# 2023 Memphis Tigers football team

The 2023 Memphis Tigers football team represented the University of Memphis in the 2023 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 (The American). They were led by fourth-year head coach Ryan Silverfield. The Memphis Tigers football team drew an average home attendance of 29,782 in 2023.

## Schedule

Memphis and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2023 football schedule on February 21, 2023.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 6:00 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman* | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | W 56–14 | 26,632 |
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at Arkansas State* | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR (Paint Bucket Bowl) | ESPN+ | W 37–3 | 18,724 |
| September 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Navy | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN | W 28–24 | 25,551 |
| September 23 | 6:30 p.m. | vs. Missouri* | The Dome at America's CenterSt. Louis, MO | ESPNU | L 27–34 | 45,085 |
| September 30 | 4:00 p.m. | Boise State* | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN2 | W 35–32 | 30,364 |
| October 13 | 6:00 p.m. | Tulane | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN | L 21–31 | 35,609 |
| October 21 | 11:00 a.m. | at UAB | Protective StadiumBirmingham, AL | ESPN2 | W 45–21 | 20,269 |
| October 28 | 2:00 p.m. | at North Texas | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | W 45–42 | 18,062 |
| November 4 | 2:00 p.m. | South Florida | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | W 59–50 | 30,223 |
| November 11 | 2:00 p.m. | at Charlotte | Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, NC | ESPN+ | W 44–38 $^{OT}$ | 8,895 |
| November 18 | 11:00 a.m. | SMU | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN2 | L 34–38 | 30,313 |
| November 24 | 11:00 a.m. | at Temple | Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA | ESPN | W 45–21 | 10,830 |
| December 29 | 2:30 p.m. | Iowa State* | Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TN (AutoZone Liberty Bowl) | ESPN | W 36–26 | 48,789 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs Bethune–Cookman (FCS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats (FCS) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Tigers | 10 | 18 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium • Memphis, Tennessee
* Date: September 2
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Wind: SE at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 26,632
* Referee: Nate Black
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Tony Simeone (play-by-play), Doc Holliday (analyst)
| Statistics | Bethune–Cookman (FCS) | Memphis |
| First downs | 4 | 27 |
| Plays–yards | 48–91 | 81–551 |
| Rushes–yards | 24–52 | 43–208 |
| Passing yards | 39 | 343 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 13–24–0 | 28–38–2 |
| Time of possession | 23:17 | 36:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Bethune–Cookman (FCS) | Passing | Luke Sprague | 3/6, 21 yards |
| Bethune–Cookman (FCS) | Rushing | Jaiden Bivens | 1 carry, 24 yards |
| Bethune–Cookman (FCS) | Receiving | Omari Stewart | 1 reception, 20 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 27/36, 334 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Sutton Smith | 18 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | DeMeer Blankumsee | 6 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD |

### at Arkansas State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 3 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 37 |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
* Date: September 9
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: NE at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 18,724
* Referee: Scott Hardin
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Roger Twibell (play-by-play), Pete Cordelli (analyst), Darrell Greene (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | Memphis | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 18 | 18 |
| Plays–yards | 70–389 | 71–230 |
| Rushes–yards | 41–150 | 30–64 |
| Passing yards | 239 | 166 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 21–29–0 | 22–41–2 |
| Time of possession | 35:32 | 24:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 21/29, 239 yards, 2 TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Blake Watson | 20 carries, 51 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Tauskie Dove | 1 reception, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | J. T. Shrout | 12/25, 79 yards, 2 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Ja'Quez Cross | 9 carries, 57 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 3 receptions, 40 yards |

### vs Navy

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Midshipmen | 14 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| Tigers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium • Memphis, Tennessee
* Date: September 14
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: W at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 25,551
* Referee: Kevin Randall
* TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Dan Mullen (analyst), Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | Navy | Memphis |
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 70–432 | 66–408 |
| Rushes–yards | 50–299 | 31–190 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 218 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 10–20–0 | 23–35–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:49 | 27:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Navy | Passing | Tai Lavatai | 10/19, 133 yards, 1 TD |
| Navy | Rushing | Alex Tecza | 15 carries, 163 yards, 1 TD |
| Navy | Receiving | Brandon Chatman | 1 reception, 58 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 23/35, 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Blake Watson | 10 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | Blake Watson | 6 receptions, 68 yards |

