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.

2021 Memphis Tigers football
Hawaii Bowl vs. Hawaii, canceled
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
2021 record6–6 (3–5 American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKevin Johns (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorMike MacIntyre (2nd season)
Home stadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 59,308)
2021 American Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Cincinnati y$^  8 –0   13 –1  
No. 17 Houston y  8 –0   12 –2  
UCF  5 –3   9 –4  
East Carolina  5 –3   7 –5  
Tulsa  5 –3   7 –6  
SMU  4 –4   8 –4  
Memphis  3 –5   6 –6  
Navy  3 –5   4 –8  
Tulane  1 –7   2 –10  
South Florida  1 –7   2 –10  
Temple  1 –7   3 –9  
Championship: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

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.[1] Silverfield later jokingly declared Memphis as “Hawaii Bowl champions”.[2]

Previous season
Main article: 2020 Memphis Tigers football team

The Tigers finished the 2020 season 8–3, 5–3 in AAC play to finish third in the conference. They won the Montgomery Bowl 25–10 against Florida Atlantic.

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.[3] 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)
1Cincinnati262 (22)
2UCF241 (2)
3SMU188
4Houston181
5Memphis168
6Tulsa153
7Tulane132
т-8East Carolina85
т-8Navy85
10Temple46
11South Florida43

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 46:00 p.m. No. 22 (FCS) Nicholls*
ESPN+W 42–1730,263
September 116:00 p.m.at Arkansas State*
ESPN+W 55–5019,501
September 183:00 p.m.Mississippi State*
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
ESPN2W 31–2943,461
September 252:30 p.m.UTSA*
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
ESPNUL 28–3129,264
October 211:00 a.m.at Temple
ESPNUL 31–3428,573
October 98:00 p.m.at Tulsa
ESPN2L 29–3517,593
October 146:30 p.m.Navy
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
ESPNW 35–1730,042
October 226:00 p.m.at UCF
ESPN2L 7–2439,328
November 611:00 a.m.SMU
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
ESPNUW 28–2530,191
November 1311:00 a.m.East Carolina
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
ESPN+L 29–30 OT28,431
November 198:00 p.m.at No. 24 Houston
ESPN2L 13–3128,712
November 276:30 p.m.Tulane
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
ESPNUW 33–2827,416
December 248:00 p.m.at Hawaii*
ESPN Canceled A_
  • ^ Hawaii was forced to withdraw due to COVID-19 and other related issues within the team. The game was canceled shortly after.[4]

[5]

Game summaries

Nicholls
Nicholls at Memphis
1 234Total
No. 22 (FCS) Colonels 7 073 17
• Tigers 10 1967 42
  • Date: September 4, 2021
  • Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 13 minutes
  • Game attendance: 30,263
  • Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: S 9 MPH
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross (play–by–play) and Leger Douzable (analyst)
        
See also: 2021 Nicholls Colonels football team
Over/under
MEM –22.568
StatisticsNichollsMemphis
First downs1732
Total yards299587
Rushing yards100322
Passing yards199265
Turnovers10
Time of possession28:4531:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NichollsPassingLindsey Scott Jr.17/30, 194 yards, 1 TD
RushingJulien Gums13 carries, 48 yards
ReceivingDai'Jean Dixon7 receptions, 107 yards
MemphisPassingSeth Henigan19/32, 265 yards, 1 TD
RushingBrandon Thomas16 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJavon Ivory5 receptions, 106 yards

at Arkansas State
Memphis at Arkansas State
1 234Total
• Tigers 20 14714 55
Red Wolves 10 13720 50
  • Date: September 11, 2021
  • Location: Centennial Bank Stadium
    Jonesboro, AR
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 47 minutes
  • Game attendance: 19,501
  • Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 10 MPH
  • Referee: Luke Richmond
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brad Bobo (play–by–play), Pete Cordelli (analyst), and Cori Keller (sideline reporter)
             
