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2023 Memphis Tigers football
2023 Memphis Tigers football
Liberty Bowl champion
Liberty Bowl, W 36–26 vs. Iowa State
Conference	American Athletic Conference
Record	10–3 (6–2 AAC)
Head coach	Ryan Silverfield (4th season);
Offensive coordinator	Tim Cramsey (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Pro spread
Defensive coordinator	Matt Barnes (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
	Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 American Athletic Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 22 SMU y$	8	–	0	11	–	3
Tulane y	8	–	0	11	–	3
UTSA	7	–	1	9	–	4
Memphis	6	–	2	10	–	3
South Florida	4	–	4	7	–	6
Rice	4	–	4	6	–	7
Navy	4	–	4	5	–	7
North Texas	3	–	5	5	–	7
UAB	3	–	5	4	–	8
Florida Atlantic	3	–	5	4	–	8
Charlotte	2	–	6	3	–	9
Tulsa	2	–	6	4	–	8
Temple	1	–	7	3	–	9
East Carolina	1	–	7	2	–	10
Championship: SMU 26, Tulane 14
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

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.^[1]

Schedule

Memphis and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2023 football schedule on February 21, 2023.^[2]

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

Game summaries

vs Bethune–Cookman (FCS)

Bethune–Cookman Wildcats (FCS) (0–0) vs Memphis Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(12:28) MEM – Blake Watson 2 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:30; Memphis 7–0)
(5:07) MEM – Seth Morgan 45 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 23 yards, 4:02; Memphis 10–0)
(2:15) BCU – Amarie Jones 69 yard interception return, Cade Hechter kick (Memphis 10–7)

Second quarter

(13:08) MEM – Blake Watson 15 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:07; Memphis 17–7)
(9:13) MEM – Seth Morgan 26 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 11 yards, 2:23; Memphis 20–7)
(6:26) MEM – Blake Watson 2 yard run, 2-point pass (Drive: 4 plays, 31 yards, 1:39; Memphis 28–7)

Third quarter

(10:59) MEM – Sutton Smith 4 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 5 plays, 45 yards, 2:04; Memphis 35–7)
(6:27) MEM – DeMeer Blankumsee 47 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:51; Memphis 42–7)
(3:23) MEM – Christian Carter 7 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 67 yards, 1:56; Memphis 49–7)

Fourth quarter

(12:37) MEM – Sutton Smith 3 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards, 4:21; Memphis 56–7)
(1:25) BCU – Ejike Brown 19 yard fumble return, Cade Hechter kick (Memphis 56–14)

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
	Rushing	Jaiden Bivens	1 carry, 24 yards
	Receiving	Omari Stewart	1 reception, 20 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	27/36, 334 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Sutton Smith	18 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	DeMeer Blankumsee	6 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD

at Arkansas State

Memphis Tigers (1–0) vs Arkansas State Red Wolves (0–1) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(5:53) MEM – Seth Morgan 47 yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 53 yards, 5:27; Memphis 3–0)

Second quarter

(8:20) MEM – Joe Scates 4 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 9 plays, 44 yards, 5:05; Memphis 10–0)
(7:34) MEM – DJ Bell 36 yard interception return, Seth Morgan kick (Memphis 17–0)
(3:34) MEM – Tauskie Dove 52 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 72 yards, 1:38; Memphis 24–0)
(0:04) ARST – Dominic Zvada 34 yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 58 yards, 3:30; Memphis 24–3)

Third quarter

(8:51) MEM – Seth Henigan 7 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 4:31; Memphis 31–3)

Fourth quarter

(0:00) MEM – Ke’Travion Hargrove 17 yard run (Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards, 2:22; Memphis 37–3)

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
	Rushing	Blake Watson	20 carries, 51 yards
	Receiving	Tauskie Dove	1 reception, 52 yards, 1 TD
Arkansas State	Passing	J. T. Shrout	12/25, 79 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Ja'Quez Cross	9 carries, 57 yards
	Receiving	Corey Rucker	3 receptions, 40 yards

vs Navy

Navy Midshipmen (1–1) vs Memphis Tigers (2–0) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(5:15) MEM – Blake Watson 7 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 13 plays, 90 yards, 5:23; Memphis 7–0)
(5:03) NAVY – Alex Tecza 75 yard run, Evan Warren kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12; Tied 7–7)
(1:14) NAVY – Regis Velez 16 yard pass from Tai Lavatai, Evan Warren kick (Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 2:50; Navy 14–7)

Second quarter

(0:23) MEM – Roc Taylor 7 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 0:56; Tied 14–14)

Third quarter

(12:24) MEM – Seth Henigan 1 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 2:36; Memphis 21–14)
(9:08) NAVY – Anton Hall 2 yard run, Evan Warren kick (Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 3:12; Tied 21–21)

