University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Navy
NOTES: No. RV/23 Memphis Seeks Sixth-Straight Win Over Navy
Sep 17, 2024 | Football
SETTING THE SCENE
• Memphis is now 3-0 for the second-straight season after a 40-0 shutout of North Alabama, a 38-17 win over two-time defending Sun Belt champions Troy and Saturday's 20-12 win at preseason No. 10 Florida State.
• The win in Tallahassee was the first for the Tigers over a power conference opponent on the road since taking down Kansas in 2015. The defense was lights out all day, holding the Seminoles to a season-low 238 total yards with 4.0 sacks and three forced turnovers.
• The Memphis defense has been dominant through the first three weeks, ranking fifth nationally in fumbles recovered (4), sixth in tackles for loss (28), ninth in turnover margin (+6), 10th in turnovers gained (7), 11th in total defense (224.7 YPG), 14th in rushing defense (68.3 YPG) and 17th in scoring defense (9.7 PPG). Memphis' 12 tackles for loss in the win over Florida State were the most for the Tigers in a game since 2018 vs. SMU.
• The Tigers have not trailed in a game since Nov. 18, 2023 vs. SMU.
• Memphis has scored 37 of its 98 points (37%) this season after taking the ball away from its opponent.
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 30-consecutive games - the longest active streak in the nation - dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.
• The Tigers moved up two spots from No. 25 to No. 23 in the Sept. 15 edition of the US LBM Coaches Poll. In the AP Poll, the Tigers were the first team left out of the top 25, receiving 77 votes to essentially check in at No. 26. Memphis is the highest-ranked and is one of just two Group of 5 teams ranked in the Coaches Poll, joined by No. 25 UNLV. In the AP Poll, 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois is the lone team inside the top 25 while the Tigers are receiving the second-most votes (77) among G5 programs.
• Memphis is one of nine teams in FBS with 10 or more consecutive bowl-game appearances along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and Iowa.
• Memphis has posted 91 victories since 2014, the 14th-most in the nation during that stretch. The Tigers are also 18th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 91-41 (.689) mark.
• The 91 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• Memphis (58) is tied for the fourth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (67), Clemson (66) and Ohio State (63). The Tigers .829 winning percentage is tied for No. 10 in the country over that stretch.
• The Tigers were picked to win The American in the preseason media poll (409 points), receiving 23 of 30 possible first-place votes. Picked to finish runner up was UTSA with 368 points and four first-place votes. The Tulane Green Wave were tabbed third in the preseason poll with 362 points and a pair of first-place votes. South Florida was picked to finish fourth with 339 points while AAC-newcomer Army received a first-place vote and 236 total points to round out the top five.
• Memphis capped the 2023 season off with a 36-26 win over Iowa State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to finish the season 10-3 and complete just the fifth 10-win season in program history.
• The Tigers returned 69% of their total production from 2023 (No. 26 in FBS) including 74% of offensive production (No. 29 in FBS) and 65% of defensive production (No. 45 in FBS).
SCOUTING NAVY
• Navy is 2-0 for the first time since 2019 and has started 2-0 just nine times in the last 30 years.
• The Midshipmen rank No. 7 in country in rushing per game (280.5) and have a pair of players averaging over six yards per carry in QB Blake Horvath (7.0) and FB Alec Tecza (6.3) - both ranking top 35 in the country in yards per carry
• Linebacker Colin Ramos ranks fourth in the country in tackles per game (12.5).
• Navy ranks inside the top 25 in FBS with a +3 turnover margin.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game between Memphis and Navy will mark the 10th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Tigers lead the all-time series, 6-3, including wins in the past five matchups. The series is tied two games apiece when playing in Annapolis.
• Both teams are perfect so far this season on red-zone scores. Memphis has gone 15-for-15 on getting points when it reaches the red zone while the Midshipmen have reached the red zone seven times this season and converted for points on all of them.
TIGERS MOVING UP IN THE POLLS
• Memphis received votes in both the Coaches Poll (44) and the AP Poll (16 votes) to open the season.
