University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Middle Tennessee
NOTES: Tigers Return to Bluff City for In-State Matchup with Middle Tennessee
Sep 23, 2024 | Football
SETTING THE SCENE
• The Tigers opened American Conference play at Navy (3-0, 2-0 AAC) on Saturday, Sept. 21 and dropped a 56-44 shootout in which they totaled 659 total yards to fall to 3-1 on the season overall. The 659 yards were the most for Memphis since totaling 600 in a win at North Texas last season. The Tigers' 95 offensive plays were the most in a game since 2021 vs. SMU.
• At Navy, Mario Anderson Jr. (117 yards, 3 TD) and Brandon Thomas (125 yards, 1 TD) became the first pair of Tigers to rush for over 100 yards in the same game since 2019 vs. SMU (Gainwell, Watkins). Wide receivers Koby Drake (102 yards) and Roc Taylor (100 yards) joined them in going over the century mark to make it the first time since December 2, 2017, at UCF that Memphis had a pair of 100-yard rushers and a pair of 100-yard receivers.
• Seth Henigan went 32-of-56 passing for 371 yards with a pair of scores and an interception to add to his school record and log his 20th-career 300-yard passing game. He extended his streak with a touchdown pass to 41 games (every game of his career) to move into a tie with 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota for the second-longest streak in FBS history.
• Memphis started its season 3-0 for the second-straight year after a 40-0 shutout of North Alabama, a 38-17 win over two-time defending Sun Belt champions Troy and a 20-12 win at preseason No. 10 Florida State.
• The win in Tallahassee was the first for the Tigers over a power conference opponent on the road since taking down Kansas in 2015. The defense was lights out all day, holding the Seminoles to a season-low 238 total yards with 4.0 sacks and three forced turnovers. Memphis' 12 tackles for loss in the win over Florida State were the most for the Tigers in a game since 2018 vs. SMU.
• Memphis has scored 37 of its 142 points (26%) this season after taking the ball away from its opponent.
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 31-consecutive games - the longest active streak in the nation - dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.
• Memphis is one of nine teams in FBS with 10 or more consecutive bowl-game appearances along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and Iowa.
• Memphis has posted 91 victories since 2014, tied for 14th-most in the nation during that stretch. The Tigers are also 20th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 91-42 (.684) mark.
• The 91 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• Memphis (58) has the fifth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (67), Clemson (67), Ohio State (64) and Michigan (59). The Tigers .829 winning percentage is tied for No. 10 in the country over that stretch.
• The Tigers were picked to win The American in the preseason media poll (409 points), receiving 23 of 30 possible first-place votes. Picked to finish runner up was UTSA with 368 points and four first-place votes. The Tulane Green Wave were tabbed third in the preseason poll with 362 points and a pair of first-place votes. South Florida was picked to finish fourth with 339 points while AAC-newcomer Army received a first-place vote and 236 total points to round out the top five.
• Memphis capped the 2023 season off with a 36-26 win over Iowa State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to finish the season 10-3 and complete just the fifth 10-win season in program history.
• The Tigers returned 69% of their total production from 2023 (No. 26 in FBS) including 74% of offensive production (No. 29 in FBS) and 65% of defensive production (No. 45 in FBS).
SCOUTING MIDDLE TENNESSEE
• Middle Tennessee enters Saturday with a 1-3 record. The Blue Raiders opened Derek Mason's tenure with a week-one home win over Tennessee Tech, 32-25, but have dropped three straight since to Ole Miss, Western Kentucky and most recently Duke.
• The Blue Raiders have done a good job of owning the football this season, ranking No. 19 nationally in time of possession (32:42) while averaging 353.8 yards per game.
• Middle Tennessee ranks 60th in the country with eight total sacks this season.
• Redshirt-junior wide receiver Kellen Stewart ranks eighth nationally in kick return yards (217), averaging over 18 yards per return. Safety John Howse IV is also top-10 in FBS with two interceptions on the season.
• Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato ranks 28th in the country averaging 21.5 completions per game and 26th in passing yards (1,002).
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Memphis is 28-1 in the team's last 29 home games against non-conference opponents.
• Saturday's game between Memphis and Middle Tennessee will mark the 28th all-time meeting between the two programs - and the first since 2014 when the Tigers won, 36-14, in Memphis.
• The Blue Raiders lead the all-time series, 17-9-1, with the series beginning in 1925. The Tigers lead 7-6-1 all time in the Bluff City.
RIDING THE MOMENTUM
• The 2023 season was a historic one for the Tigers as they became just the fifth team in program history to win 10 games (2019, 2017, 2014, 1938).
• Last year's team was just the 10th in program history to win nine or more games in a season and just the fourth in school history to win five road games in a year.
