# 2021 Memphis Tigers football team

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 :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 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

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 22 (FCS) Nicholls* | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | W 42–17 | 30,263 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at Arkansas State* | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR (Paint Bucket Bowl) | ESPN+ | W 55–50 | 19,501 |
| September 18 | 3:00 p.m. | Mississippi State* | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN2 | W 31–29 | 43,461 |
| September 25 | 2:30 p.m. | UTSA* | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | L 28–31 | 29,264 |
| October 2 | 11:00 a.m. | at Temple | Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA | ESPNU | L 31–34 | 28,573 |
| October 9 | 8:00 p.m. | at Tulsa | H.A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN2 | L 29–35 | 17,593 |
| October 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Navy | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN | W 35–17 | 30,042 |
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at UCF | Bounce HouseOrlando, FL | ESPN2 | L 7–24 | 39,328 |
| November 6 | 11:00 a.m. | SMU | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | W 28–25 | 30,191 |
| November 13 | 11:00 a.m. | East Carolina | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | L 29–30 $^{OT}$ | 28,431 |
| November 19 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 24 Houston | TDECU StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN2 | L 13–31 | 28,712 |
| November 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Tulane | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | W 33–28 | 27,416 |
| December 24 | 8:00 p.m. | at Hawaii* | Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HI (Hawaii Bowl) | ESPN | Canceled | _ |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||
* ^ 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 (FCS) Colonels | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| • Tigers | 10 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 42 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM –22.5 | 68 |
| Statistics | Nicholls | Memphis |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Nicholls | Passing | Lindsey Scott Jr. | 17/30, 194 yards, 1 TD |
| Nicholls | Rushing | Julien Gums | 13 carries, 48 yards |
| Nicholls | Receiving | Dai'Jean Dixon | 7 receptions, 107 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 19/32, 265 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 16 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | Javon Ivory | 5 receptions, 106 yards |

### At Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Tigers | 20 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 55 |
| Red Wolves | 10 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 50 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM –5.5 | 65 |
| Statistics | Memphis | Arkansas 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 | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs |
| Memphis | Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 6 carries, 36 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD |

### Mississippi State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 29 |
| • Tigers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MSST –3.0 | 64 |
| Statistics | Mississippi State | Memphis |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 50/67, 419 yards, 3 TDs |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Makai Polk | 11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 16/28, 159 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 16 carries, 83 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs |

### UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Roadrunners | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
| RV Tigers | 21 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM –3.0 | 67 |
| Statistics | UTSA | Memphis |
| First downs | 25 | 16 |
| Total yards | 399 | 407 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 78 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 329 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:42 | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 18/28, 186 yards, 1 TD |
| UTSA | Rushing | Sincere McCormick | 42 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD |
| UTSA | Receiving | Joshua Cephus | 6 receptions, 82 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 15/25, 329 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 20 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | Sean Dykes | 6 receptions, 167 yards |

### At Temple

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 3 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 31 |
| • Owls | 0 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Memphis | Passing |
| Memphis | Rushing |
| Memphis | Receiving |
| Temple | Passing |
| Temple | Rushing |
| Temple | Receiving |

### At Tulsa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 13 | 0 | 16 | 29 |
| • Golden Hurricane | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Memphis | Passing |
| Memphis | Rushing |
| Memphis | Receiving |
| Tulsa | Passing |
| Tulsa | Rushing |
| Tulsa | Receiving |

### Navy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Midshipmen | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| • Tigers | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/Under |
| MEMPHIS –11.0 | 56 |
| Statistics | Navy | Memphis |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Navy | Passing | Tai Lavatai | 3/4, 27 yards, TD |
| Navy | Rushing | Isaac Ruoss | 18 carries, 75 yards |
| Navy | Receiving | Mychal Copper | 1 reception, 21 yards, TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 8/12, 215 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Calvin Austin III | 1 carry, 69 yards, TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | Eddie Lewis | 3 receptions, 92 yards, TD |

### At UCF

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Knights | 14 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Memphis | Passing |
| Memphis | Rushing |
| Memphis | Receiving |
| UCF | Passing |
| UCF | Rushing |
| UCF | Receiving |

### SMU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mustangs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
| • Tigers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –3.5 | 72 |
| Statistics | SMU | Memphis |
| 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 | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 19/28, 262 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Tre Siggers | 12 rushes, 53 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 4 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 34/53, 392 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Marquavius Weaver | 10 rushes, 17 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 8 receptions, 88 yards |

### East Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Pirates | | | 0 |
| Tigers | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| East Carolina | Passing |
| East Carolina | Rushing |
| East Carolina | Receiving |
| Memphis | Passing |
| Memphis | Rushing |
| Memphis | Receiving |

### At No. 24 Houston

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| • No. 24 Cougars | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| HOU –9.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Memphis | Houston |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 21/45, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Memphis | Rushing | Rodrigues Clark | 12 rushes, 32 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 5 receptions, 103 yards |
| Houston | Passing | Clayton Tune | 20/34, 264 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Houston | Rushing | Ta'Zhawn Henry | 13 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Houston | Receiving | Tank Dell | 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD |

### Tulane

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Green Wave | | | 0 |
| Tigers | | | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Tulane | Passing |
| Tulane | Rushing |
| Tulane | Receiving |
| Memphis | Passing |
| Memphis | Rushing |
| Memphis | Receiving |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Coaches | — | — | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |