2021 Memphis Tigers football team explained
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.
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]
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.[2] Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.
| Media poll |
| 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
- Hawaii was forced to withdraw due to COVID-19 and other related issues within the team. The game was canceled shortly after.[3]
[4]
Game summaries
Nicholls
See also: 2021 Nicholls Colonels football team.
| 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 | | 17/30, 194 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Julien Gums | 13 carries, 48 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 107 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | | 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
See also: 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team and Paint Bucket Bowl.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | 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 | | 6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Passing | | 19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs |
| Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 6 carries, 36 yards |
| Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD | |
Mississippi State
See also: 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team.
| 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 | | 50/67, 419 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | | 7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 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
See also: 2021 UTSA Roadrunners football team.
| 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 | | 18/28, 186 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | | 42 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 82 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 15/25, 329 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 20 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Sean Dykes | 6 receptions, 167 yards | |
At Temple
See also: 2021 Temple Owls football team.
| 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
See also: 2021 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team.
| 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
See also: 2021 Navy Midshipmen football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/Under |
|---|
| MEMPHIS –11.0 | 56 | |
| Statistics | Navy | Memphis |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| Navy | Passing | | 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
See also: 2021 UCF Knights football team.
| 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
See also: 2021 SMU Mustangs football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| SMU –3.5 | 72 | |
| Statistics | SMU | Memphis |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| SMU | Passing | | 19/28, 262 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Tre Siggers | 12 rushes, 53 yards |
| Receiving | | 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
See also: 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team.
| 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
See also: 2021 Houston Cougars football team.
| Statistics | Memphis | Houston |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| 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 | | 20/34, 264 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Rushing | Ta'Zhawn Henry | 13 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD | |
Tulane
See also: 2021 Tulane Green Wave football team.
| 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 | | | |
Notes and References
- News: Hawaii has pulled out of the Hawaii Bowl game against Memphis because of COVID-19, season-ending injuries and transfers . . ABC News . December 23, 2021 . December 23, 2021.
- Web site: Cincinnati Chosen as Favorite in American Preseason Media Poll. theAmerican.org . 4 August 2021.
- Web site: Adelson . Andrea . Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors out of Hawai'i Bowl due to COVID-19 issues . ESPN.com . ESPN . 24 December 2021 . December 23, 2021.
- Web site: 2021 Memphis Tigers Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . 20 Feb 2021.