See also: 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team and Paint Bucket Bowl
Pregame lineOver/under
MEM –5.565
StatisticsMemphisArkansas State
First downs2435
Total yards680680
Rushing yards26398
Passing yards417582
Turnovers20
Time of possession24:0435:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MemphisPassingSeth Henigan22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs
RushingBrandon Thomas18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingCalvin Austin6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs
Arkansas StatePassingJames Blackman19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs
RushingLincoln Pare6 carries, 36 yards
ReceivingJeff Foreman8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD

Mississippi State
Mississippi State at Memphis
1 234Total
Bulldogs 3 14012 29
• Tigers 7 0717 31
      
See also: 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
Pregame line Over/under
MSST –3.064
StatisticsMississippi StateMemphis
First downs2612
Total yards468246
Rushing yards4987
Passing yards419159
Turnovers01
Time of possession37:3032:13
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers50/67, 419 yards, 3 TDs
RushingDillon Johnson7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMakai Polk11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
MemphisPassingSeth Henigan16/28, 159 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingBrandon Thomas16 carries, 83 yards
ReceivingCalvin Austin9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs

UTSA
UTSA at Memphis
1 234Total
• Roadrunners 0 7717 31
RV Tigers 21 070 28
     
See also: 2021 UTSA Roadrunners football team
Pregame line Over/under
MEM –3.067
StatisticsUTSAMemphis
First downs2516
Total yards399407
Rushing yards20578
Passing yards194329
Turnovers12
Time of possession35:42 
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UTSAPassingFrank Harris18/28, 186 yds, 1 TD
RushingSincere McCormick42 car, 184 yds, 3 TD
ReceivingJoshua Cephus6 rec, 82 yds
MemphisPassingSeth Henigan15/25, 329 yds, 1 TD
RushingBrandon Thomas20 car, 73 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingSean Dykes6 rec, 167 yds

at Temple
Memphis at Temple
1 2Total
Tigers 0
Owls 0
  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Location: Lincoln Financial Field
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Game start: 11:00 a.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPNU):  
See also: 2021 Temple Owls football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsMemphisTemple
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
TemplePassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at Tulsa
Memphis at Tulsa
1 2Total
Tigers 0
Golden Hurricane 0
See also: 2021 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsMemphisTulsa
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
TulsaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
Navy at Memphis
1 2Total
Midshipmen 0
Tigers 0
See also: 2021 Navy Midshipmen football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsNavyMemphis
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NavyPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at UCF
Memphis at Central Florida
1 2Total
Tigers 0
Knights 0
  • Date: October 22, 2021
  • Location: Bounce House
    Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN2):  
See also: 2021 UCF Knights football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsMemphisUCF
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
UCFPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

SMU
Southern Methodist at Memphis
1 2Total
Mustangs 0
Tigers 0
  • Date: November 6, 2021
  • Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start: TBD CDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
See also: 2021 SMU Mustangs football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsSMUMemphis
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SMUPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

East Carolina
East Carolina at Memphis
1 2Total
Pirates 0
Tigers 0
  • Date: November 13, 2021
  • Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start: TBD CST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross, Brandon Weeden
See also: 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsEast CarolinaMemphis
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at No. 24 Houston
Memphis at Houston
1 234Total
Tigers 0 373 13
• No. 24 Cougars 0 21010 31
  • Date: November 19, 2021
  • Location: TDECU Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 8:00 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN2):  
See also: 2021 Houston Cougars football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsMemphisHouston
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
HoustonPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

Tulane
Tulane at Memphis
1 2Total
Green Wave 0
Tigers 0
  • Date: November 27, 2021
  • Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start: TBD CST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker
See also: 2021 Tulane Green Wave football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsTulaneMemphis
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TulanePassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

Rankings
Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP————RV——————————
Coaches——RVRVRV——————————
CFPNot released——————Not released

References
  1. "Hawaii has pulled out of the Hawaii Bowl game against Memphis because of COVID-19, season-ending injuries and transfers". ABC News. AP. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  2. "Ryan Silverfield says Memphis is Hawaii Bowl champions". Twitter. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  3. "Cincinnati Chosen as Favorite in American Preseason Media Poll". theAmerican.org. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. Adelson, Andrea (December 23, 2021). "Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors out of Hawai'i Bowl due to COVID-19 issues". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  5. "2021 Memphis Tigers Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved 20 Feb 2021.


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