• In the week two polls released Sept. 3, Memphis received 43 votes in the Coaches Poll (No. 28) and 27 votes in the AP Poll (No. 30).
• The Tigers made their debut in the Coaches Poll top 25 in week three, receiving 85 votes to check in at No. 25, making Memphis the only Group of 5 team to be ranked in the Coaches Poll. The Tigers received 38 votes in the AP Poll to land just outside the top 25 (No. 30).
• After going on the road to preseason No. 10 Florida State and earning a statement 20-12 win, the Tigers jumped two spots in the Coaches Poll to No. 23 on Sept. 15. In the AP Poll, the Tigers were the first team left outside the top 25 with 77 votes received to check in at No. 26.
• Memphis is the highest-ranked and is one of just two Group of 5 teams ranked in the Coaches Poll, joined by No. 25 UNLV. In the AP Poll, 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois is the lone team inside the top 25 while the Tigers are receiving the second-most votes (77) among G5 programs. Boise State came in right behind Memphis with 62 votes, followed by UNLV (54), Liberty (10), Toledo (9) as the only other G5 teams receiving votes.
MEMPHIS LEADS NATION IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 20 OR MORE POINTS
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 30-consecutive games - the longest active streak in the nation - dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.
• Memphis has scored 1,102 points over that stretch for an average of 36.7 points.
• The next longest active streak belongs to North Texas (27) followed by LSU (20).
AMONG THE ELITE
• Memphis has posted 91 victories since 2014, the 14th-most in the nation during that stretch.
• The 91 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• The Tigers are also 18th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 91-41 (.689) mark.
• Memphis (58) is tied for the fourth-most home wins in FBS since 2014, trailing only Alabama (67), Clemson (66) and Ohio State (63). The Tigers .829 winning percentage is tied for No. 10 in the country over that stretch.
• Memphis' streak of 10-straight seasons with a record of .500 or better is tied for the third-longest streak among Group of 5 and independent schools and is the longest such streak in the AAC.
THE JORDON HANKINS EFFECT
• Since taking over as the defensive play caller for the Tigers before the 2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl win over Iowa State, the Memphis defense has been lights out. So far this season, Memphis ranks 11th in the nation in total defense (224.7 YPG).
• In his debut, Hankins and the Tigers held the Cyclones to zero rushing yards on 20 attempts in the victory.
• The zero rushing yards allowed by Memphis were the fewest since the Tigers held Ole Miss to -4 rushing yards in 1993.
• So far in 2024, Hankins and the Memphis defense have allowed just 205 rushing yards (68.3 YPG), holding their opponents to 67 yards (vs. North Alabama), 101 yards (vs. Troy) and most recently 37 yards (at Florida State).
• In four total games with Hankins at the helm of the Tiger defense, opponents are averaging just 51.3 yards per game.
• In addition to the stingy rushing defense, Memphis ranks fifth nationally this season in fumbles recovered (4), sixth in tackles for loss (28), ninth in turnover margin (+6), 10th in turnovers gained (7), 11th in total defense (224.7 YPG), 14th in rushing defense (68.3 YPG) and 17th in scoring defense (9.7 PPG).
• Memphis' 12 tackles for loss in the win over Florida State were the most for the Tigers in a game since 2018 vs. SMU.
• Through the air, Memphis ranks 35th in the country allowing just 469 total passing yards this season (156.3 YPG).
SETH HIM-IGAN
• Now in his fourth season as the Memphis starting quarterback, Seth Henigan is already the program's all-time leading passer with 11,505 yards and 905 completions, while his 84 touchdowns are just six shy of Brady White's career record.
• The 21-year-old is the only fourth-year starting quarterback in FBS to spend all four seasons at one institution.
• The senior quarterback had his best season yet in 2023, passing for 3,883 yards and 32 touchdowns to just nine interceptions while rushing for another five scores and setting the single-season completions (318) record for the Tigers.
