Memphis has spent its first two games doing a lot of figuring out on the fly, and that has left Charles Huff wanting a cleaner start.
The Tigers are 2-0, but both wins came against opponents opening their seasons, which meant Memphis had little recent film and plenty of uncertainty to sort through once the games started. Quarterback Marcus Stokes said that made things trickier than usual.
“I don’t want to give any excuses,” Stokes said. “It is tougher, though, knowing that the first two games, we really don’t know what type of defense they’re going to be, what they’re going to come out with.
… We don’t really know 100% what they’re going to come out with. And so I guess that’s why maybe we slow-started.”
That showed up again against Arkansas State. Trey Owens threw an interception on the Red Wolves’ first drive, but Memphis couldn’t immediately turn it into points. Later in the first quarter, Stokes threw his first interception of the season, and that helped lead to a 48-yard field goal that put Arkansas State up 3-0.
From there, the game stayed tight. Arkansas State grabbed a 17-14 lead on Kenyon Clay’s 75-yard touchdown catch with 3:26 left in the second quarter, but Memphis answered before halftime when Stokes found Jermane Hayes for a 31-yard touchdown. That gave the Tigers a 21-17 lead at the break.
Stokes said the early issues were not just about not knowing what was coming.
“We also shoot ourselves in the foot, and that’s something that we can’t do,” Stokes said. “So we gotta learn from that, move on.”
Huff saw it similarly.
“I think these first two weeks has really come down to you don’t know what they’re going to do in the first half,” Huff said.
Once Memphis got a better read on Arkansas State, the Tigers took control. They outscored the Red Wolves 21-7 after halftime, and Jaylin Carter’s 74-yard touchdown run blew open what had been a 28-24 game. Memphis’ defense then finished the job by shutting out Arkansas State over the final 20 minutes.
Huff said the same uncertainty that made things messy early also affected what Memphis could do defensively.
“Because of us not knowing a little bit of what they were going to do offensively, it kind of held us back from doing some things up front that we were able to do last week,” Huff said.
That won’t be much of an excuse this time around. Memphis heads to Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 12, and that matchup looks like its toughest one yet.
The Broncos are coming off a 34-27 loss at No. 2 Oregon and opened as 7.5-point favorites over Memphis.
Unlike the Tigers’ first two opponents, Boise State will give Memphis recent film to work with.
Huff knows that matters. He also knows his team can’t keep waiting until halftime to settle in.
“Hopefully we can get out of this living-in-a-second-half world,” Huff said. “We’re gonna face some teams that can play 60 minutes.”
For now, Memphis has survived that world and walked away 2-0.
In Other News...
Memphis Suddenly Faces A Much Bigger Test Than Fans Expected
Boise State came out of its season opener looking like a team that could make life difficult for just about anyone on its schedule. The Broncos fell 34-27 to No. 2 Oregon, but not before carrying a halftime lead and forcing the Ducks into a far closer fight than the oddsmakers expected. Head coach Spencer Danielson praised the effort afterward while also making clear there is still plenty to clean up.
For Memphis, the takeaway is simple: this is no longer the kind of early nonconference game that looks safe on paper. Boise States showing in Eugene only sharpened the intrigue around what comes next, and the matchup in Memphis now carries a different kind of weight. The Tigers will get a team that just proved it can hang with an elite opponent, which is exactly why the next weekend suddenly feels bigger than anyone might have planned. [Read more 🡒]
Memphis Got The Start Fans Wanted But One Concern Just Grew
The opener delivered the kind of jolt Memphis fans were hoping for, with a 42-24 win over Arkansas State built around a relentless ground game and a defense that made the most of mistakes. Running back Jaylin Carter led the charge, and the atmosphere inside Liberty Stadium matched the moment, as the Tigers opened the season in front of one of their biggest crowds in years.
Still, the result came with a lingering concern under center. Trey Owens first collegiate start turned shaky quickly as he threw four interceptions, giving Memphis a reminder that the offense cannot lean on Carter and the defense forever. The Tigers got the start they wanted, but the passing game now looks like the part of this team that needs the fastest cleanup. [Read more 🡒]
Charles Huff Had A Lot To Say About Memphis Fans After Opener
Charles Huff had plenty to appreciate after Memphis opened its newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with a win over Arkansas State, and he made sure to recognize the crowd that helped set the tone. The Tigers pulled away 42-24 in a setting that felt like a reset for the program, with Jaylin Carter powering the offense with 183 yards and four touchdowns as the building welcomed fans back for the first time after its makeover.
Huff also sounded eager to make the game-day experience match the on-field product, noting that there were some bumps around getting in and getting served once fans were inside. The atmosphere itself clearly delivered, but the next challenge for Memphis is making sure the stadium return feels smoother all the way through, especially after a debut that showed how much interest there is in what the Tigers are building. [Read more 🡒]