University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas State
Tigers Set to Host Arkansas State in Home Opener at Newly-Renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
Sep 02, 2026 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. RV/RV University of Memphis (1-0) football program will host its first game in the newly-renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Saturday when the Arkansas State Red Wolves come to town for the 901 Game.
The game will kick off at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ with Jeff Hem on play-by-play and Kenechi Udeze providing analysis. The game will also be available to listen to on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS, Memphis' Athletics flagship station for Tiger Sports Network, with Dave Woloshin (play-by-play), Jarvis Greer (analyst) and Greg Gaston (sideline) on the call.
SETTING THE SCENE
• Memphis comes into its home opener after a 27-21 come-from-behind win in Charles Huff's first game at the helm, overcoming a 14-7 halftime deficit in the Sin City.
o Huff became the first coach in program history to win his debut on the road.
• Memphis has a strong record in Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, currently sitting on a 12-game home-opener win streak.
o Dating back to 2014, the Tigers have 67 home wins, good for top five in the nation.
• The Tigers' week one matchup will be the unveiling of a $226.5 millon renovation to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, with enhanced stadium audio, LED lights, one of the largest ribbon boards in the country and the new West Tower, featuring a large number of loge boxes, suites and the Landers Plaza. Also with the renovations comes a fireworks & drone show at halftime and at the end of the third quarter.
• Fresh off his first win as the head coach at Memphis, Charles Huff was named the Bear Bryant Award National Coach of the Week.
• The 2026 Memphis Tigers roster features a grand total of 81 newcomers, split between 20 true freshmen and 61 transfers, with 27 returners from last season.
• Huff brings along 17 players from his 2025 Southern Miss squad, including All-Sun Belt performers: DE J'Mond Tapp, LB Mike Montgomery and SAF Ian Foster.
o The list also includes 5 players who played for Huff at both Marshall and Southern Miss.
• The newest Tigers played a massive role in Memphis' week zero win, with only newcomers (QB Marcus Stokes, RB Jaylin Carter, WR Stonka Burnside, TE Hunter Tipton, K Philippe Laforge) putting up points for Memphis in the opener.
• The Tiger defense, with newcomers at all levels, showed up big in the opener, with transfers DL Joseph Head Jr., DL J'Mond Tapp, DL Jaden McKinney and DL J'Mond Tapp all bringing the quarterback down in the backfield, along with LBs Mike Montgomery and Zach Ruffin recording 10-plus tackles.
• Memphis returns just four players (CB Chauncey Logan Jr., DL Taylor Burton, WR Brady Kluse, OL Parker Mitchell) that started at least one game for the Tigers in 2025.
• Dating back to a win over UAB in the 2023 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 27 of its last 34 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers have created 57 takeaways (32 INT, 25 FR).
• Memphis has scored at least 15 points in 85-consecutive home games – the second-longest active streak in the FBS and the fourth-longest streak overall since 1978.
• The Tigers currently have an active streak of 30 games with two or fewer turnovers, which is the second-longest streak by an American Conference team and the longest active streak in the conference.
o The streak is also the sixth-longest active streak by an FBS program.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• The Tigers lead the all-time series with the Red Wolves, 33-24-5, and are on a five-game winning streak.
• The matchup is officially known as the Paint Bucket Bowl, a name derived from the winning of the game being able to deface a designated part of the losing team's campus. It eventually turned into the winning team being presented a trophy in the form of a paint bucket with the game score inscribed on it, colored with both teams' colors.
• The latest rendition of the series between Memphis and Arkansas State was a 37-3 road win for the Tigers where Memphis dominated in all facets of the game.
• For the most recent matchup in Memphis, you'd have to look to the prior season when Memphis picked up a 44-33 win over the Red Wolves in Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, with Seth Henigan passing for 360 yards and four total touchdowns (3 pass, 1 rush).
