University of Memphis Athletics
NOTES: Memphis Hosts Undefeated UTSA on Saturday
Sep 23, 2021 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis Tigers will host the UTSA Roadrunners in a battle of unbeaten teams this Saturday, Sept. 25 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 2:35 p.m. CT kick and will be televised live nationally on ESPNU and can be heard on the radio on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS.
SETTING THE SCENE
• This past Saturday, the Tigers took down SEC rival Mississippi State, 31-29, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The win for Memphis was the program's fifth-straight over Power 5 teams at the Liberty Bowl.
• Last season, Memphis posted a record of 8-3 in head coach Ryan Silverfield's first season at the helm of the program. The Tigers ended the year with a 25-10 win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl.
SCOUTING UTSA
• UTSA moved to 3-0 on the season this past Saturday with a 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee in the team's Conference USA opener. The Roadrunners opened the season with a 37-30 win at Illinois before shutting out Lamar, 54-0.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Roadrunners were picked to finish second in the West Division of Conference USA, behind only UAB. UTSA earned nine first-place votes in the preseason media poll.
• Last season, UTSA finished the season with an overall record of 7-5 and a C-USA mark of 5-2. The Roadrunners earned a bid to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, falling to Louisiana, 31-24.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against UTSA will mark the first game between the two programs.
• The two teams were slated to play in San Antonio last season, but that game was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TIGERS TAKE DOWN MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Memphis took down SEC rival Mississippi State, 31-29, on Sept. 18 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
• The victory for the Tigers was the first since a 45-35 win in Starkville on Sept. 4, 1993 and the first in Memphis against the Bulldogs since Oct. 1, 1988.
• The Tigers won for the fifth consecutive time against a Power 5 opponent at home (Ole Miss-2019, UCLA-2017, Kansas-2016, Ole Miss-2015).
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
• Memphis has won 17-straight games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium – the fourth-best streak among FBS teams in the nation. Clemson (29 games), Notre Dame (25), and Cincinnati (22) are the only teams with longer streaks.
• Memphis' last loss at home came to No. 9/10 UCF on Oct. 13, 2018 in a tight, 31-30 setback. The 15-game winning streak began three weeks later on Nov. 10, 2018 with a 47-21 victory over Tulsa.
• The Tigers have also won 22-consecutive non-conference games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium dating back to a 31-7 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 21, 2013.
• The streak includes a 37-24 victory against No. 13 Ole Miss on Oct. 17, 2015 and a 48-45 win against No. 25 UCLA on Sept. 16, 2017.
• Six of those games were against Power 6 programs (Cincinnati in the AAC title game, Mississippi State, Kansas, Ole Miss twice and UCLA).
• Memphis continues to make Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium a difficult place to play. Since Silverfield joined the coaching staff in 2016, the Tigers are 33-3 (.917) at home, including a pair of perfect 7-0 records in 2017 and 2019 and a 6-0 mark in 2020.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 68 victories since 2014, tying the Tigers for the eighth-most wins in the nation during that stretch.
• The 68 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 11th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 68-26 (.723) 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).
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 first in the nation in receiving touchdowns (6), second in punt return touchdowns (1), fourth in receiving yards (391), fifth in receiving yards per game (130.3), fifth in all-purpose yards (166.0) and 16th in receptions per game (7.0).
THOMAS RANKED SECOND IN NCAA IN RUSHING
• Redshirt freshman Brandon Thomas has been spectacular for Memphis through three weeks, ranking second in the nation in rushing yards (421) and rushing yards per game (140.3).
• Thomas also ranks fifth in the country in rush yards per carry (8.42).
• Thomas leads the AAC in all three categories.
• In 2020, Thomas appeared in four games for the Tigers, rushing twice for eight yards.
AUSTIN III EARNS AAC HONORS FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT WEEK
• In the Tigers' 31-29 win over SEC rival Mississippi State on Sept. 18, Calvin Austin III returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to extend Memphis' lead, earning him AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The return is the longest in AAC history and the best for any Tiger since 1975.
• Austin III was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week after his outstanding performance in a 55-50 road win at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, reeling in six catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns against the Red Wolves.
• His 239 receiving yards were the second-most in single-game, program history behind Anthony Miller's 250-yard performance vs. Tulsa, Oct. 29, 2016.
MEMPHIS MOURNS PASSNG OF ELDRIDGE "PETE" MITCHELL
• Former Memphis assistant coach Eldridge "Pete" Mitchell passed away on Sept. 17 at the age of 87.
• The 2009 Murray Armstrong Award, Mitchell came to the University of Memphis in 1970 as an assistant football coach and recruiter under former head coach Billy J. Murphy and remained on the staffs of Fred Pancoast and Richard Williamson through the 1975 season.
• Mitchell was the first Black coach in program history.
