MEMPHIS, Tenn. –The No. RV/RV University of Memphis Tigers will open up the much-anticipated 2024season at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 when they welcome North Alabamathe Bluff City. The game is set for a6p.m. start and will be available on ESPN+.
SETTING THE SCENE
• The Tigers are 44-61-3 all-time in season-opening contests and will open the season at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the 13th time in the last 14 years having won 10-straight home openers. Memphis has a record of 54-49-5 all-time in home-opening games.
• 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 88 victories since 2014, tied for the 14th-most in the nation during that stretch. The Tigers are also 19th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 88-41 (.682) mark.
• The 88 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• Memphis (56) is one of six teams with 50 or more home wins since 2014, along with Alabama (65), Clemson (65), Ohio State (61), Georgia (56) and Michigan (56).
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 27-consecutive games - the longest active streak in the nation - dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.
• 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 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 received votes in both the Coaches Poll (44 votes) and the AP Poll (16) to open the season. In the Coaches Poll, the Tigers checked in at No. 30 as the highest-ranked Group of 5 program in the poll (one of just nine G5 teams receiving votes). UTSA (3) and Tulane (2) are the only other American schools to be receiving preseason votes, while the Tigers' week two opponent, Troy, received one vote.
• The Tigers return 69% of their total production from a season ago (No. 26 in FBS) including 74% of offensive production (No. 29 in FBS) and 65% of defensive production (No. 45 in FBS).
SCOUTING NORTH ALABAMA
• North Alabama (0-1) will enter Saturday's game after a week zero loss to Southeast Missouri, 15-37.
• After the Lions carried a 15-13 lead into the half, SEMO forced four UNA turnovers in the second half and scored 24-unanswered points.
• UNA running back Jayvian Allen rushed 13 times for 100 yards and a touchdown to account for nearly half of the Lions' 216 yards on the ground. Quarterback Ari Patu went 12-for-24 passingfor 104 yards and a pair of interceptions.
• The Lions finished 2023 with a 3-8 record, picking up wins over Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech and Utah Tech. North Alabama ended last season with a 58-13 loss at No. 4 Florida State after taking a 13-0 lead on the Seminoles.
• Seven Lions earned preseason honors by Phil Steele, headlined by FCS Second Team Preseason All-American wide receiver and seventh-year senior Takairee Kenebrew.
• Kenebrew was also one of seven Lions to garner Phil Steele all-conference honors, joined by returning defensive back Edwin White Schultz, linebacker Jackson Bratton and wide receiver and return specialist Logan Collier on the first team. Collier was listed as a first team punt returner, second team kick returner and second team all-purpose player.
• North Alabama brings back seven offensive starters (three OL, three WR, one TE) and eight defensive starters from a season ago (four DB, three DL and one LB) in addition to three specialists (K, P and LS).
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game between Memphis and North Alabama will mark the second meeting between the two programs. The Tigers took care of business to the tune of a 59-0 shutout of the Lions back on Nov. 19, 2022.
• The Tigers are 10-0 against FCS teams since 2013.
RIDING THE MOMENTUM
• The 2023 season was a historic one for the Tigers as they became just the fifth team in program history to win 10 games (2019, 2017, 2014, 1938).
• Last year's team was just the 10th in program history to win nine or more games in a season and just the fourth in school history to win five road games in a year.
RECEIVING VOTES
• Memphis received votes in both the Coaches Poll (44) and the AP Poll (16 votes) to open the season.
• In the Coaches Poll, the Tigers checked in at No. 30 as the highest-ranked Group of 5 program in the poll (one of just nine G5 teams receiving votes).
• UTSA (3) and Tulane (2) are the only other American schools to be receiving preseason votes in the Coaches Poll, while the Tigers' week two opponent, Troy, received one vote.
AAC FRONT RUNNERS
• 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 returns 69% of their total production from a season ago (No. 26 in FBS) including 74% of offensive production (No. 29 in FBS) and 65% of defensive production (No. 45 in FBS).
AMONG THE ELITE
• Memphis has posted 88 victories since 2014, tied for the 14th-most in the nation during that stretch.
• The 88 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span.
• The Tigers are also 19th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 88-41 (.682) mark.
• Memphis (56) is one of six teams with 50 or more home wins since 2014, along with Alabama (65), Clemson (65), Ohio State (61), Georgia (56) and Michigan (56).
• 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.
MEMPHIS LEADS NATION IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 20 OR MORE POINTS
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 27-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 1,004 points over that stretch for an average of 37.2 points.
• The next longest active streak belongs to North Texas (24), followed by Georgia (18), Michigan (18) and LSU (17).
BOWL STREAK
• 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.
• In 2023, the Tigers defeated Iowa State, 36-26, in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, improving the program's record to 8-8 in bowl games.
MEMPHIS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• The Tigers ranked in the top-25 nationally in a dozen statistical categories in 2023.
• As a team, the Tigers ranked ninth in fewest penalties per game (4.08), 11th in the NCAA in fewest penalties (53) and 17th in winning percentage (.769).
