Tigers Knock Off No. 17 Tulane, Secure Back-to-Back 10-Win Seasons

Thursday, November 28

New Orleans, La.

6:30 P.M.

University of Memphis

10-2 , 6-2

Tulane

9-3 , 7-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

Tulane

Tigers Knock Off No. 17 Tulane, Secure Back-to-Back 10-Win Seasons

Nov 28, 2024 | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes

NEW ORLEANS – The 23^rd-ranked University of Memphis football team secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in program history after taking down No. 17 Tulane, 34-24, inside Yulman Stadium Thursday evening.

The Tigers ended Tulane's 17-game winning streak in American Athletic Conference regular-season games, which matched the longest streak in conference history and was the longest active streak among FBS programs.

Redshirt-junior running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. was the star of the night after recording a career-high eight receptions for 84 yards and two scores while adding in 41 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

For the seventh time this season, the Tigers run game exploded for over 200 yards with Mario Anderson Jr. leading the way with his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season with a team-high 177 yards. Anderson Jr.'s eight 100-yard games are the most for a Tiger in a season since Darrell Henderson in 2018 (9).

Memphis (10-2, 6-2 AAC) went up early on Tulane (9-3, 7-1 AAC) after marching down the field 75 yards on the opening drive that ended with senior Seth Henigan connecting with Desrosiers Jr. on a 17-yard dart in the endzone. Henigan and Desrosiers Jr. hooked up again in the second quarter with a short pass up the middle that turned into a 25-yard reception to put the Tigers up 14-10 with 10:40 left in the first quarter.

Memphis' all-time passing leader became the American Athletic Conference's all-time passing leader when Henigan found fifth-year wide receiver Koby Drake over the middle for a six-yard gain to surpass Holten Ahlers (East Carolina) for the most passing yards by a quarterback in AAC history. Henigan ended the game 22-for-29 passing with 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Tiger defense made a statement creating three takeaways in the win: senior AJ Watts recovered a Tulane fumble early in the second half, Kourtlan Marsh, who forced both fumbles, recovered one inside the red zone midway through the fourth quarter while senior defensive back Davion Ross picked off a deep shot from Darian Mensah with just under seven minutes left to play.

Dating back to the win over UAB last year, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 15 of its last 19 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers have created 35 takeaways (18 INT, 17 FR)

In addition to the takeaways, the Tiger defense limited Tulane running back Makhi Hughes – the nation's eighth-leading rusher – to just 15 yards on nine carries. Overall, Memphis limited the Green Wave to 57 rushing yards. On the other side of the ball, the running back duo of Anderson Jr. and Desrosiers Jr. combined for 302 scrimmage yards.

The Memphis offense had the ball for nearly double the time (39:40) than the Green Wave's did (20:20), despite the fact that Tulane entered the game averaging just under 35 minutes of possession, ranking second in the country. The Tigers converted 10-of-16 (63%) third-down attempts against the nation's No. 4 third-down defense statistically as the Green Wave entered the game allowing opponents to convert at just a 28 percent clip.

Wide receiver Roc Taylor extended his streak of catching a pass to 34-consecutive games while leading the Tigers with 96 yards on six receptions. Linebacker Chandler Martin and defensive back Kobee Minor both recorded sacks in the victory.

Memphis has now scored 20 or more points in 39-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation – dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.

UP NEXT
The Tigers will now wait and see where they will be headed for their 11^th-consecutive bowl game.

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