PRESEASON AAC FAVORITES
• The Tigers were picked to win The American in the preseason media poll (409 points), receiving 23 of 30 possible first-place votes. Picked to finish runner up was UTSA with 368 points and four first-place votes. The Tulane Green Wave were tabbed third in the preseason poll with 362 points and a pair of first-place votes. South Florida was picked to finish fourth with 339 points while AAC-newcomer Army received a first-place vote and 236 total points to round out the top five.
• Memphis returned 69% of their total production from a season ago (No. 26 in FBS) including 74% of offensive production (No. 29 in FBS) and 65% of defensive production (No. 45 in FBS).
AMONG THE ELITE
• Memphis has posted 91 victories since 2014, tied for 14th-most in the nation during that stretch.
• The 91 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• The Tigers are also 20th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 91-42 (.684) mark.
• Memphis (58) has the fifth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (67), Clemson (67), Ohio State (64) and Michigan (59). The Tigers .829 winning percentage is tied for No. 10 in the country over that stretch.
• Memphis' streak of 10-straight seasons with a record of .500 or better is tied for the third-longest streak among Group of 5 and independent schools and is the longest such streak in the AAC.
MEMPHIS LEADS NATION IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 20 OR MORE POINTS
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 31-consecutive games - the longest active streak in the nation - dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.
• Memphis has scored 1,146 points over that stretch for an average of 36.9 points.
• The next longest active streak belongs to North Texas (28) followed by LSU (21).
BOWL STREAK
• Memphis is one of nine teams in FBS with 10 or more consecutive bowl-game appearances along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and Iowa.
• In 2023, the Tigers defeated Iowa State, 36-26, in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, improving the program's record to 8-8 in bowl games.
SETH HIM-IGAN
• Now in his fourth season as the Memphis starting quarterback, Henigan is already the program's all-time leading passer with 11,876 yards and 937 completions, while his 86 touchdowns are just four shy of Brady White's career record.
• The 21-year-old is the only fourth-year starting quarterback in FBS to spend all four seasons at one institution.
• The senior quarterback had his best season yet in 2023, passing for 3,883 yards and 32 touchdowns to just nine interceptions while rushing for another five scores and setting the single-season completions (318) record for the Tigers.
• In 2023, Henigan ranked fourth in the NCAA in passing yards (3,883), fifth in passing touchdowns (32) seventh in total offense (319.8) and points responsible for (226), eighth in completions per game (24.5) and points responsible for per game (17.4), ninth in passing yards per game (298.7) and 19th in completion percentage (.668).
• The Denton, Texas, native has logged 20-career 300-yard passing games and five 400-yard efforts over his career – both good for program records.
• Henigan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 41 games of his career. His streak is currently tied for the second-longest in FBS history with 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota (41). Henigan trails only former Marshall star Rakeem Cato (46) who owns the all-time mark.
• If Henigan throws for his career average in passing touchdowns (26) in 2024, he would enter the NCAA's top 25 all-time in that stat and would become just the second QB since 2013 to post four-straight seasons with at least 25 total touchdowns.
• At Navy, Henigan went 32-of-56 passing for 371 yards with a pair of scores and an interception to add to his school record and log his 20th-career 300-yard passing game. He moved into third all time in The American in total offense (12,630), passing Cincinnatti's Desmond Ridder.
• With 121 passing yards against Middle Tennessee, Henigan would move past Houston's Clayton Tune (11,996) for second all-time on the American's passing list.
• Henigan was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15 after leading Memphis past preseason No. 10 Florida State on the road behind 25-of-38 passing for 272 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
• Henigan's name was littered on national award watch lists this preseason. In total, Henigan was named to six award watch lists (Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award) in addition to the Reese's Senior Bowl watch list.
MARTIN'S IMMEDIATE IMPACT
• Chandler Martin made an immediate impact on the Tiger defense last season after transferring from East Tennessee State.
• Martin started all 13 games for the Tigers a season ago and led the team with 95 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles and was named First Team All-AAC.
• The Lithonia, Georgia, native added two interceptions, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery while his tackles-for-loss total ranked 17th in the nation and his 5.1 solo stops per game ranked 18th in FBS.
• Martin finished second in the conference in tackles for loss and sixth in total tackles in 2023.
• Martin was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring the Memphis defense in its road win at preseason No. 10 Florida State with eight stops (six solo), 2.5 tackles for loss including a sack, and a fumble recovery.
• The redshirt-junior linebacker currently ranks 12th in the country with 7.0 tackles for loss this season.
• This preseason, Martin was named to the Butkus Award, Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch lists in addition to earning Phil Steele Fourth Team Preseason All-America honors.
