2021 Memphis Tigers football team

2021 Memphis Tigers football
Hawaii Bowl, vs. TBD
Conference	American Athletic Conference
Record	6–6 (3–5 American)
Head coach	Ryan Silverfield (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Kevin Johns (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Mike MacIntyre (2nd season)
Home stadium	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 59,308)

2021 American Athletic Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 4 Cincinnati y$^		8	–	0					13	–	1
No. 17 Houston y		8	–	0					12	–	2
UCF		5	–	3					9	–	4
East Carolina		5	–	3					7	–	5
Tulsa		5	–	3					7	–	6
SMU		4	–	4					8	–	4
Memphis		3	–	5					6	–	6
Navy		3	–	5					4	–	8
Tulane		1	–	7					2	–	10
South Florida		1	–	7					2	–	10
Temple		1	–	7					3	–	9
Championship: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers play their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, and compete in the American Athletic Conference. They are led by second-year head coach Ryan Silverfield.

Previous season

Main article: 2020 Memphis Tigers football team

The Tigers finished the 2020 season 8–3, 5–3 in AAC play to finish third in the conference. They won the Montgomery Bowl 25–10 against Florida Atlantic.

Preseason

American Athletic Conference preseason media poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021. Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.

Media poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Cincinnati	262 (22)
2	UCF	241 (2)
3	SMU	188
4	Houston	181
5	Memphis	168
6	Tulsa	153
7	Tulane	132
т-8	East Carolina	85
т-8	Navy	85
10	Temple	46
11	South Florida	43

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	6:00 p.m.	No. 22 (FCS) Nicholls*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	W 42–17	30,263
September 11	6:00 p.m.	at Arkansas State*	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR (Paint Bucket Bowl)	ESPN+	W 55–50	19,501
September 18	3:00 p.m.	Mississippi State*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN2	W 31–29	43,461
September 25	2:30 p.m.	UTSA*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPNU	L 28–31	29,264
October 2	11:00 a.m.	at Temple	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPNU	L 31–34	28,573
October 9	8:00 p.m.	at Tulsa	H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK	ESPN2	L 29–35	17,593
October 14	6:30 p.m.	Navy	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN	W 35–17	30,042
October 22	6:00 p.m.	at UCF	Bounce House Orlando, FL	ESPN2	L 7–24	39,328
November 6	11:00 a.m.	SMU	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPNU	W 28–25	30,191
November 13	11:00 a.m.	East Carolina	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	L 29–30 OT	28,431
November 19	8:00 p.m.	at No. 24 Houston	TDECU Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN2	L 13–31	28,712
November 27	6:30 p.m.	Tulane	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPNU	W 33–28	27,416
December 24	7:00 p.m.	vs. TBD	Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex Honolulu, HI (Hawaii Bowl)	ESPN
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) - Released prior to game All times are in Central time

Game summaries

Nicholls

Nicholls at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total No. 22 (FCS) Colonels 7 0 7 3 17 • Tigers 10 19 6 7 42 Date: September 4, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 13 minutes Game attendance: 30,263 Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: S 9 MPH Referee: Edwin Lee TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross (play–by–play) and Leger Douzable (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 09:13 NICH K.J. Franklin 10-yard pass from Lindsey Scott Jr. (Gavin Lasseigne kick) (11 plays, 75 yards, 5:47) NICH 7–0 06:11 MEM Joe Doyle 26-yard field goal (10 plays, 57 yards, 2:56) NICH 7–3 01:38 MEM Rodrigues Clark 13-yard rush (Joe Doyle kick) (12 plays, 72 yards, 3:45) MEM 7–10 2 12:29 MEM Brandon Thomas 10-yard rush (Joe Doyle kick) (5 plays, 69 yards, 1:32) MEM 7–17 07:19 MEM Joe Doyle 33-yard field goal (10 plays, 60 yards, 3:27) MEM 7–20 02:15 MEM Marquavius Weaver 1-yard rush (two-point conversion rush attempt failed) (8 plays, 78 yards, 2:17) MEM 7–26 00:13 MEM Joe Doyle 24-yard field goal (11 plays, 54 yards, 1:31) MEM 7–29 3 11:46 MEM Joe Doyle 38-yard field goal (8 plays, 54 yards, 3:11) MEM 7–32 06:54 NICH Lindsey Scott Jr. 5-yard rush (Gavin Lasseigne kick) (10 plays, 75 yards, 4:47) MEM 14–32 03:41 MEM Joe Doyle 25-yard field goal (8 plays, 61 yards, 3:05) MEM 14–35 4 12:53 MEM Calvin Austin III 11-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (8 plays, 75 yards, 3:20) MEM 14–42 09:20 NICH Gavin Lasseigne 35-yard field goal (9 plays, 56 yards, 3:33) MEM 17–42