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES
• Arkansas State is in its sixth season under head coach Butch Jones, who had the Red Wolves firing with the 31st ranked passing offense (259.5) in the country last season.
• The Red Wolves also posted top 50 marks in sacks per game (6th; 3.00), punt return defense (38th; 6.09), fumbles recovered (23rd; 9) and kickoff return defense (39th; 18.84).
• QB Trey Owens transferred in from Texas after being a four-start recruit and the No. 16 quarterback in the class of 2024.
• He'll have big shoes to fill replacing Jaylen Raynor, who transferred to Iowa State after finishing in the top 20 in passing yards and top 50 in passing touchdowns last season.
• WR Chauncy Cobb was a do-it-all player for the Red Wolves last season, being one of five players at the FBS level with multiple kickoff return touchdowns. Cobb also totaled just under 800 receiving yards on the season.
• Arkansas State looks replace about a third of its rushing production with the loss, with Kenyon Clay and Devin Spencer returning after combining for just over 1,000 yards and six rushing touchdowns.
• The Red Wolves also expect a larger role for Tulane transfer WR Hunter Summers with the graduation of 1,000-yard receiver, Corey Rucker, last season.
• AG McGhee and Brandon Barnes are Arkansas State's returning tackles leaders after finishing 3rd and 4th on the team last season, respectively.
• After high sack marks from 2025, the Red Wolves look to new players for production after losing all seven players on the roster with more than 1.0 sacks.
THREE THINGS IN LIFE THAT'S CERTAIN: DEATH, TAXES AND THAT THE TIGERS GONE' HUNT
• The Tigers opened the Charles Huff era with a statement win over RV/RV UNLV, a program who entered the season with higher odds than Memphis of becoming the Non-P4 representative in the College Football Playoff.
• Memphis entered the half trailing 14-7 after allowing a pair of explosive UNLV plays, only countered by the first of many connections from QB Marcus Stokes to TE Hunter Tipton on a 16-yard passing touchdown.
• In the second half, Stokes knotted the game up at 14 apiece on a 48-yard pass to WR Stonka Burnside, with RB Jaylin Carter later scoring on a 36-yard run to make it 21-21.
• The Tiger defense stood tall in the second half, limiting UNLV to just seven points in the final 30 minutes, forcing a pair of turnovers-on-downs and sacking Jackson Arnold six times, highlighted by 2.5 from DL Elijah Kinsler.
• Stokes finished his Memphis debut 15-for-26 for 223 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, also netting 45 yards on the ground.
• In a display of pure dominance at the point of attack, the Tigers recorded six sacks, with DL Elijah Kinsler (2.5), DL J'Mond Tapp (1.0), DL Taylor Burton (1.0), DL Joseph Head Jr. (1.0) and DL Jaden McKinney (0.5) all wreaking havoc in the backfield.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
• Memphis was well represented on preseason national award watchlists by numerous student-athletes, as well as Preseason American Conference Teams put out by various publications.
• TE Hunter Tipton, DL J'Mond Tapp, LB Mike Montgomery and SAF Ian Foster were all named to the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watchlist.
• LB Donovan Mathena was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee Class for the second season in a row, highlighting his continued commitment to on-the-field performance and community service efforts off the field.
o Mathena also was named to the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List for the second-straight season.
• RB Manny Covey picked up a nod on the 2026 Doak Walker Award Watch List, annually awarded to the best running back in the nation.
o Memphis has had 10 players be named to the watch list in nine separate seasons since 2004, including players in the past three seasons.
• SAF Ian Foster was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, an award given to the best defensive player in all of college football.
o Memphis has had a player on the watch list now in each of the past three seasons.
• Seven Tigers garnered recognition on the 2026 Phil Steele Preseason American Conference Teams, with four first-teamers (DE J'Mond Tapp, LB Mike Montgomery, SAF Ian Foster, DL Jaden McKinney) on the defensive side and a trio of offensive linemen (Phillip Gray, Riley McGehee, Maarten Woudsma) being named to teams, with Gray as a third-team center and McGehee and Woudsma as fourth-team tackles and guards, respectively.
