# 2020 Memphis Tigers football team

The 2020 Memphis Tigers football team represented the University of Memphis in the 2020 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 first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield.

## Schedule

Memphis had game scheduled against Purdue and UT Martin, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 12 the American announced that the Houston game scheduled for September 18 was postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases at Memphis. Subsequently, the scheduled game against UTSA on September 25 was also canceled due to ongoing cases at Memphis. The UTSA game was replaced with a game against Stephen F. Austin scheduled for November 21.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 5 | 7:00 p.m. | Arkansas State* | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN (Paint Bucket Bowl) | ESPN | W 37–24 | 4,537 |
| October 3 | 2:30 p.m. | at SMU | No. 25 | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ESPN2 | L 27–30 | 7,898 |
| October 17 | 2:30 p.m. | UCF | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ABC | W 50–49 | 10,554 |
| October 24 | 11:00 a.m. | Temple | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | W 41–29 | 10,321 |
| October 31 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 7 Cincinnati | | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH (rivalry) | ESPN | L 10–49 | 0 |
| November 7 | 11:00 a.m. | South Florida | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | W 34–33 | 10,300 |
| November 21 | 11:00 a.m. | Stephen F. Austin* | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | W 56–14 | 9,684 |
| November 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at Navy | | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD | CBSSN | W 10–7 | 0 |
| December 5 | 11:00 a.m. | at Tulane | | Yulman StadiumNew Orleans, LA | ESPN+ | L 21–35 | 2,400 |
| December 12 | 11:00 a.m. | Houston | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN+ | W 30–27 | 9,475 |
| December 23 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. Florida Atlantic* | | Cramton BowlMontgomery, AL (Montgomery Bowl) | ESPN | W 25–10 | 2,979 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||
    Schedule Source:

## 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 | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV* | 16 | 17 | 25 | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV |
| Coaches | RV | RV* | 15 | 20 | 24 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Game summaries
### Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| • RV Tigers | 7 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 37 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM −18.5 | 73 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Memphis |
| First downs | 25 | 29 |
| Total yards | 424 | 502 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 222 |
| Passing yards | 299 | 280 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:40 | 34:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 13/20, 166 yards |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Jamal Jones | 15 carries, 64 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Dahu Green | 5 receptions, 99 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 27/37, 280 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Rodrigues Clark | 20 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Receiving | Sean Dykes | 10 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDs |

### At SMU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Tigers | 3 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| • Mustangs | 17 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU −1.5 | 75 |
| Statistics | Memphis | SMU |
| First downs | 26 | 21 |
| Total yards | 501 | 549 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 296 | 474 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:51 | 29:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 29/42, 296 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Memphis | Rushing | Rodriguez Clark | 16 carries, 98 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Sean Dykes | 6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD |
| SMU | Passing | Shane Buechele | 32/45, 474 yards, 3 TDs |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 13 carries, 32 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | Reggie Roberson Jr. | 5 receptions, 243 yards, 2 TDs |

### UCF

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| RV Knights | 7 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 49 |
| • RV Tigers | 7 | 7 | 15 | 21 | 50 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UCF −3 | 77 |
| Statistics | UCF | Memphis |
| First downs | 34 | 41 |
| Total yards | 798 | 703 |
| Rushing yards | 197 | 217 |
| Passing yards | 601 | 486 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:23 | 33:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UCF | Passing | Dillon Gabriel | 35/49, 601 yards, 5 TDs |
| UCF | Rushing | Greg McCrae | 17 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD |
| UCF | Receiving | Marlon Williams | 13 receptions, 191 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 34/50, 486 yards, 6 TDs |
| Memphis | Rushing | Rodrigues Clark | 21 carries, 112 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 9 receptions, 151 yards, 2 TDs |

### Temple

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 3 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 29 |
| • Tigers | 7 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM −14 | 70 |
| Statistics | Temple | Memphis |
| First downs | 30 | 24 |
| Total yards | 500 | 489 |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 176 |
| Passing yards | 387 | 313 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:28 | 26:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Temple | Passing | Anthony Russo | 41/63, 387 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Temple | Rushing | Re'Mahn Davis | 20 carries, 113 yards |
| Temple | Receiving | Randle Jones | 12 receptions, 118 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 17/36, 313 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Rodrigues Clark | 22 carries, 106 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 6 receptions, 184 yards, 1 TD |