See also: 2021 Nicholls Colonels football team

Over/under
MEM –22.5	68

Statistics	Nicholls	Memphis
First downs	17	32
Total yards	299	587
Rushing yards	100	322
Passing yards	199	265
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	28:45	31:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nicholls	Passing	Lindsey Scott Jr.	17/30, 194 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Julien Gums	13 carries, 48 yards
	Receiving	Dai'Jean Dixon	7 receptions, 107 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	19/32, 265 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	16 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Javon Ivory	5 receptions, 106 yards

at Arkansas State

Memphis at Arkansas State

1 2 3 4 Total • Tigers 20 14 7 14 55 Red Wolves 10 13 7 20 50 Date: September 11, 2021 Location: Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 47 minutes Game attendance: 19,501 Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 10 MPH Referee: Luke Richmond TV announcers (ESPN+): Brad Bobo (play–by–play), Pete Cordelli (analyst), and Cori Keller (sideline reporter)

Scoring summary 1 13:20 MEM Calvin Austin III 55-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (6 plays, 75 yards, 1:40) MEM 7–0 06:11 MEM Sean Dykes 17-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle PAT failed) (12 plays, 92 yards, 3:10) MEM 13–0 04:30 ARST Te'Vailance Hunt 53-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Blake Grupe kick) (4 plays, 68 yards, 1:34) MEM 13–7 04:05 MEM Brandon Thomas 70-yard rush (Joe Doyle kick) (2 plays, 75 yards, 0:25) MEM 20–7 02:02 ARST Blake Grupe 48-yard field goal (4 plays, 1 yard, 1:19) MEM 20–10 2 07:48 ARST Blake Grupe 37-yard field goal (6 plays, 17 yards, 3:03) MEM 20–13 05:09 MEM Sean Dykes 40-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (1 play, 45 yards, 0:14) MEM 27–13 01:30 ARST Layne Hatcher 12-yard rush (Blake Grupe kick) (10 plays, 75 yards, 3:39) MEM 27–20 01:20 MEM Brandon Thomas 75-yard rush (Joe Doyle kick) (1 play, 75 yards, 0:06) MEM 34–20 00:00 ARST Blake Grupe 34-yard field goal (10 plays, 60 yards, 1:15) MEM 34–23 3 08:43 MEM Calvin Austin III 50-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (4 plays, 63 yards, 1:19) MEM 41–23 01:09 ARST Corey Rucker 23-yard pass from James Blackman (Blake Grupe kick) (4 plays, 79 yards, 1:23) MEM 41–30 4 11:47 MEM Marquavius Weaver 4-yard rush (Joe Doyle kick) (11 plays, 72 yards, 4:13) MEM 48–30 10:54 ARST Jeff Foreman 89-yard pass from James Blackman (two-point pass conversion attempt failed) (2 plays, 91 yards, 0:47) MEM 48–36 10:39 MEM Calvin Austin III 75-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (2 plays, 75 yards, 0:15) MEM 55–36 05:01 ARST Adam Jones 1-yard pass from James Blackman (Blake Grupe kick) (15 plays, 73 yards, 5:47) MEM 55–43 01:52 ARST Akeem Hayes 5-yard pass James Blackman (Blake Grupe kick) (10 plays, 87 yards, 1:56) MEM 55–50

See also: 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team and Paint Bucket Bowl

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM –5.5	65

Statistics	Memphis	Arkansas State
First downs	24	35
Total yards	680	680
Rushing yards	263	98
Passing yards	417	582
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	24:04	35:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Calvin Austin III	6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs
Arkansas State	Passing	James Blackman	19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs
	Rushing	Lincoln Pare	6 carries, 36 yards
	Receiving	Jeff Foreman	8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD

Mississippi State

Mississippi State at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 3 14 0 12 29 • Tigers 7 0 7 17 31 Date: September 18, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 1:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes Game attendance: 43,461 Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: NE 7 MPH Referee: Marc Curles TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play–by–play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)

Scoring summary 1 12:02 MEM Sanchez Blake Jr. 49-yard fumble returned (Joe Doyle kick) (5 plays, 21 yards, 2:58) MEM 7–0 03:20 MSST Nolan McCord 39-yard field goal (17 plays, 54 yards, 8:42) MEM 7–3 2 09:58 MSST Dillon Johnson 3-yard rush (Nolan McCord kick) (10 plays, 75 yards, 4:28) MSST 10–7 05:07 MSST Jaden Walley 6-yard pass from Will Rogers (Nolan McCord kick) (9 plays, 81 yards, 3:41) MSST 17–7 3 06:20 MEM Calvin Austin III 21-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (12 plays, 98 yards, 4:59) MSST 17–14 4 07:48 MEM Calvin Austin III 25-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (4 plays, 36 yards, 1:18) MEM 21–17 05:36 MEM Calvin Austin III 94-yard punt return (Joe Doyle kick) (5 plays, 22 yards, 2:12) MEM 28–17 03:03 MSST Malik Heath 9-yard pass from Will Rogers (two-point pass conversion attempt failed) (6 plays, 57 yards, 2:33) MEM 28–23 02:02 MEM Joe Doyle 51-yard field goal (4 plays, 4 yards, 1:01) MEM 31–23 01:32 MSST Makai Polk 36-yard pass from Will Rogers (2 plays, 65 yards, 0:30) MEM 31–29