• 11 Tigers claimed 12 spots on the 2026 Athlon Sports Preseason American Conference Team, with DL J'Mond Tapp, LB Mike Montgomery and SAF Ian Foster on the First Team, TE Hunter Tipton and SAF Ahmere Foster on the Second Team, WR Tychaun Chapman, OL Maarten Woudsma, Ian Foster (KR), DL Jaden McKinney and CB Chauncey Logan Jr. on the Third Team, and WR Terrell Timmons Jr. and SAF Dylan Smith on the Fourth Team.
• DL J'Mond Tapp and SAF Ian Foster were both also named to the Sports Info Solutions Preseason American Conference Team, with Tapp listed as a DE and Foster as a defensive flex honoree. SIS's formula for selecting the team is based solely on data scouting and statistical analysis.
• Memphis had six honorees on the Pro Football Network Preseason American Conference Team, including DL J'Mond Tapp, SAF Ian Foster and RB Manny Covey (PR) as first-team selections. OL Riley McGehee picked up his second preseason honor on the second team, along with CB Anthony Richard Jr. SAF Ahmere Foster also picks up his second honor, this time on the preseason all-conference third team.
• Five Tigers were named to HERO Sports' Preseason Group of Six All-America Teams, with SAF Ian Foster and DL J'Mond Tapp on the first team, along with TE Hunter Tipton, LB Mike Montgomery and SAF Ahmere Foster all being named to the third team.
• DL J'Mond Tapp was also recognized in ESPN's Adam Rittenberg's Top 15 Non-QB Playmakers as the only member from a non-Power 4 School, along with being named to The Athletic's Freaks List.
• DL J'Mond Tapp also was named to the 2027 Panini Senior Bowl Top 300 List.
• TE Hunter Tipton also picked up a nod on the 2026 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watchlist, awarded to the most outstanding offensive player with ties to the state of Texas through high school and/or college.
• After recording six pressures, five tackles and a sack in Memphis' week zero win over UNLV, DL J'Mond Tapp was named the 2027 Shrine Bowl Defensive Player of the Week.
• Opening his Memphis tenure with a debut win on the road, head coach Charles Huff was named the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Week.
OUR FOOTBALL FUTURE NOW: THE NEW-LOOK SIMMONS BANK LIBERTY STADIUM
• Memphis Athletics, alongside the University's Auxiliary Services Foundation, has completed a $226.5 million renovation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium to redefine the college football gameday experience.
• The brand-new, four-level West Tower features 26 luxury suites, 36 loge boxes, 370 club seats and a full-service kitchen.
• With the renovations is the new Landers Plaza, providing fans an elevated experience on the west side.
• The stadium also now features 360 degree sound, fireworks around the bowl of the stadium and one of the largest ribbon boards in all of college football.
• The new stadium capacity sits at 45,632 after renovations, creating a more intimate atmosphere for all fans and adding to the stadium pulse.
HOME SEASON OPENERS
• Memphis opened the season at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the 14th time in the last 15 years on August 30 against Chattanooga.
• The 2025 season got off to a bang with a 45-10 win over the Mocs.
• The Tigers opened the 2024 season against North Alabama and rolled to a dominant 40-0 shutout win.
• 2022's season-opening game on the road at Mississippi State snapped an 11-season streak of opening the season in Memphis.
• The Tigers are 48-61-3 all-time in season-opening contests.
• Memphis has won 12-straight home openers and have posted a record of 54-49-5 all-time in home opening games.
NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTS IN MEMPHIS
• Memphis is 32-1 in the team's last 33 home games against nonconference opponents.
• Among the games during that stretch for the Tigers include victories over Arkansas (2025), 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.