### vs Missouri

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Memphis Tigers | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Missouri Tigers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
at The Dome at America's Center • St. Louis, Missouri
* Date: September 23
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: No weather (indoor stadium)
* Game attendance: 45,085
* Referee: Ken Williams
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Hutson Mason (analyst)
| Statistics | Memphis | Missouri |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 76–399 | 61–542 |
| Rushes–yards | 29–83 | 36–201 |
| Passing yards | 316 | 341 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 31–47–2 | 18–25–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:40 | 27:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 31/47, 316 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Blake Watson | 18 carries, 47 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Roc Taylor | 7 receptions, 143 yards |
| Missouri | Passing | Brady Cook | 18/25, 341 yards, 2 TD |
| Missouri | Rushing | Cody Schrader | 14 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD |
| Missouri | Receiving | Luther Burden III | 10 receptions, 177 yards |

### vs Boise State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 3 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 32 |
| Tigers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium • Memphis, Tennessee
* Date: September 30
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 92 °F (33 °C) • Wind: NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 30,364
* Referee: Tim Rich
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | Boise State | Memphis |
| First downs | | |
| Plays–yards | – | – |
| Rushes–yards | – | – |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: comp–att–int | –– | –– |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category |
| Boise State | Passing |
| Boise State | Rushing |
| Boise State | Receiving |
| Memphis | Passing |
| Memphis | Rushing |
| Memphis | Receiving |

### vs Tulane

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Green Wave | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Tigers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
* Date: October 13, 2023
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: S 8 mph
* Game attendance: 35,609
* Referee: Kevin Randall
* TV announcers (ESPN): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
Game information :
First Quarter
(4:06) TUL – Makhi Hughes 2-yard run, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 3:46; Tulane 7–0)
Second Quarter
(8:11) TUL – Valentino Ambrosio 26-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 51 yards, 6:30; Tulane 10–0)
(5:15) MEM – Demeer Blankumsee 17-yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 8 plays, 89 yards, 2:56; Tulane 10–7)
(0:45) MEM – Joseph Scates 28-yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 1:51; Memphis 14–10)
Third Quarter
(10:09) MEM – Koby Drake 10-yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:51; Memphis 21–10)
(4:32) TUL – Michael Pratt 1-yard run, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 5:37; Memphis 21–17)
Fourth Quarter
(14:55) TUL – Yulkeith Brown 9-yard run, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 2:34; Tulane 24–21)
(11:46) TUL – Lawrence Keys III 11-yard pass from Michael Pratt, Valentino Ambrosio kick (Drive: 4 plays, 52 yards, 1:52; Tulane 31–21)
Win Probability
Tulane 54.4%
Line
Tulane –5.0
Over/Under
55 :
| Statistics | TUL | MEM |
| First downs | 20 | 20 |
| Total yards | 403 | 366 |
| Rushing yards | 144 | 45 |
| Passing yards | 259 | 321 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 36:58 | 23:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulane | Passing | Michael Pratt | 19/31, 259 yards, 1 TD |
| Tulane | Rushing | Makhi Hughes | 26 carries, 130 yards, 1 TD |
| Tulane | Receiving | Chris Brazzell II | 3 receptions, 103 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 24/43, 321 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Sutton Smith | 4 carries, 22 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Demeer Blankumsee | 6 receptions, 108 yards |

### vs Iowa State (Liberty Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cyclones | 19 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 36 |
| Tigers | 0 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 26 |
at Simmons Bank Memorial Stadium • Memphis, Tennessee
* Date: Friday, December 29th, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 pm EST/2:30 pm CST/12:30 pm PST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 38 °F (3 °C) • Wind: 8 mph (13 km/h) W
* Game attendance: 48,789
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (ESPN): John Schriffen (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline)
* Box score
| Statistics | Iowa State | Memphis |
| First downs | 22 | 19 |
| Total yards | 530 | 446 |
| Rushes/yards | 32–166 | 20–0 |
| Passing yards | 364 | 446 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–34–0 | 22–40–0 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:24 | 25:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Iowa State | Passing | Rocco Becht | 22/38, 446 yards, 3 TD |
| Iowa State | Rushing | Abu Sama III | 12 carries, 4 yards |
| Iowa State | Receiving | Jayden Higgins | 9 receptions, 214 yards, TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 24/34, 364 yards, 4 TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Blake Watson | 15 carries, 107 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Roc Taylor | 8 receptions, 102 yards |