Memphis, Missouri football game stays on 2023 schedule but will be played in St. Louis

Evan Barnes, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read

Missouri will remain on Memphis football's 2023 schedule but the game will not be played at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Memphis announced Monday that the game will be take place Sept. 23 in St. Louis at The Dome at America's Center.

The game was scheduled to be played in Memphis when the teams signed the contract in 2010 for a home-and-home series. However, Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch said last month that Missouri expressed interest in buying out the game, which would have cost Missouri $250,000 per the terms of the agreement.

The amount of money Memphis will receive will be "a significant increase" from what the buyout would have been if the two teams had not played at all according to an athletic department source familiar with the negotiation.

The source requested anonymity since negotiations have not been made public.

Veatch said last month both schools were in discussions for several months once Missouri first stated its intentions to change the deal. If Missouri pulled out, it would've been challenging for the Tigers to find another Power Five opponent on short notice.

"To be clear, we are very disappointed that this game could not be played in Memphis," Veatch said Monday in a school release. "However, once we were made aware that would no longer be an option, we explored every possible alternative. In the end, rescheduling the game with Missouri in St. Louis was the best remaining option for our football program."

DEFENSE FIRST:Memphis football has embraced defense-first identity. Can it work as schedule gets harder?

GIANNOTTO:Memphis football reaches defining stretch in right spot, despite one big question

St. Louis is just over four hours from Memphis' campus and just under two hours away from Missouri's campus.

Memphis also announced its home date with Boise State next season will be on Sept. 30. This comes after the schools announced a home-and-home series in June when the Tigers will travel to Boise in 2026. The schools will also meet in 2030 and 2031

With Missouri staying on the schedule, the Tigers' non-conference slate is complete for 2023. Memphis will host Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 2 for its season opener and travel to Arkansas State on Sept. 9.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football vs. Missouri in 2023 to be played in St. Louis