The 2021 Memphis Tigers football team represented the University of Memphis in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, and competed in the American Athletic Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Ryan Silverfield.
The Tigers finished the regular season with a 6–6 record and were due to face the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in the Hawaii Bowl. However, due to a COVID-19 outbreak, season-ending injuries, and transfers, the Rainbow Warriors were forced to withdraw the day before the game, leaving the Tigers without a bowl game.
Preseason
American Athletic Conference preseason media poll The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021. Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.
Media poll 1 Cincinnati 262 (22) 2 UCF 241 (2) 3 SMU 188 4 Houston 181 5 Memphis 168 6 Tulsa 153 7 Tulane 132 т-8 East Carolina 85 т-8 Navy 85 10 Temple 46 11 South Florida 43
Schedule
Hawaii was forced to withdraw due to COVID-19 and other related issues within the team. The game was canceled shortly after.
Game summaries
Nicholls
Statistics NichollsMemphis First downs 17 32 Total yards 299 587 Rushing yards 100 322 Passing yards 199 265 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:45 31:15
Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Lindsey Scott Jr. 17/30, 194 yards, 1 TD Rushing Julien Gums 13 carries, 48 yards Receiving Dai'Jean Dixon 7 receptions, 107 yardsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 19/32, 265 yards, 1 TD Rushing Brandon Thomas 16 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD Receiving Javon Ivory 5 receptions, 106 yards
At Arkansas State
Statistics MemphisArkansas State First downs 24 35 Total yards 680 680 Rushing yards 263 98 Passing yards 417 582 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 24:04 35:56
Team Category Player StatisticsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Brandon Thomas 18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Calvin Austin 6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDsArkansas State Passing James Blackman 19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Lincoln Pare 6 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jeff Foreman 8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD
Mississippi State
Statistics Mississippi StateMemphis First downs 26 12 Total yards 468 246 Rushing yards 49 87 Passing yards 419 159 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 37:30 32:13
Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Will Rogers 50/67, 419 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Dillon Johnson 7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD Receiving Makai Polk 11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TDMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 16/28, 159 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Brandon Thomas 16 carries, 83 yards Receiving Calvin Austin 9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs
UTSA
Statistics UTSAMemphis First downs 25 16 Total yards 399 407 Rushing yards 205 78 Passing yards 194 329 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 35:42 24:18
Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 18/28, 186 yards, 1 TD Rushing Sincere McCormick 42 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD Receiving Joshua Cephus 6 receptions, 82 yardsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 15/25, 329 yards, 1 TD Rushing Brandon Thomas 20 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD Receiving Sean Dykes 6 receptions, 167 yards
At Temple
Statistics MemphisTemple First downs 25 23 Total yards 462 479 Rushing yards 157 157 Passing yards 305 322 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 24:33 35:27
Team Category Player StatisticsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 24/40, 305 yards, 3 TD Rushing Rodrigues Clark 18 carries, 92 yards, TD Receiving Calvin Austin III 8 receptions, 104 yardsTemple Passing D'Wan Mathis 35/49, 322 yards, 3 TD Rushing Edward Saydee 12 carries, 62 yards Receiving Amad Anderson Jr. 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD
At Tulsa
Statistics MemphisTulsa First downs 33 19 Total yards 614 417 Rushing yards 151 235 Passing yards 463 182 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 33:35 26:25
Team Category Player StatisticsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 34/57, 463 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Brandon Thomas 18 carries, 77 yards, 2 TD Receiving Calvin Austin III 13 receptions, 200 yards, TDTulsa Passing Davis Brin 11/21, 182 yards, 2 TD Rushing Shamari Brooks 26 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD Receiving Josh Johnson 8 receptions, 140 yards, TD
Navy
Statistics NavyMemphis First downs 17 15 Total yards 241 415 Rushing yards 198 200 Passing yards 43 215 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 39:19 20:41
Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 3/4, 27 yards, TD Rushing Isaac Ruoss 18 carries, 75 yards Receiving Mychal Copper 1 reception, 21 yards, TDMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 8/12, 215 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Calvin Austin III 1 carry, 69 yards, TD Receiving Eddie Lewis 3 receptions, 92 yards, TD
At UCF
Statistics MemphisUCF First downs 25 17 Total yards 292 295 Rushing yards 77 215 Passing yards 215 80 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 31:48 28:10
Team Category Player StatisticsMemphis Passing Peter Parrish 31/48, 215 yards, 3 INT Rushing Peter Parrish 22 carries, 60 yards Receiving Calvin Austin III 7 receptions, 44 yardsUCF Passing Mikey Keene 11/19, 63 yards, TD, INT Rushing Isaiah Bowser 26 carries, 111 yards Receiving Ryan O'Keefe 6 receptions, 41 yards, TD
SMU
Statistics SMUMemphis First downs 16 25 Total yards 323 468 Rushing yards 61 36 Passing yards 262 432 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 23:05 36:55
Team Category Player StatisticsSMU Passing Tanner Mordecai 19/28, 262 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Tre Siggers 12 rushes, 53 yards Receiving Danny Gray 4 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TDMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 34/53, 392 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Marquavius Weaver 10 rushes, 17 yards Receiving Calvin Austin 8 receptions, 88 yards
East Carolina
Statistics East CarolinaMemphis First downs 32 16 Total yards 502 341 Rushing yards 185 108 Passing yards 317 233 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 42:47 32:13
Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 29/46, 317 yards, 2 INT Rushing Keaton Mitchell 17 carries, 81 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Snead 13 receptions, 113 yardsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 15/26, 233 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Seth Henigan 12 carries, 61 yards Receiving Eddie Lewis 3 receptions, 93 yards, TD
At No. 24 Houston
Statistics MemphisHouston First downs 24 25 Total yards 322 461 Rushing yards 106 197 Passing yards 216 264 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 25:34 34:26
Team Category Player StatisticsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 21/45, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Rodrigues Clark 12 rushes, 32 yards Receiving Calvin Austin 5 receptions, 103 yardsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 20/34, 264 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Ta'Zhawn Henry 13 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tank Dell 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
Tulane
Statistics TulaneMemphis First downs 25 24 Total yards 452 392 Rushing yards 305 56 Passing yards 147 336 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 28:58 31:02
Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Michael Pratt 15/34, 147 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Tyjae Spears 30 carries, 264 yards, 2 TD Receiving Shae Wyatt 5 receptions, 47 yardsMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 27/42, 336 yards, 3 TD Rushing Rodrigues Clark 11 carries, 28 yards Receiving Sean Dykes 7 receptions, 89 yards
Rankings
References