ROC, PAPER, SCISSORS
• Senior wide receiver Roc Taylor led the Tigers in 2023 with 69 receptions for 1,083 yards and four touchdowns.
• He ranked 20th in the NCAA in receiving yards and 23rd in receiving yards per game while becoming just the fifth 1,000-yard receiver in Memphis football history.
• A 2023 Second Team All-AAC honoree, Taylor was one of just nine Tigers to start all 13 games on the 10-win squad – going over 100 yards receiving six times.
• Taylor was named Preseason First Team All-AAC by Phil Steele and was picked as The American's Preseason Wide Receiver of the Year by College Football Network.
• Taylor logged his first 100-yard receiving game of the season and seventh of his Tiger career at Navy on Sept. 21. He hauled in six passes for 100 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown strike from Henigan.
• The big-bodied receiver leads Memphis with 17 receptions for 264 yards and a touchdown on the season (66.0 YPG).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
• A pair of Tiger tight ends made their impact felt in the season-opening win over North Alabama. Anthony Landphere and Brendan Doyle combined for four receptions and 62 yards while each hauling in their first touchdown receptions of the season.
• Doyle has become quite the red-zone threat for Memphis as he caught just seven passes in 2023 with four of them resulting in touchdowns.
• Doyle got into the endzone in each of Memphis' first two games of the season. For his career, the red-zone threat has 14 receptions for six touchdowns and 103 yards.
• In the win at Florida State, it was Landphere who made his impact felt, catching five passes for 66 yards and a score - including a career-long reception of 31 yards. Doyle added three catches for 30 yards in the win.
HERRING'S HUGE DAY
• Junior linebacker Elijah Herring proved to be a nuisance to the Troy offense in the Tigers' week two win.
• His eight tackles (six solo) and two tackles for loss matched a career-high while he recorded his first collegiate forced fumble and recovery.
• The impressive stat line earned him the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor for Sept. 9.
• On the season, Herring is tied with Chandler Martin for the team lead with a pair of sacks.
B.T. RUNS INTO THE RECORD BOOK
• Redshirt-senior running back Brandon Thomas moved his name up the program's all-time list with his pair of rushing touchdowns against Troy.
• The running back out of North Little Rock, Arkansas, moved into fifth place all-time for rushing touchdowns as a Tiger (28).
• Thomas posted his first 100-yard rushing game since Sept. 11, 2021, vs. Arkansas State in the loss at Navy. He ran for 125 yards on a dozen carries, highlighted by a 57-yard touchdown scamper - the 29th of his career. The 100-yard game marked the third of Thomas' career.
SUPER MARIO
• South Carolina transfer Mario Anderson Jr. made his breakout as a Tiger in week two – going for 125 yards on 17 carries and two scores in the team's 38-17 win over Troy. He added four receptions for 23 yards to combine for 148 scrimmage yards, earning himself a spot on the AAC's Weekly Honor Roll.
• Anderson Jr. logged his second 100-yard game of the season at Navy with 17 totes for 117 yards and three touchdowns.
• The senior running-back has found the endzone seven times in Memphis' first four games of the season to rank sixth in the NCAA in rushing scores.
• Anderson Jr. has carried the rock 58 times for 320 yards (5.5 AVG.) to lead the Tigers, averaging 80 yards per game.
OUR FOOTBALL FUTURE: TRANSFORMATIONAL RENOVATIONS TO SIMMONS BANK LIBERTY STADIUM
• Memphis Athletics, alongside the University's Auxiliary Services Foundation, is committing to a $220 million investment in the stadium project.
• All demolition at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium has been completed for phase two from the top of the structure to the ground level.
• Phase 2 priority elements include creating a unique interior "party plaza" area for all fans and beginning initial perimeter and halo upgrades to create a hospitality space around the stadium.
• Stadium capacity during the 2024 and 2025 Memphis Football seasons is anticipated to be in the low-30,000s, and capacity after renovations are complete is estimated to be approximately 50,000.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
• Memphis (58) has the fifth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (67), Clemson (67), Ohio State (64) and Michigan (59). The Tigers .829 winning percentage is tied for No. 10 in the country over that stretch.
• Memphis has had a great home field advantage at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, posting a record of 48-9 (.842) since head coach Ryan Silverfield joined the staff in 2016.
• As head coach, Silverfield is 23-6 (.793) at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS IN MEMPHIS
• Memphis is 28-1 in the team's last 29 home games against non-conference opponents.
• Among the games during that stretch for the Tigers include victories over Mississippi State (2021), Ole Miss (2019, 2015), UCLA (2017) and Kansas (2016).
• The lone loss during that stretch came against UTSA (now a member of The American), 31-28, on Sept. 25, 2021.