• Offensively, the team ranked sixth in the nation scoring offense (39.4), 10th in passing offense (3065), 14th in total offense (458.5), 19th in completion percentage (.668), 22nd in fourth down conversion percentage (.643) and 21st in third down conversion percentage (.453).
• Defensively, Memphis ranked fourth in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.290), 15th in defensive touchdowns (3) and 24th in third down conversion percentage defense (.333).
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
• Memphis was well represented on preseason national award watch lists by numerous student-athletes.
• In total, quarterback Seth 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.
• Linebacker Chandler 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.
• Wide receivers Roc Taylor and Demeer Blanku*msee were both named to the prestigious preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list, while Taylor was additionally named to the Reese's Senior Bowl watch list along with Henigan.
• Offensive lineman Xavier Hill was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy.
• Transfer running back Mario Anderson Jr. was tabbed a Doak Walker Award candidate after leading South Carolina in rushing a season ago.
• Running back Sutton Smith was named to the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list - given to the nation's most versatile player. He ranked 18th nationally in kick-return average (24.2) in 2023.
• Tight end Anthony Landphere was named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list.
• Defensive back An'Darius Coffey was named to the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list - college football's premier award for community service.
15 TIGERS EARN PRESEASON ALL-AAC HONORS FROM PHIL STEELE
• Linebacker Chandler Martin was named to Phil Steele's 2024 Fourth Team Preseason All-America team. Along with Martin, 14 other Tigers were named to the publication's preseason All-AAC team.
• Along with Martin, quarterback Seth Henigan, wide receiver Roc Taylor, offensive lineman Xavier Hill (OG), and running back Sutton Smith (KR) were named to Phil Steele's First-Team Preseason All-AAC team. Running back Mario Anderson, wide receiver Demeer Blanku*msee and tight end Anthony Landphere were named to the second team preseason squad.
• Offensive lineman Jonah Gambill (OG), linebacker Elijah Herring, defensive back Greg Rubin (S), kicker Caden Costa, and long snapper Colby Cox were named to the third team. DB Tahj Ra-El (CB) and wide receiver Koby Drake (PR) were both named fourth-team preseason all-conference.
SILVERFIELD STATS
• Head coach Ryan Silverfield's 31 wins through his first four seasons as head coach are the second-most in program history.
• Silverfield is the only head coach in Memphis history with four bowl titles.
• Silverfield was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Coach of the Year in 2023, becoming the first Memphis head coach to earn the honor twice (2020).
• Among head coaches hired in 2020, Silverfield is the only one with four bowl championships and his 31 wins through four seasons are tied for fourth in that group.
OUR FOOTBALL FUTURE: TRANSFORMATIONAL RENOVATIONS TO SIMMONS BANK LIBERTY STADIUM
• Memphis Athletics, alongside the University's Auxiliary Services Foundation, is committing to a $220 million investment in the stadium project.
• All demolition at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium has been completed for phase two from the top of the structure to the ground level.
• Phase 2 priority elements include creating a unique interior "party plaza" area for all fans and beginning initial perimeter and halo upgrades to create a hospitality space around the stadium.
• Stadium capacity during the 2024 and 2025 Memphis Football seasons is anticipated to be in the low-30,000s, and capacity after renovations are complete is estimated to be approximately 50,000.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
• Memphis (56) is one of six teams with 50 or more home wins since 2014, along with Alabama (65), Clemson (65), Ohio State (61), Georgia (56) and Michigan (56).
• Memphis has had a great home field advantage at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, posting a record of 46-9 (.836) since head coach Ryan Silverfield joined the staff in 2016.
• As head coach, Silverfield is 21-6 (.778) at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS IN MEMPHIS
• Memphis is 26-1 in the team's last 27 home games against non-conference opponents.
• Among the games during that stretch for the Tigers include victories over Mississippi State (2021), Ole Miss (2019, 2015), UCLA (2017) and Kansas (2016).
• The lone loss during that stretch came against UTSA (now a member of The American), 31-28, on Sept. 25, 2021.
HOME SEASON OPENERS
• The Tigers opened the season at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the 12th time in the last 13 years against Bethune-Cookman last season and rolled to a dominant 56-14 win.
• 2022's season-opening game on the road at Mississippi State snapped an 11-season streak of opening the season in Memphis.
• The Tigers are 44-61-3 all-time in season-opening contests.
• Memphis has won 10-straight home openers and have posted a record of 54-49-5 all-time in home opening games.
LAST YEAR'S SEASON-OPENER
• Memphis' 42-point win was the largest margin of victory in a season-opening game since 2018 when the Tigers defeated Mercer, 66-14.
• Memphis' defense limited B-CU to just 91 total yards on the night – the first time the team allowed less than a 100 yards since SMU in 2015.
• With the victory over Bethune-Cookman, the Tigers are 1-0 all-time against the Wildcats. B-CU was only the second current SWAC team Memphis has played.