NEW FACES ON STAFF
• Head Coach Charles Huff built up a new coaching staff across the board, also bringing his assistant head coach, Telly Lockette, from Southern Miss and Marshall prior to the duo's time with the Golden Eagles.
• Offensively, Kevin Decker and David Weeks both come in from Old Dominion to serve as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach, respectively. Rounding out the offensive staff are Andy Kwon coaching the offensive line and Aaron Dobson coaching the wide receiving corps.
• Lance Guidry joins as the program's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after spending time as a defensive analyst at LSU in 2025 and time as Miami's defensive coordinator after being Marshall's defensive coordinator under Coach Huff from 2021-2022. The defensive position groups are coached by Eric Mathies (defensive line), Dominique Bowman (safeties), Tim Duffie (cornerbacks) and Mac Goode (linebackers asst.).
WE'RE STOKED
• Marcus Stokes made his FBS debut for the Tigers against UNLV, going 15-for-26 for 223 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.
o He also added 52 yards on the ground on seven carries.
• Stokes, a West Florida transfer who was once committed to Florida in high school, dominated at the Division II level in 2025, winning Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year, D2CCA Super Region 2 Offensive Player of the Year and being a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the most valuable player at the NCAA Division II level.
A BEVEE OF BACKS
• After mentoring multiple first-round running backs in Saquon Barkley at Penn State and Najee Harris at Alabama, Head Coach Charles Huff has built a balanced group of tailbacks who could all go off on a given day, guided by assistant head coach and running backs coach, Telly Lockette.
• Dallan Hayden comes in as the most experienced of the group after stints at Ohio State and Colorado. The Memphis native returned home for his final season, looking to build off of a current mark of 1,185 career rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
• Manny Covey is set for his first season in the blue and gray after playing a versatile role at Cincinnati over the past two seasons. He currently has a career average of 5.78 yards per carry, while also having a 100-yard receiving performance under his belt and 156 career punt return yards.
• Jaylin Carter followed Coach Huff from Southern Miss after rushing for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns and logging 137 receiving yards as a true freshman in 2025.
FAMILIAR FACES ON DEFENSE
• Coach Huff brings over multiple members of his 2025 Southern Miss defense that finished 1st in the nation in interceptions (23) and fifth in turnover margin (1.08).
o Current Memphis Tigers Ian Foster, Ahmere Foster, Mike Montgomery and Anthony Richard Jr. account for 10 of those 23 interceptions.
• Counting all Southern Miss to Memphis transfers, the 2026 Tigers team has the following production from Southern Miss' 2025 season -
o Tackles - 411 of 1,095 (37.5%)
o Tackles for Loss - 26.5 of 78.0 (34.0%)
o Interceptions - 10 of 23 (43.5%)
o Sacks - 12.5 of 30.0 (41.7%)
• DL J'Mond Tapp follows Huff to Memphis for his final season after finishing in the top 40 in the FBS in sacks (7.5) and being named to the All-Sun Belt First Team in 2025.
• LB Mike Montgomery also follows to lead Huff's defense yet again after finishing in the top 30 in the nation in tackles per game (8.8) and picking off a pair of passes for the Golden Eagles last season, earning a Third Team All-Sun Belt nod.
• The third piece of a key trio of Southern Miss transfers from Huff's 2025 campaign is SAF Ian Foster, who picked off three passes, returning two for touchdowns while adding 72 tackles, being named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team.
• Of the numerous pieces that Huff brings from Southern Miss are Ahmere Foster, Anthony Richard Jr. and Dylan King in the defensive backfield, who all contributed to last year's dominance in Hattiesburg.
o The three combined for 5 interceptions and 105 tackles.
• The Memphis defensive line is anchored by multiple Southern Miss transfers in addition to Tapp in Jaden McKinney and Jabari Ishmael, who combined for 48 tackles in the interior tackle spots.
o DE Elijah Kinsler also comes in from the Golden Eagles after a limited role during his freshman season in 2025.
