Memphis heads to Navy looking to extend November winning streak

Memphis travels to Navy this Saturday with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.

The Tigers will be looking for their first win in their third-ever trip to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Memphis (5-2, 3-2 AAC) defeated Navy (3-4, 3-2) 35-23 last season at the Liberty Bowl.

The game was rescheduled from Nov. 14 as a result of COVID-19 cases within the Navy program at that time.

Coach Mac vs. Navy

Memphis defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre is 3-0 in his career against Navy, facing the Midshipmen twice as head coach at San Jose State (2011 and 2012) and once as the defensive coordinator at Duke (2008).

Navy's offense has used its triple-option attack with largely the same offensive coaching staff, led by 23-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo, in each matchup.

MacIntyre's 2012 San Jose State team topped Navy 12-0 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, marking the last time the Midshipmen were shutout at home.

In the past, MacIntyre has used three practices in the spring to begin preparation for facing a triple-option offense. With the Tigers not able to have spring practice in 2020 due to COVID-19, the defense began studying Navy in Zoom meetings last June. MacIntyre has since used practices in fall camp, portions of practice during bye weeks and every Sunday throughout the season to prepare for Navy.

"I've always known you have to prepare way ahead of time," MacIntyre said. "If you start preparing the week of it, it's over. You might as well not even get on the airplane."

No-Loss November

Memphis has won its last 15 games played in November. The Tigers are 2-0 in the month this season with wins over USF and Stephen F. Austin. With a victory over the Midshipmen this week, Memphis would carry a 16-game November winning streak into the 2021 season.

Three times during the 15-game run Memphis has defeated a ranked opponent — No. 15 SMU (2019), No. 18 Cincinnati (2019) and No. 18 Houston (2016). The streak began with a 34-7 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 18, 2016.

Familiar Face

Memphis junior wide receiver Calvin Austin III and Navy senior cornerback Cameron Kinley have been competing against each other since they were freshmen in high school.

The Memphis natives were both multiple-sport stars as preps while attending high schools that regularly competed against each other with Austin III at Harding Academy and Kinley at Lausanne Collegiate School.

"It's crazy that we are now both on this level playing Division-I football against each other," Austin III said. "It really puts everything in perspective. It's a blessing to see two local guys from Memphis succeeding. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, and I would say he has the same for me."

Austin III has emerged as one of the top playmakers in college football this season. With 173 receiving yards against Stephen F. Austin last Saturday, he set a new Memphis record with his fifth consecutive game of 100 or more receiving yards. His streak of 100-yard games is tied for the longest active streak in the FBS. He ranks in the top 15 nationally in receiving yards (820), receiving yards per game (117), punt return yards (144) and receiving touchdowns (7) this season.

Kinley has been a mainstay on the Navy defense the past three seasons with 23 career starts. He is the 2021 Naval Academy Class President and is one of 12 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, commonly referred to as the academic Heisman, along with Memphis senior quarterback Brady White.

Long Layoff

Navy has not played since Oct. 31 at SMU, a 51-37 loss. The Midshipmen have had three consecutive AAC games — Tulsa (Nov. 7), Memphis (Nov. 14) and at USF (Nov. 21) — postponed. Their matchup with USF has not been rescheduled while the Tulsa game has been rescheduled for Dec. 5, a week before Navy will face Army in its regular-season finale.