University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Troy
NOTES: Memphis Welcomes Troy to 901 on Saturday
Sep 03, 2024 | Football
• The Tigers opened the 2024 season with a 40-0 shutout win over North Alabama at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on August 31. It marked the 11th-consecutive home-opening win for Memphis as it improved to 11-0 vs. FCS opponents since 2013.
• 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 89 victories since 2014, tied for the 13th-most in the nation during that stretch. The Tigers are also 19th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 89-41 (.685) mark. • The 89 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• Memphis (57) is tied with Michigan for the fourth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (66), Clemson (65) and Ohio State (62). The Tigers .826 winning percentage is No. 11 in the country over that stretch.
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 28-consecutive games - the longest active streak in the nation - dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.
• 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 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.
• 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 TROY
• Troy (0-1) will enter Saturday's game after a loss at home in week one to Nevada (1-1), 28-26, that came down to a failed two-point try to decide it.
• Troy totaled 391 yards of offense in the loss while rushing for 190 and averaging 5.3 yards-per carry. • Running back Damien Taylor rushed 11 times for 103 yards and a touchdown (9.4 YPC).
• The Trojans had a streak of winning 18-straight games when rushing for 100-plus yards snapped in their loss to Nevada last weekend, but have still won 20 of the last 22 when going over 100 yards on the ground.
• Troy is 22-3 since losing on a Hail Mary at App State in 2022 and has won 23 games the last two seasons, tied for the fourth most in the country.
• The Trojans have forced 191 turnovers since the start of the 2016 season, which is tied with Clemson for the most in the nation.
• Troy led the country in 2023 (tied with UTSA) with six games last season (6-0) with five-plus sacks and tied for second nationally with six games with four-plus sacks.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game between Memphis and Troy will mark just the sixth-ever meeting between the two programs, with Memphis leading the all-time series 4-1. The Tigers won the last matchup with a 32-0 shutout pre-World War II back in 1941.
• Memphis is 15-9 all-time against Sun Belt opponents and have won 10-straight games over SBC teams dating back to 2013.
• Both teams are perfect so far this season on red-zone scores. Memphis went 6-for-6 on getting points when it reached the red zone while the Trojans went 4-for-4 in their loss to Nevada.
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.
RECEIVING VOTES
• Memphis received votes in both the Coaches Poll (44) and the AP Poll (16 votes) to open the season.
• In the week two polls released Sept. 3, Memphis received 43 votes in the Coaches Poll (No. 28) and 27 votes in the AP Poll (No. 30).
AAC FRONT RUNNERS
• 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 returns 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 89 victories since 2014, tied for the 13th-most in the nation during that stretch.
• The 89 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• The Tigers are also 19th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 89-41 (.685) mark.
• Memphis (57) is tied with Michigan for the fourth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (66), Clemson (65) and Ohio State (62). The Tigers .826 winning percentage is No. 11 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 28-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 1,044 points over that stretch for an average of 37.3 points.
• The next longest active streak belongs to North Texas (25), followed by Georgia (19), Michigan (19) and LSU (18).
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.Â
• 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.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
• Memphis was well represented on preseason national award watch lists by numerous student-athletes.
• In total, quarterback Seth 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.
• Linebacker Chandler 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.
• Wide receivers Roc Taylor and Demeer Blankumsee were both named to the prestigous preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list, while Taylor was additionally named to the Reese's Senior Bowl watch list along with Henigan.
• Offensive lineman Xavier Hill was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy.
• Transfer running back Mario Anderson Jr. was tabbed a Doak Walker Award candidate after leading South Carolina in rushing a season ago.
• Running back Sutton Smith was named to the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list - given to the nation's most versatile player. He ranked 18th nationally in kick-return average (24.2) in 2023.
• Tight end Anthony Landphere was named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list.
• Punter Joshua Sloan was added to the Ray Guy Award watch list.
• Defensive back An'Darius Coffey was named to the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list - college football's premier award for community service.
15 TIGERS EARN PRESEASON ALL-AAC HONORS FROM PHIL STEELE
• Linebacker Chandler Martin was named to Phil Steele's 2024 Fourth Team Preseason All-America team. Along with Martin, 14 other Tigers were named to the publication's preseason All-AAC team.
• Along with Martin, quarterback Seth Henigan, wide receiver Roc Taylor, offensive lineman Xavier Hill (OG), and running back Sutton Smith (KR) were named to Phil Steele's First-Team Preseason All-AAC team. Running back Mario Anderson, wide receiver Demeer Blankumsee and tight end Anthony Landphere were named to the second team preseason squad.
• Offensive lineman Jonah Gambill (OG), linebacker Elijah Herring, defensive back Greg Rubin (S), kicker Caden Costa, and long snapper Colby Cox were named to the third team. DB Tahj Ra-El (CB) and wide receiver Koby Drake (PR) were both named fourth-team preseason all-conference.
SETH HIM-IGAN
• Now in his fourth season as the Memphis starting quarterback, Henigan is already the program's all-time leading passer with 11,072 yards and 860 completions, while his 81 touchdowns are just 10 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 19-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 38 games of his career.
• 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.
• 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.
• Henigan was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for his week one performance in which he completed 22-of-30 passes for 308 yards and a pair of touchdown throws against North Alabama.
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.
• 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.
• Martin led the Tiger defense in their week-one shutout win over North Alabama, making eight stops (six solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss.
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 led the Tigers in receiving in their week-one win over North Alabama, hauling in five receptions for 87 yards.
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. On those seven receptions a year ago, Doyle totaled just 33 yards. He nearly matched that total one game into 2024 with a 32-yard performance against UNA.
NEW TIGERS ON THE BLOCK
• Multiple Tigers made their debut in the Memphis Blue in the team's home opener against North Alabama.
• Offensively, Mario Anderson Jr. was the talk of the town after he rushed for two touchdowns in the first half and finished the game with 10 attempts and 46 total yards. Greg Desrosiers Jr. and Makari Bodiford both also got touches in their first minutes as Tigers.
• Tiger fans also got a first look at the newly revamped offensive line which featured Trent Holler, Chris Adams and Keydrell Lewis making their Memphis debuts.
• Defensively, defensive back AJ Watts and linebacker Elijah Herring combined for nine tackles and two tackles for loss while Herring got to the Lions quarterback for a six-yard sack. Harvard transfer linebacker Matt Hudson recorded a pair of tackles as well and came up with an interception late in the first quarter.
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 (57) is tied with Michigan for the fourth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (66), Clemson (65) and Ohio State (62). The Tigers .826 winning percentage is No. 11 in the country over that stretch.
• Memphis has had a great home field advantage at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, posting a record of 47-9 (.839) since head coach Ryan Silverfield joined the staff in 2016.
• As head coach, Silverfield is 22-6 (.786) at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS IN MEMPHIS
• Memphis is 27-1 in the team's last 28 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.