See also: 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

Pregame line	Over/under
MSST –3.0	64

Statistics	Mississippi State	Memphis
First downs	26	12
Total yards	468	246
Rushing yards	49	87
Passing yards	419	159
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	37:30	32:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi State	Passing	Will Rogers	50/67, 419 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Dillon Johnson	7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Makai Polk	11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	16/28, 159 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	16 carries, 83 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin III	9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs

UTSA

UTSA at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total • Roadrunners 0 7 7 17 31 RV Tigers 21 0 7 0 28 Date: September 25, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 2:35 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes Game attendance: 29,264 Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: W 6 MPH Referee: Joe Lehring TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen (play–by–play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 13:24 MEM Wardalis Ducksworth 0-yard fumble returned (Joe Doyle kick) (1 play, -28 yards, 0:22) MEM 7–0 09:23 MEM Rodriguez Clark 7-yard rush (Joe Doyle kick) (8 plays, 62 yards, 3:20) MEM 14–0 06:22 MEM Calvin Austin III 60-yard pass from Seth Henigan (Joe Doyle kick) (5 plays, 81 yards, 1:32) MEM 21–0 2 09:54 UTSA Sincere McCormick 12-yard rush (Hunter Duplessis kick) (12 plays, 87 yards, 4:56) MEM 21–7 3 05:25 UTSA Sincere McCormick 8-yard rush (Hunter Duplessis kick) (11 plays, 66 yards, 3:19) MEM 21–14 02:44 MEM Brandon Thomas 1-yard rush (Joe Doyle kick) (7 plays, 73 yards, 2:36) MEM 28–14 4 13:35 UTSA Zakhari Franklin 7-yard pass from Frank Harris (Hunter Duplessis kick) (9 plays, 75 yards, 4:09) MEM 28–21 10:30 UTSA Sincere McCormick 1-yard rush (Hunter Duplessis kick) (4 plays, 7 yards, 1:32) TIE 28–28 00:00 UTSA Hunter Duplessis 42-yard field goal (9 plays, 47 yards, 2:46) UTSA 31–28

See also: 2021 UTSA Roadrunners football team

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM –3.0	67

Statistics	UTSA	Memphis
First downs	25	16
Total yards	399	407
Rushing yards	205	78
Passing yards	194	329
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	35:42

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTSA	Passing	Frank Harris	18/28, 186 yds, 1 TD
	Rushing	Sincere McCormick	42 car, 184 yds, 3 TD
	Receiving	Joshua Cephus	6 rec, 82 yds
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	15/25, 329 yds, 1 TD
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	20 car, 73 yds, 1 TD
	Receiving	Sean Dykes	6 rec, 167 yds

at Temple

Memphis at Temple

1 2 Total Tigers 0 Owls 0 Date: October 2, 2021 Location: Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA Game start: 11:00 a.m. CDT Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers (ESPNU):

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 Temple Owls football team

Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	Temple
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Temple	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Tulsa

Memphis at Tulsa

1 2 Total Tigers 0 Golden Hurricane 0 Date: October 9, 2021 Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK Game start: TBD CDT Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers ( ):

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	Tulsa
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tulsa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Navy

Navy at Memphis

1 2 Total Midshipmen 0 Tigers 0 Date: October 14, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers (ESPN):

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 Navy Midshipmen football team

Over/under

Statistics	Navy	Memphis
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Navy	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at UCF

Memphis at Central Florida

1 2 Total Tigers 0 Knights 0 Date: October 22, 2021 Location: Bounce House Orlando, FL Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers (ESPN2):

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 UCF Knights football team

Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	UCF
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UCF	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

SMU

Southern Methodist at Memphis

1 2 Total Mustangs 0 Tigers 0 Date: November 6, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: TBD CDT Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 SMU Mustangs football team

Over/under

Statistics	SMU	Memphis
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
SMU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

East Carolina

East Carolina at Memphis

1 2 Total Pirates 0 Tigers 0 Date: November 13, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: TBD CST Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross, Brandon Weeden

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team

Over/under

Statistics	East Carolina	Memphis
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
East Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 24 Houston

Memphis at Houston

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 0 3 7 3 13 • No. 24 Cougars 0 21 0 10 31 Date: November 19, 2021 Location: TDECU Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 8:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers (ESPN2):

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 Houston Cougars football team

Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	Houston
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Tulane

Tulane at Memphis

1 2 Total Green Wave 0 Tigers 0 Date: November 27, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: TBD CST Elapsed time:   Game attendance:   Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD Referee:   TV announcers (ESPNU): Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker

Scoring summary 1 2 3 4

See also: 2021 Tulane Green Wave football team

Over/under

Statistics	Tulane	Memphis
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tulane	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Rankings

Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	RV	—
Coaches	—	—	RV	RV	RV	—
CFP	Not released															Not released