Fourth quarter

(14:22) MEM – Seth Henigan 3 yard run, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 3 plays, 78 yards, 0:58; Memphis 28–21)
(7:09) NAVY – Nathan Kirkwood 36 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 27 yards, 3:38; Memphis 28–24)

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
	Rushing	Alex Tecza	15 carries, 163 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Brandon Chatman	1 reception, 58 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	23/35, 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Blake Watson	10 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Blake Watson	6 receptions, 68 yards

vs Missouri

Memphis Tigers (3–0) vs Missouri Tigers (3–0) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(9:37) MIZ – Marquis Johnson 76 yard pass from Brady Cook, Harrison Mevis kick (Drive: 3 plays, 91 yards, 1:13; Missouri 7–0)
(4:18) MEM – Tanner Gillis 43 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 50 yards, 5:19; Missouri 7–3)
(2:15) MEM – Joe Scates 3 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 4 plays, 10 yards, 1:06; Memphis 10–7)

Second quarter

(6:27) MIZ – Nathaniel Peat 1 yard run, Harrison Mevis kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:14; Missouri 14–10)
(0:05) MIZ – Harrison Mevis 25 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 3:27; Missouri 17–10)

Third quarter

(9:19) MIZ – Theo Wease 19 yard pass from Brady Cook, Harrison Mevis kick (Drive: 3 plays, 76 yards, 1:17; Missouri 24–10)
(4:07) MEM – Blake Watson 13 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:47; Missouri 24–17)

Fourth quarter

(11:01) MIZ – Harrison Mevis 32 yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 3:53; Missouri 27–17)
(5:18) MEM – Tanner Gillis 22 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 72 yards, 5:43; Missouri 27–20)
(2:46) MIZ – Cody Schrader 37 yard run, Harrison Mevis kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:32; Missouri 34–20)
(1:21) MEM – Koby Drake 21 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:25; Missouri 34–27)

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
	Rushing	Blake Watson	18 carries, 47 yards
	Receiving	Roc Taylor	7 receptions, 143 yards
Missouri	Passing	Brady Cook	18/25, 341 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Cody Schrader	14 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Luther Burden III	10 receptions, 177 yards

vs Boise State

Boise State Broncos (2–2) vs Memphis Tigers (3–1) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

Statistics	Boise State	Memphis
First downs
Plays–yards	–	–
Rushes–yards	–	–
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int	––	––
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Boise State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Tulane

Tulane Green Wave (4–1) at Memphis Tigers (4–1) – Game summary

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
	Rushing	Makhi Hughes	26 carries, 130 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Chris Brazzell II	3 receptions, 103 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	24/43, 321 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Sutton Smith	4 carries, 22 yards
	Receiving	Demeer Blankumsee	6 receptions, 108 yards

vs Iowa State (Liberty Bowl)

2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Iowa State Cyclones (7-5, 6-3) vs Memphis Tigers (9-3, 6-2) – Game summary

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

Game information

First Quarter

(13:41) MEM – Demeer Blankumsee 70 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick no good (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:19; Memphis 6–0)
(5:53) MEM – Seth Henigan 11 yard run, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 5:00; Memphis 13–0)
(0:30) MEM – Joseph Scates 51 yard pass from Seth Henigan, two-point pass conversion failed (Drive: 4 plays, 84 yards, 2:15; Memphis 19–0)

Second Quarter

(11:25) ISU – Jayden Higgins 29 yard pass from Rocco Becht, Chase Contreraz kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 4:05; Memphis 19–7)
(6:19) ISU – Chase Contreraz 22 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 4:03; Memphis 19–10)
(0:35) ISU – Chase Contreraz 39 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 1:09; Memphis 19–13)
(0:00) MEM – Tanner Gillis 49 yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 44 yards, 0:35; Memphis 22–13)

Third Quarter

(11:38) MEM – Anthony Landphere 5 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 2:14; Memphis 29–13)
(7:59) MEM – Sutton Smith 48 yard pass from Seth Henigan, Tanner Gillis kick (Drive: 3 plays, 50 yards, 1:01; Memphis 36–13)
(4:01) ISU – Easton Dean 15 yard pass from Rocco Becht, Chase Contreraz kick Drive: 7 plays, 85 yards, 3:58; Memphis 36–20)

Fourth Quarter

(9:55) ISU – Jaylin Noel 23 yard pass from Rocco Becht, two-point pass conversion failed (Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 1:57; Memphis 36–26)

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
	Rushing	Abu Sama III	12 carries, 4 yards
	Receiving	Jayden Higgins	9 receptions, 214 yards, TD
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	24/34, 364 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	Blake Watson	15 carries, 107 yards
	Receiving	Roc Taylor	8 receptions, 102 yards

References

^ "2023 FBS Attendance Trends". D1.ticker. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
^ "2023 Memphis Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 1, 2023.

[1] "2023 FBS Attendance Trends". D1.ticker. Retrieved December 14, 2024.

[2] "2023 Memphis Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 1, 2023.

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