• In 2023, Henigan ranked fourth in the NCAA in passing yards (3,883), fifth in passing touchdowns (32) seventh in total offense (319.8) and points responsible for (226), eighth in completions per game (24.5) and points responsible for per game (17.4), ninth in passing yards per game (298.7) and 19th in completion percentage (.668).
• The Denton, Texas, native has logged 19-career 300-yard passing games and five 400-yard efforts over his career – both good for program records.
• Henigan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 40 games of his career. His streak is currently tied for the third-longest in NCAA history with 2017 Heisman Trophy Winner Baker Mayfield. Henigan trails only 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota (41) and former Marshall star Rakeem Cato (46) who owns the NCAA all-time mark.
• If Henigan throws for his career average in passing touchdowns (26) in 2024, he would enter the NCAA's top 25 all-time in that stat and would become just the second QB since 2013 to post four-straight seasons with at least 25 total touchdowns.
• Henigan was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15 after leading Memphis past preseason No. 10 Florida State on the road behind 25-of-38 passing for 272 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
• Henigan's name was littered on national award watch lists this preseason. In total, Henigan was named to six award watch lists (Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award) in addition to the Reese's Senior Bowl watch list.
MARTIN'S IMMEDIATE IMPACT
• Chandler Martin made an immediate impact on the Tiger defense last season after transferring from East Tennessee State.
• Martin started all 13 games for the Tigers a season ago and led the team with 95 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles and was named First Team All-AAC.
• The Lithonia, Georgia, native added two interceptions, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery while his tackles-for-loss total ranked 17th in the nation and his 5.1 solo stops per game ranked 18th in FBS.
• Martin finished second in the conference in tackles for loss and sixth in total tackles in 2023.
• Martin was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring the Memphis defense in its road win at preseason No. 10 Florida State with eight stops (six solo), 2.5 tackles for loss including a sack, and a fumble recovery.
• The redshirt-junior linebacker currently ranks ninth in the country with 5.5 tackles for loss this season.
• This preseason, Martin was named to the Butkus Award, Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch lists in addition to earning Phil Steele Fourth Team Preseason All-America honors.
ROC, PAPER, SCISSORS
• Senior wide receiver Roc Taylor led the Tigers in 2023 with 69 receptions for 1,083 yards and four touchdowns.
• He ranked 20th in the NCAA in receiving yards and 23rd in receiving yards per game while becoming just the fifth 1,000-yard receiver in Memphis football history.
• A 2023 Second Team All-AAC honoree, Taylor was one of just nine Tigers to start all 13 games on the 10-win squad – going over 100 yards receiving six times.
• Taylor was named Preseason First Team All-AAC by Phil Steele and was picked as The American's Preseason Wide Receiver of the Year by College Football Network.
• Taylor led the Tigers in receiving in their week-one win over North Alabama, hauling in five receptions for 87 yards. He added four receptions and 27 yards in the week two win over Troy, and hauled in two passes for 50 yards - including a 43-yard chunk play in the win at Florida State.
• The big-bodied receiver leads Memphis with 11 receptions for 164 yards on the season (54.7 YPG).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
• A pair of Tiger tight ends made their impact felt in the season-opening win over North Alabama. Anthony Landphere and Brendan Doyle combined for four receptions and 62 yards while each hauling in their first touchdown receptions of the season.
• Doyle has become quite the red-zone threat for Memphis as he caught just seven passes in 2023 with four of them resulting in touchdowns. On those seven receptions a year ago, Doyle totaled just 33 yards. He nearly matched that toal one game into 2024 with a 32-yard performance against UNA.
• Doyle stayed hot and got into the endzone once again in Memphis' week two win over Troy. For his career, the red-zone threat has 13 receptions for six touchdowns and 101 yards.
• In the win at Florida State, it was Landphere who made his impact felt, catching five passes for 66 yards and a score - including a career-long reception of 31 yards. Doyle added three catches for 30 yards in the win.
HERRING'S HUGE DAY
• Junior linebacker Elijah Herring proved to be a nuisance to the Troy offense in the Tigers' week two win.
• His eight tackles (six solo) and two tackles for loss matched a career-high while he recorded his first collegiate forced fumble and recovery.
