University of Memphis Athletics
NOTES: Memphis Heads to No. 17/17 Houston
Nov 18, 2021 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis Tigers will hit the road for the final time this regular season on Friday, Nov. 19 to face AAC-rival and No. 17/17-ranked Houston.
The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. CT kick and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The contest can also be heard on the radio on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS.
SETTING THE SCENE
• This past Saturday, the Tigers fell in a hard-fought battle to East Carolina, 30-29 in overtime, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. True freshman quarterback Seth Henigan tossed three touchdown passes and rushed for a team-best 61 yards.
• Defensively, Jacobi Francis has two interceptions for the Tigers, while Wardalis Ducksworth (2.5) and Jaylon Allen (2) helped Memphis rack up a season-best six sacks on the day.
• Last season, Memphis posted a record of 8-3 in head coach Ryan Silverfield's first season at the helm of the program. The year ended with a 25-10 win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl.
SCOUTING HOUSTON
• Houston dismantled Temple this past Saturday in Philadelphia, 37-8, to rack up the team's ninth-straight win, moving to 9-1 overall on the season and to 7-0 in AAC play.
• Also with the victory, Houston was the first team to clinch a berth to the AAC Championship game on Dec. 4.
• Houston remained No. 17 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the AFCA Coaches poll. The team debuted at No. 24 in the College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Cougars were tabbed to finish fourth in the AAC, behind Cincinnati, UCF and SMU in a poll conducted of the league's media.
• Last season, Houston finished a COVID-19 shortened season with an overall record of 3-5 and a conference mark of 3-3. The Cougars earned a berth to the New Mexico Bowl, where the lost to Hawaii, 28-14.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against Houston will mark the 30th all-time meeting between the two programs dating back to the 1963 season.
• The Cougars lead the all-time series against the Tigers, 16-13, including a mark of 7-6 in Houston.
• Memphis has won-five straight in the series, with the last loss coming for the Tigers in the 2015 campaign.
• Last season, the Memphis beat Houston, 30-27, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium as Riley Patterson hit a 47-yard field goal as time expired. Wide receiver Calvin Austin III had seven catches for 74 yards and touchdown, while linebacker Jaylon Allen returned a fumble 85 yards for a score.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 70 victories since 2014, giving the Tigers the 10th-most wins in the nation during that stretch.
• The 70 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 14th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 70-31 (.693) mark.
• Memphis is one of only five FBS programs with at least eight wins each of the last seven seasons (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma).
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
• Houston will be the sixth bowl-eligible team that Memphis has faced this season, tying the Tigers for the 10th-most bowl-eligible opponents faced in the nation this year.
• Memphis is 2-3 in those contests this year, with victories over Mississippi State and SMU. The Tigers' losses have come against UTSA, UCF and East Carolina.
NOVEMBER NUMBERS
• Memphis is 17-1 in the team's last 18 games in November dating back to the 2016 season.
• The Tigers saw the team's 17-game win streak in the month snapped against East Carolina in overtime, 30-29, on Nov. 13.
NON-SATURDAY SUCCESS
• Since the start of 2014, Memphis is 20-2 in non-Saturday, regular-season games, including a 10-2 mark on the road.
• Memphis is 14-2 in Friday night contests since 2014.
• The Tigers are 6-0 in Thursday night games and 10-0 at the Liberty Bowl in non-Saturday, regular season games.
SEVEN-STRAIGHT BOWLS
• Memphis' win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl marked the program's seventh-straight season with a bowl game appearance.
• The 25-10 victory over FAU under head coach Ryan Silverfield marked the first win in a bowl game since earning a 55-48 win over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014.
• Entering 2021, Memphis has the longest active streak of bowl appearances in the AAC at seven.
AMAZING AUSTIN III
• Redshirt senior Calvin Austin III has established himself as one of the best wide receivers and weapons in the NCAA.
• Austin III ranks 12th in the NCAA in receiving yards (1,026), 12th in receiving yards per game (102.6), 16th in receptions per game (6.7) and 16th in receiving touchdowns (8).
• He leads the AAC in receiving yards, receiving yards per game and receptions per game.
• Austin III has posted two of the top-five receiving games in program history this year. His 239 yards at Arkansas State rank second, while his 200 at Tulsa rank fifth.
ONE OF THE BEST RECEIVERS IN MEMPHIS HISTORY
• Wide receiver Calvin Austin III is having a historic season and career for the Tigers.
• With his 1,026 receiving yards, Austin III ranks seventh all-time on the Memphis single-season list and ninth on the receptions list (67).
• He also ranks tied for 11th on the program's single-season receiving touchdown list (8).
• For his career, Austin III ranks in a tie for second in receiving touchdowns (22), fourth in receiving yards (2,418) and fifth in receptions (149).
RUSSELL TACKLES IT ALL
• Linebacker JJ Russell ranks fourth in the NCAA in solo tackles (6.4) and sixth in total tackles (10.4).
• On the season, he leads the team with 104 total tackles, including 64 solo.
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• True freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this season.
• Henigan ranks ninth in the NCAA in passing yards per completion (14.86), 11th in total offense (321.0), 12th in passing yards per game (308.7), 14th in passing yards (2,778), 15th in yards per pass attempt (9.08), 18th in passing touchdowns (21) and 25th in passing efficiency (156.1),
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in each of the categories.
• With his 2,778 passing yards on the season, Henigan broke Paxton Lynch's program record of 2,056 passing yards as a freshman, set during Lynch's redshirt year in 2013.
• Henigan's 463 passing yards at Tulsa were the fourth-most passing yards in Memphis history.
• After his 22-of-33 for 417 yards and five touchdown performance at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, Henigan was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 and to the midseason Davey O'Brien Award Watch List.
• Against Nicholls on Sept. 4, Henigan became the first true freshman QB to start a season opener in Memphis football history.
YOUTH IS SERVED
• Memphis has played a total of 27 redshirt or true freshmen this season. Of that total, 12 are true freshmen.
• Of the true freshmen who have played, quarterback Seth Henigan and defensive back Greg Rubin have each started nine of 10 games.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson ranks seventh in the NCAA this season in solo tackles (5.8) and 27th in the country in total tackles (8.9).
• True freshman defensive back Greg Rubin ranks 13th in the nation in passes defended (1.2).
IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
• The Tigers have been lighting up the scoreboard this year, establishing the unit as one of the best in the AAC.
• The Tigers rank 18th in the NCAA in passing offense (303.3) and 22nd in the nation in total offense (450.5).
DYNAMIC DYKES
• Fifth-year Sean Dykes is making his case as one of the best tight ends in the country this season, posting 36 receptions for 548 yards and seven touchdowns.
• His seven touchdowns are tied for third amongst all tight ends in the country, while his 548 receiving yards are fifth best and his 36 receptions are seventh most.
• Dykes is the most prolific tight end in program history with his 1,685 receiving yards.
• Prior to this season, he was named to the Mackey Award Watch List and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.
• In 2020, Dykes earned Honorable-Mention All-American Athletic Conference honors after reeling in 47 receptions for 581 yards and seven touchdowns.
• He averaged 12.4 yards per catch and totaled two games with over 100 yards receiving, including a standout performance in the victory over USF, going for 147 yards and two scores on seven catches.
STUD PUNTER
• Redshirt punter Joe Doyle has been terrific for the Tigers this season, establishing himself as one of the best in the nation.
• Doyle and Memphis rank ninth in the NCAA in punt return defense (4.22) and 44th in net punting (40.56).
• On the year, Doyle has punted 34 times for an average of 46.4 yards, including 14 of 50 yards or more and 12 inside the 20-yard line.
• For his efforts, Doyle was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. CT kick and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The contest can also be heard on the radio on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS.
SETTING THE SCENE
• This past Saturday, the Tigers fell in a hard-fought battle to East Carolina, 30-29 in overtime, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. True freshman quarterback Seth Henigan tossed three touchdown passes and rushed for a team-best 61 yards.
• Defensively, Jacobi Francis has two interceptions for the Tigers, while Wardalis Ducksworth (2.5) and Jaylon Allen (2) helped Memphis rack up a season-best six sacks on the day.
• Last season, Memphis posted a record of 8-3 in head coach Ryan Silverfield's first season at the helm of the program. The year ended with a 25-10 win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl.
SCOUTING HOUSTON
• Houston dismantled Temple this past Saturday in Philadelphia, 37-8, to rack up the team's ninth-straight win, moving to 9-1 overall on the season and to 7-0 in AAC play.
• Also with the victory, Houston was the first team to clinch a berth to the AAC Championship game on Dec. 4.
• Houston remained No. 17 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the AFCA Coaches poll. The team debuted at No. 24 in the College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Cougars were tabbed to finish fourth in the AAC, behind Cincinnati, UCF and SMU in a poll conducted of the league's media.
• Last season, Houston finished a COVID-19 shortened season with an overall record of 3-5 and a conference mark of 3-3. The Cougars earned a berth to the New Mexico Bowl, where the lost to Hawaii, 28-14.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against Houston will mark the 30th all-time meeting between the two programs dating back to the 1963 season.
• The Cougars lead the all-time series against the Tigers, 16-13, including a mark of 7-6 in Houston.
• Memphis has won-five straight in the series, with the last loss coming for the Tigers in the 2015 campaign.
• Last season, the Memphis beat Houston, 30-27, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium as Riley Patterson hit a 47-yard field goal as time expired. Wide receiver Calvin Austin III had seven catches for 74 yards and touchdown, while linebacker Jaylon Allen returned a fumble 85 yards for a score.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 70 victories since 2014, giving the Tigers the 10th-most wins in the nation during that stretch.
• The 70 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 14th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 70-31 (.693) mark.
• Memphis is one of only five FBS programs with at least eight wins each of the last seven seasons (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma).
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
• Houston will be the sixth bowl-eligible team that Memphis has faced this season, tying the Tigers for the 10th-most bowl-eligible opponents faced in the nation this year.
