Jaylin Carter’s Saturday night in Memphis turned into a weekly award Monday.
The University of Memphis running back was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Week after a huge showing against Arkansas State, the league announced in Irving, Texas. Carter, a sophomore from Valdosta, Georgia, helped power the Tigers in their first game inside the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and put together the kind of performance that lands on the conference’s radar fast.
The Southern Miss transfer ran for 183 yards and scored four touchdowns. That rushing total was Memphis’ best since Greg Desrosiers Jr. went for 204 yards against Florida Atlantic last season, while the four trips to the end zone matched the most by a Tiger since Mario Anderson Jr. scored four times against North Texas in 2024.
Carter’s night stacked up almost exactly with Anderson Jr.’s earlier stat line, with both players finishing at 183 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The difference came in efficiency: Carter averaged 9.6 yards per carry, compared with Anderson Jr.’s 8.3.
He also crossed the 200-yard mark in total offense. Carter added an 18-yard catch and finished with 201 all-purpose yards.
Memphis rolled to a 42-24 win over Arkansas State behind a ground game that was firing on all cylinders. The Tigers piled up their most rushing yards since the 2018 American Conference Championship against UCF, and Manny Covey also topped the 100-yard barrier against the Red Wolves. As a team, Memphis produced 523 yards of total offense, its highest output since putting up 526 in a win over UAB in 2024.
The Tigers, now 2-0, head back west for a Sept. 12 matchup with Boise State, a 5 p.m. CT kickoff on USA Network. Both programs enter the game with momentum on the national stage.
Memphis season tickets for 2026 are available, along with single-game and group ticket options through the Memphis Ticket Office.
In Other News...
Boise State Has Two Troubling Questions Heading Into The Memphis Game
Boise States first public depth chart for the 2026 season brought a couple of notable updates ahead of its trip to Memphis, starting with a difficult one on the offensive line. Redshirt freshman right tackle Jacob Tracy is not listed after what head coach Spencer Danielson confirmed is a season-ending injury, a development that thins the Broncos protection options before they even get into the heart of the schedule.
There is also still a small special-teams puzzle to sort out. Boise State is continuing its kickoff and placekicking competition between Colton Boomer and Canaan Moore, with Boomer handling kickoffs and Moore taking field goals and extra points in Week 1. However that shakes out, it gives Memphis one more thing to monitor in a season opener that already carries more than the usual early-year uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Memphis Is Catching Boise State At A Very Interesting Time
Boise State walked away from its 34-27 loss to No. 2 Oregon with plenty of frustration but also a sense that the performance itself was not the issue. Head coach Spencer Danielson said he was proud of how his players competed, while stressing that the standard at Boise State still comes down to finding ways to win. He pointed to the need for improvement on both offense and defense, and he also noted that one specific game situation was mishandled, a reminder that close losses often hinge on details as much as execution.
Now the Broncos have to turn quickly to Memphis, which comes in undefeated and has started to look like one of the more complete teams on Boise State's schedule. Danielson singled out Memphis coach Charles Huff as well, a sign of the respect the Tigers have already earned before the matchup even kicks off. For Memphis, it is a chance to catch Boise State at a moment when the Broncos are still sorting through the lessons from a bruising trip to Eugene. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Home Opener Carries A Chance To Make A Statement
Boise State gets its home opener Saturday afternoon against Memphis at Albertsons Stadium, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. Mountain time and the game airing nationally on USA Network. It is the kind of nonconference matchup that can say a lot early in the season, especially for a Tigers team trying to keep building on a strong start and a Broncos program that always wants its home field to feel like an edge.
Memphis arrives with a little buzz after opening the year with wins over UNLV and Arkansas State, giving first-year coach Charles Huff a quick foundation to work from. Boise State, meanwhile, is carrying the pressure that comes with being the favorite in its own stadium, and the number attached to this one suggests oddsmakers see a real test even before the crowd settles in. [Read more 🡒]