### At Cincinnati

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • No. 7 Bearcats | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CIN −6.5 | 57.5 |
| Statistics | Memphis | Cincinnati |
| First downs | 15 | 28 |
| Total yards | 321 | 513 |
| Rushing yards | 5 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 316 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:10 | 34:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 18/35, 316 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Rodrigues Clark | 12 carries, 16 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 7 receptions, 121 yards |
| Cincinnati | Passing | Desmond Ridder | 21/26, 271 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Cincinnati | Rushing | Jerome Ford | 9 carries, 116 yards, 2 TDs |
| Cincinnati | Receiving | Alec Pierce | 3 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD |

### South Florida

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulls | 3 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 33 |
| • Tigers | 6 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM −17.5 | 67.5 |
| Statistics | South Florida | Memphis |
| First downs | 16 | 24 |
| Total yards | 330 | 535 |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 98 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 437 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:25 | 30:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Florida | Passing | Noah Johnson | 20/29, 217 yards, 2 TDs |
| South Florida | Rushing | Brian Battie | 10 carries, 76 yards |
| South Florida | Receiving | Kelley Joiner Jr. | 3 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 30/50, 437 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Kylan Watkins | 10 carries, 44 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Sean Dykes | 7 receptions, 147 yards, 2 TDs |

### Stephen F. Austin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Tigers | 14 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 56 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM −31 | 61.5 |
| Statistics | Stephen F. Austin | Memphis |
| First downs | 11 | 25 |
| Total yards | 224 | 574 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 305 |
| Passing yards | 169 | 269 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:42 | 30:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Trae Self | 14/30, 124 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaquarion Turner | 14 carries, 22 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Xavier Gipson | 6 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 18/31, 269 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Kylan Watkins | 11 carries, 100 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 10 receptions, 173 yards |

### At Navy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Tigers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Midshipmen | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM –13.5 | 63 |
| Statistics | Memphis | Navy |
| First downs | 12 | 14 |
| Total yards | 280 | 321 |
| Rushing yards | 75 | 233 |
| Passing yards | 205 | 88 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:02 | 33:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 18/32, 205, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Rushing | Marquavius Weaver | 15 carries, 49 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Tahj Washington | 4 receptions, 68 yards |
| Navy | Passing | Tyger Goslin | 3/9, 73 yards, 1 INT |
| Navy | Rushing | Nelson Smith | 29 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD |
| Navy | Receiving | Chance Warren | 1 reception, 41 yards |

### At Tulane

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| • Green Wave | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TULN –3.0 | 64 |
| Statistics | Memphis | Tulane |
| First downs | 20 | 26 |
| Total yards | 300 | 419 |
| Rushing yards | 45 | 165 |
| Passing yards | 255 | 254 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:56 | 34:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 19/38, 248 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Memphis | Rushing | Asa Martin | 13 carries, 39 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 5 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD |
| Tulane | Passing | Michael Pratt | 21/33, 254 yards, 2 TDs |
| Tulane | Rushing | Stephon Huderson | 10 carries, 67 yards |
| Tulane | Receiving | Jha'Quan Jackson | 3 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD |

### Houston

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 3 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 27 |
| • Tigers | 3 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| HOU –6.0 | 65 |
| Statistics | Houston | Memphis |
| First downs | 26 | 20 |
| Total yards | 409 | 310 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 64 |
| Passing yards | 270 | 246 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:29 | 26:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston | Passing | Clayton Tune | 30/49, 270 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Houston | Rushing | Kyle Porter | 15 carries, 70 yards |
| Houston | Receiving | Christian Trahan | 5 receptions, 84 yards |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 22/35, 246 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Asa Martin | 11 carries, 27 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Florida Atlantic (Montgomery Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Tigers | 10 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 25 |
| Owls | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM –9.0 | 53 |
| Statistics | Memphis | Florida Atlantic |
| First downs | 24 | 19 |
| Total yards | 469 | 290 |
| Rushing yards | 185 | 139 |
| Passing yards | 284 | 151 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:44 | 29:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 22/34, 284 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Asa Martin | 15 carries, 96 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Javon Ivory | 7 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 16/32, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Florida Atlantic | Rushing | James Charles | 16 carries, 82 yards |
| Florida Atlantic | Receiving | Brandon Robinson | 4 receptions, 39 yards |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 5 | 150 | Kenneth Gainwell | RB | Philadelphia Eagles |