MEMPHIS RECEIVING VOTES IN NATIONAL POLLS
• Memphis is receiving votes in both the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll (27 votes) and Associated Press poll (3) for the first time this season.
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.
SETTING THE SCENE
• This past Saturday, the Tigers took down SEC rival Mississippi State, 31-29, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The win for Memphis was the program's fifth-straight over Power 5 teams at the Liberty Bowl.
• Last season, Memphis posted a record of 8-3 in head coach Ryan Silverfield's first season at the helm of the program. The Tigers ended the year with a 25-10 win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl.
SCOUTING UTSA
• UTSA moved to 3-0 on the season this past Saturday with a 27-13 victory over Middle Tennessee in the team's Conference USA opener. The Roadrunners opened the season with a 37-30 win at Illinois before shutting out Lamar, 54-0.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Roadrunners were picked to finish second in the West Division of Conference USA, behind only UAB. UTSA earned nine first-place votes in the preseason media poll.
• Last season, UTSA finished the season with an overall record of 7-5 and a C-USA mark of 5-2. The Roadrunners earned a bid to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, falling to Louisiana, 31-24.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against UTSA will mark the first game between the two programs.
• The two teams were slated to play in San Antonio last season, but that game was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TIGERS TAKE DOWN MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Memphis took down SEC rival Mississippi State, 31-29, on Sept. 18 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
• The victory for the Tigers was the first since a 45-35 win in Starkville on Sept. 4, 1993 and the first in Memphis against the Bulldogs since Oct. 1, 1988.
• The Tigers won for the fifth consecutive time against a Power 5 opponent at home (Ole Miss-2019, UCLA-2017, Kansas-2016, Ole Miss-2015).
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
• Memphis has won 17-straight games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium – the fourth-best streak among FBS teams in the nation. Clemson (29 games), Notre Dame (25), and Cincinnati (22) are the only teams with longer streaks.
• Memphis' last loss at home came to No. 9/10 UCF on Oct. 13, 2018 in a tight, 31-30 setback. The 15-game winning streak began three weeks later on Nov. 10, 2018 with a 47-21 victory over Tulsa.
• The Tigers have also won 22-consecutive non-conference games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium dating back to a 31-7 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 21, 2013.
• The streak includes a 37-24 victory against No. 13 Ole Miss on Oct. 17, 2015 and a 48-45 win against No. 25 UCLA on Sept. 16, 2017.
• Six of those games were against Power 6 programs (Cincinnati in the AAC title game, Mississippi State, Kansas, Ole Miss twice and UCLA).
• Memphis continues to make Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium a difficult place to play. Since Silverfield joined the coaching staff in 2016, the Tigers are 33-3 (.917) at home, including a pair of perfect 7-0 records in 2017 and 2019 and a 6-0 mark in 2020.
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 68 victories since 2014, tying the Tigers for the eighth-most wins in the nation during that stretch.
• The 68 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 11th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 68-26 (.723) 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).
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 first in the nation in receiving touchdowns (6), second in punt return touchdowns (1), fourth in receiving yards (391), fifth in receiving yards per game (130.3), fifth in all-purpose yards (166.0) and 16th in receptions per game (7.0).
THOMAS RANKED SECOND IN NCAA IN RUSHING
• Redshirt freshman Brandon Thomas has been spectacular for Memphis through three weeks, ranking second in the nation in rushing yards (421) and rushing yards per game (140.3).
• Thomas also ranks fifth in the country in rush yards per carry (8.42).
• Thomas leads the AAC in all three categories.
• In 2020, Thomas appeared in four games for the Tigers, rushing twice for eight yards.
AUSTIN III EARNS AAC HONORS FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT WEEK
• In the Tigers' 31-29 win over SEC rival Mississippi State on Sept. 18, Calvin Austin III returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to extend Memphis' lead, earning him AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The return is the longest in AAC history and the best for any Tiger since 1975.
• Austin III was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week after his outstanding performance in a 55-50 road win at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, reeling in six catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns against the Red Wolves.
• His 239 receiving yards were the second-most in single-game, program history behind Anthony Miller's 250-yard performance vs. Tulsa, Oct. 29, 2016.
MEMPHIS MOURNS PASSNG OF ELDRIDGE "PETE" MITCHELL
• Former Memphis assistant coach Eldridge "Pete" Mitchell passed away on Sept. 17 at the age of 87.
• The 2009 Murray Armstrong Award, Mitchell came to the University of Memphis in 1970 as an assistant football coach and recruiter under former head coach Billy J. Murphy and remained on the staffs of Fred Pancoast and Richard Williamson through the 1975 season.
• Mitchell was the first Black coach in program history.
MEMPHIS RECEIVING VOTES IN NATIONAL POLLS
• Memphis is receiving votes in both the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll (27 votes) and Associated Press poll (3) for the first time this season.
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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