2021 Memphis Tigers football team
The 2021 Memphis Tigers football team represented the University of Memphis in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, and competed in the American Athletic Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Ryan Silverfield.
2021 Memphis Tigers football | |
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Hawaii Bowl, canceled vs. Hawaii | |
Conference | American Athletic Conference |
Record | 6–6 (3–5 American) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Kevin Johns (3rd season) |
Defensive coordinator | Mike MacIntyre (2nd season) |
Home stadium | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (capacity: 59,308) |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Tigers finished the regular season with a 6–6 record and were due to face the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in the Hawaii Bowl. However, due to a COVID-19 outbreak, season-ending injuries, and transfers, the Rainbow Warriors were forced to withdraw the day before the game, leaving the Tigers without a bowl game.[1] Silverfield later jokingly declared Memphis as “Hawaii Bowl champions”.[2]
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.[3] 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) |
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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 |
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September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 22 (FCS) Nicholls* | ESPN+ | W 42–17 | 30,263 | |
September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at Arkansas State* | ESPN+ | W 55–50 | 19,501 | |
September 18 | 3:00 p.m. | Mississippi State* |
| ESPN2 | W 31–29 | 43,461 |
September 25 | 2:30 p.m. | UTSA* |
| ESPNU | L 28–31 | 29,264 |
October 2 | 11:00 a.m. | at Temple | ESPNU | L 31–34 | 28,573 | |
October 9 | 8:00 p.m. | at Tulsa | ESPN2 | L 29–35 | 17,593 | |
October 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Navy |
| ESPN | W 35–17 | 30,042 |
October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at UCF | ESPN2 | L 7–24 | 39,328 | |
November 6 | 11:00 a.m. | SMU |
| ESPNU | W 28–25 | 30,191 |
November 13 | 11:00 a.m. | East Carolina |
| ESPN+ | L 29–30 OT | 28,431 |
November 19 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 24 Houston | ESPN2 | L 13–31 | 28,712 | |
November 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Tulane |
| ESPNU | W 33–28 | 27,416 |
at | Canceled A | _ | ||||
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Game summaries
Nicholls
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Over/under | |
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MEM –22.5 | 68 |
Statistics | Nicholls | Memphis |
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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 |
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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
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Pregame line | Over/under |
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MEM –5.5 | 65 |
Statistics | Memphis | Arkansas State |
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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 |
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Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs |
Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs | |
Receiving | Calvin Austin | 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
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Pregame line | Over/under |
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MSST –3.0 | 64 |
Statistics | Mississippi State | Memphis |
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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 |
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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 | 9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs |
UTSA
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Pregame line | Over/under |
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MEM –3.0 | 67 |
Statistics | UTSA | Memphis |
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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 |
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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
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Over/under | |
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Statistics | Memphis | Temple |
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First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Memphis | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Temple | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
At Tulsa
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Over/under | |
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Statistics | Memphis | Tulsa |
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First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Memphis | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Tulsa | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Navy
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Pregame line | Over/Under |
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MEMPHIS –11.0 | 56 |
Statistics | Navy | Memphis |
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First downs | 17 | 15 |
Total yards | 241 | 415 |
Rushing yards | 198 | 200 |
Passing yards | 43 | 215 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 39:19 | 20:41 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Navy | Passing | Tai Lavatai | 3/4, 27 yards, TD |
Rushing | Isaac Ruoss | 18 carries, 75 yards | |
Receiving | Mychal Copper | 1 reception, 21 yards, TD | |
Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 8/12, 215 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Calvin Austin III | 1 carry, 69 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Eddie Lewis | 3 receptions, 92 yards, TD |
At UCF
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Over/under | |
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Statistics | Memphis | UCF |
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First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Memphis | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
UCF | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
SMU
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Pregame line | Over/under |
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SMU –3.5 | 72 |
Statistics | SMU | Memphis |
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First downs | 16 | 25 |
Total yards | 323 | 468 |
Rushing yards | 61 | 36 |
Passing yards | 262 | 432 |
Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Time of possession | 23:05 | 36:55 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 19/28, 262 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Tre Siggers | 12 rushes, 53 yards | |
Receiving | Danny Gray | 4 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD | |
Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 34/53, 392 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Marquavius Weaver | 10 rushes, 17 yards | |
Receiving | Calvin Austin | 8 receptions, 88 yards |
East Carolina
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Over/under | |
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Statistics | East Carolina | Memphis |
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First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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East Carolina | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Memphis | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
At No. 24 Houston
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Line | Over/under |
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HOU –9.5 | 59 |
Statistics | Memphis | Houston |
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First downs | 24 | 25 |
Total yards | 322 | 461 |
Rushing yards | 106 | 197 |
Passing yards | 216 | 264 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Time of possession | 25:34 | 34:26 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 21/45, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Rodrigues Clark | 12 rushes, 32 yards | |
Receiving | Calvin Austin | 5 receptions, 103 yards | |
Houston | Passing | Clayton Tune | 20/34, 264 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Ta'Zhawn Henry | 13 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Tank Dell | 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD |
Tulane
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Over/under | |
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Statistics | Tulane | Memphis |
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First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Tulane | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Memphis | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Rankings
Week | ||||||||||||||||
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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 |
References
- "Hawaii has pulled out of the Hawaii Bowl game against Memphis because of COVID-19, season-ending injuries and transfers". ABC News. AP. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- "Ryan Silverfield says Memphis is Hawaii Bowl champions". Twitter. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- "Cincinnati Chosen as Favorite in American Preseason Media Poll". theAmerican.org. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- Adelson, Andrea (December 23, 2021). "Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors out of Hawai'i Bowl due to COVID-19 issues". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- "2021 Memphis Tigers Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 20, 2021.