• Memphis is 2-3 in those contests this year, with victories over Mississippi State and SMU. The Tigers' losses have come against UTSA, UCF and East Carolina.
NOVEMBER NUMBERS
• Memphis is 17-1 in the team's last 18 games in November dating back to the 2016 season.
• The Tigers saw the team's 17-game win streak in the month snapped against East Carolina in overtime, 30-29, on Nov. 13.
NON-SATURDAY SUCCESS
• Since the start of 2014, Memphis is 20-2 in non-Saturday, regular-season games, including a 10-2 mark on the road.
• Memphis is 14-2 in Friday night contests since 2014.
• The Tigers are 6-0 in Thursday night games and 10-0 at the Liberty Bowl in non-Saturday, regular season games.
SEVEN-STRAIGHT BOWLS
• Memphis' win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl marked the program's seventh-straight season with a bowl game appearance.
• The 25-10 victory over FAU under head coach Ryan Silverfield marked the first win in a bowl game since earning a 55-48 win over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014.
• Entering 2021, Memphis has the longest active streak of bowl appearances in the AAC at seven.
AMAZING AUSTIN III
• Redshirt senior Calvin Austin III has established himself as one of the best wide receivers and weapons in the NCAA.
• Austin III ranks 12th in the NCAA in receiving yards (1,026), 12th in receiving yards per game (102.6), 16th in receptions per game (6.7) and 16th in receiving touchdowns (8).
• He leads the AAC in receiving yards, receiving yards per game and receptions per game.
• Austin III has posted two of the top-five receiving games in program history this year. His 239 yards at Arkansas State rank second, while his 200 at Tulsa rank fifth.
ONE OF THE BEST RECEIVERS IN MEMPHIS HISTORY
• Wide receiver Calvin Austin III is having a historic season and career for the Tigers.
• With his 1,026 receiving yards, Austin III ranks seventh all-time on the Memphis single-season list and ninth on the receptions list (67).
• He also ranks tied for 11th on the program's single-season receiving touchdown list (8).
• For his career, Austin III ranks in a tie for second in receiving touchdowns (22), fourth in receiving yards (2,418) and fifth in receptions (149).
RUSSELL TACKLES IT ALL
• Linebacker JJ Russell ranks fourth in the NCAA in solo tackles (6.4) and sixth in total tackles (10.4).
• On the season, he leads the team with 104 total tackles, including 64 solo.
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• True freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this season.
• Henigan ranks ninth in the NCAA in passing yards per completion (14.86), 11th in total offense (321.0), 12th in passing yards per game (308.7), 14th in passing yards (2,778), 15th in yards per pass attempt (9.08), 18th in passing touchdowns (21) and 25th in passing efficiency (156.1),
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in each of the categories.
• With his 2,778 passing yards on the season, Henigan broke Paxton Lynch's program record of 2,056 passing yards as a freshman, set during Lynch's redshirt year in 2013.
• Henigan's 463 passing yards at Tulsa were the fourth-most passing yards in Memphis history.
• After his 22-of-33 for 417 yards and five touchdown performance at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, Henigan was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 and to the midseason Davey O'Brien Award Watch List.
• Against Nicholls on Sept. 4, Henigan became the first true freshman QB to start a season opener in Memphis football history.
YOUTH IS SERVED
• Memphis has played a total of 27 redshirt or true freshmen this season. Of that total, 12 are true freshmen.
• Of the true freshmen who have played, quarterback Seth Henigan and defensive back Greg Rubin have each started nine of 10 games.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson ranks seventh in the NCAA this season in solo tackles (5.8) and 27th in the country in total tackles (8.9).
• True freshman defensive back Greg Rubin ranks 13th in the nation in passes defended (1.2).
IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
• The Tigers have been lighting up the scoreboard this year, establishing the unit as one of the best in the AAC.
• The Tigers rank 18th in the NCAA in passing offense (303.3) and 22nd in the nation in total offense (450.5).
DYNAMIC DYKES
• Fifth-year Sean Dykes is making his case as one of the best tight ends in the country this season, posting 36 receptions for 548 yards and seven touchdowns.
• His seven touchdowns are tied for third amongst all tight ends in the country, while his 548 receiving yards are fifth best and his 36 receptions are seventh most.
• Dykes is the most prolific tight end in program history with his 1,685 receiving yards.
• Prior to this season, he was named to the Mackey Award Watch List and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.
• In 2020, Dykes earned Honorable-Mention All-American Athletic Conference honors after reeling in 47 receptions for 581 yards and seven touchdowns.
• He averaged 12.4 yards per catch and totaled two games with over 100 yards receiving, including a standout performance in the victory over USF, going for 147 yards and two scores on seven catches.
STUD PUNTER
• Redshirt punter Joe Doyle has been terrific for the Tigers this season, establishing himself as one of the best in the nation.
• Doyle and Memphis rank ninth in the NCAA in punt return defense (4.22) and 44th in net punting (40.56).
• On the year, Doyle has punted 34 times for an average of 46.4 yards, including 14 of 50 yards or more and 12 inside the 20-yard line.
• For his efforts, Doyle was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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