will be more difficult

Memphis will be a healthy favorite in every home game this season. The Tigers host North Alabama, Troy, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, Charlotte, Rice and UAB. Troy is expected to be the best of those teams, even though it plays in the Sun Belt and that's a nonconference game.

The ongoing renovations to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium mean the capacity will be significantly lower than normal (about 30,000). Although Memphis' home-field advantage might be diminished, fans still will expect the Tigers to win all of those games.

But the season will be decided away from the Bluff City. Memphis has to play at Navy, South Florida, UTSA and Tulane. Along with Memphis, the latter three are expected to be picked as the top four teams in the preseason conference poll.

Tulane has been the best team in the conference the past two seasons. UTSA has had consistent success under Jeff Traylor, and South Florida returns quarterback Byrum Brown after an impressive first season under coach Alex Golesh.

Memphis plays at South Florida on Oct. 11, at UTSA on Nov. 2 and at Tulane on Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day).

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Memphis football's 2024 season will come down to road record