• The impressive stat line earned him the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor for Sept. 9.
• On the season, Herring is fourth on the squad with a dozen tackles and leads the team with a pair of sacks.
B.T. RUNS INTO THE RECORD BOOK
• Redshirt-senior running back Brandon Thomas etched his named into the program's record book following his two rushing scores against Troy.
• The running back out of North Little Rock, Arkansas, moved into fifth place all-time for rushing touchdowns as a Tiger (28).
SUPER MARIO
• South Carolina transfer Mario Anderson Jr. made his breakout as a Tiger in week two – going for 125 yards on 17 carries and two scores in the team's 38-17 win over Troy.
• He added four receptions for 23 yards to combine for 148 scrimmage yards, earning himself a spot on the AAC's Weekly Honor Roll.
• The senior running-back has found the end zone four times in Memphis' first three games of the season
ROAD WARRIORS
• Following the win at preseason No. 10 Florida State, the Tigers have now won six-straight true road games and are one of five teams undefeated in true road contests since the start of 2023, joined by James Madison, Liberty, Alabama and Texas.
• Memphis had five victories on the road in 2023, marking just the fourth time in program history a team has won five road contests.
• The Tigers also won five road games in 2019, 2015 and 1949, which is the program record.
TIGERS EARN STATEMENT ROAD WIN AT PRESEASON NO. 10 FLORIDA STATE
• The 25th-ranked University of Memphis football team went on the road for the first time in 2024 on Sept. 14 and took down Florida State and former Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, 20-12, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
• The win was the first for the Tigers (3-0) over a power conference opponent on the road since taking down Kansas in 2015.
• The defense was lights out all day, holding the Seminoles to a season-low 238 total yards with 4.0 sacks and three forced turnovers. Redshirt junior linebacker Chandler Martin led the squad with eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, plus a fumble recovery.
• Memphis held a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter to make it four-consecutive games holding its opponent to zero points in the first quarter of play dating back to the Liberty Bowl win last season over Iowa State.
• As a unit, the Tiger defense made 12 tackles for loss in the victory – the most in a game for Memphis since 2018 against SMU.
MEMPHIS IMPROVES TO 11-0 VS. SUN BELT OPPONENTS SINCE 2013
• The Tigers improved to 11-0 vs. Sun Belt Conference opponents since 2013 with their dominant 38-17 win over back-to-back Sun Belt Champion Troy on Sept. 7 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
• Memphis improved to 2-0 for the 11th-straight season .
• Linebacker Elijah Herring was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Tigers with eight tackles (2 TFL), a sack and a forced fumble which he recovered .
• Mario Anderson Jr. went over 100 yards on the ground and combined for 148 scrimmage yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns to earn an AAC Weekly Honor Roll nod.
TIGERS KICK OFF SEASON WITH 40-0 BLANKING OF LIONS
• The Tigers opened the 2024 season with a 40-0 shutout win over North Alabama at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on August 31. It marked the 11th-consecutive home-opening win for Memphis as it improved to 11-0 vs. FCS opponents since 2013.
• The shutout was the first for the Tigers since Nov. 22, 2022, when they also beat the Lions, 59-0.
• Offensively, the team racked up 367 yards of offense and had 17 first downs. Defensively, the Tigers limited the Lions (0-2) to just 185 total yards, while forcing three turnovers, three sacks and eight tackles for loss.
TIGERS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• The Memphis defense has been dominant through the first three weeks, ranking fifth nationally in fumbles recovered (4), sixth in tackles for loss (28), ninth in turnover margin (+6), 10th in turnovers gained (7), 11th in total defense (224.7 YPG), 14th in rushing defense (68.3 YPG) and 17th in scoring defense (9.7 PPG).
• On the offensive side, Memphis ranks first in the country in red-zone offense (100%) and sixth in turnovers lost (1).
• On special teams, the Tigers rank third in the country in punt return defense (-3), 22nd in punt return average (17.2) and No. 26 in net punting average (42.78).
