2020 American Athletic Conference football standings

	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 8 Cincinnati y$		6	–	0					9	–	1
Tulsa y		6	–	0					6	–	3
Memphis		5	–	3					8	–	3
UCF		5	–	3					6	–	4
SMU		4	–	3					7	–	3
Houston		3	–	3					3	–	5
Navy		3	–	4					3	–	7
Tulane		3	–	5					6	–	6
East Carolina		3	–	5					3	–	6
Temple		1	–	6					1	–	6
South Florida		0	–	7					1	–	8
Championship: Cincinnati 27, Tulsa 24
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll.

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.

Memphis had game scheduled against Purdue and UT Martin, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] On September 12 the American announced that the Houston game scheduled for September 18 was postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases at Memphis.^[2] 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 Stadium Memphis, TN (Paint Bucket Bowl)	ESPN	W 37–24	4,537
October 3	2:30 p.m.	at SMU	No. 25	Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, TX	ESPN2	L 27–30	7,898
October 17	2:30 p.m.	UCF		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ABC	W 50–49	10,554
October 24	11:00 a.m.	Temple		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	W 41–29	10,321
October 31	11:00 a.m.	at No. 7 Cincinnati		Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH (rivalry)	ESPN	L 10–49	0
November 7	11:00 a.m.	South Florida		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	W 34–33	10,300
November 21	11:00 a.m.	Stephen F. Austin*		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	W 56–14	9,684
November 28	6:00 p.m.	at Navy		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CBSSN	W 10–7	0
December 5	11:00 a.m.	at Tulane		Yulman Stadium New Orleans, LA	ESPN+	L 21–35	2,400
December 12	11:00 a.m.	Houston		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	W 30–27	9,475
December 23	6:00 p.m.	vs. Florida Atlantic*		Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL (Montgomery Bowl)	ESPN	W 25–10	2,979
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to game All times are in Central time

Schedule Source:^[3][4]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	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

Arkansas State at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Red Wolves 14 0 3 7 24 • RV Tigers 7 14 13 3 37 Date: September 5, 2020 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 7:10 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 44 minutes Game attendance: 4,537 Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: NE 4 MPH Referee: Kyle Olson TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play–by–play), Dan Orlovsky (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)

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
	Rushing	Jamal Jones	15 carries, 64 yards
	Receiving	Dahu Green	5 receptions, 99 yards
Memphis	Passing	Brady White	27/37, 280 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Rodrigues Clark	20 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Sean Dykes	10 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDs

Memphis at Southern Methodist

1 2 3 4 Total No. 25 Tigers 3 17 7 0 27 • Mustangs 17 7 3 3 30 Date: October 3, 2020 Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, TX Game start: 2:35 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 31 minutes Game attendance: 7,989 Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 11 S MPH Referee: C. Lamertina TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff (play–by–play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), and Kris Budden (sideline reporter)

Pregame line	Over/under
SMU −1.5	75[5]

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
	Rushing	Rodriguez Clark	16 carries, 98 yards
	Receiving	Sean Dykes	6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
SMU	Passing	Shane Buechele	32/45, 474 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Ulysses Bentley IV	13 carries, 32 yards
	Receiving	Reggie Roberson Jr.	5 receptions, 243 yards, 2 TDs

UCF at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total RV Knights 7 20 8 14 49 • RV Tigers 7 7 15 21 50 Date: October 17, 2020 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 2:42 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 4 hours and 8 minutes Game attendance: 10,554 Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 9 MPH Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (ABC): Mark Jones (play–by–play), Roddy Jones (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline reporter)

Pregame line	Over/under
UCF −3	77[6]

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
	Rushing	Greg McCrae	17 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Marlon Williams	13 receptions, 191 yards, 1 TD
Memphis	Passing	Brady White	34/50, 486 yards, 6 TDs
	Rushing	Rodrigues Clark	21 carries, 112 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	9 receptions, 151 yards, 2 TDs

Temple at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Owls 3 12 7 7 29 • Tigers 7 3 17 14 41 Date: October 24, 2020 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 11:05 a.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes Game attendance: 10,321 Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C) • Weather: Overcast • Wind: NNE 12 MPH Referee: A Calabrase TV announcers (ESPN+): Lincoln Rose (play–by–play) and Keith Moreland (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM −14	70[7]

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
	Rushing	Re'Mahn Davis	20 carries, 113 yards
	Receiving	Randle Jones	12 receptions, 118 yards
Memphis	Passing	Brady White	17/36, 313 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Rodrigues Clark	22 carries, 106 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	6 receptions, 184 yards, 1 TD

Memphis at Cincinnati

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 7 3 0 0 10 • No. 7 Bearcats 7 14 14 14 49 Date: October 31, 2020 Location: Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH Game start: 11:02 a.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 16 minutes Game attendance: 0 Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: SE 6 MPH Referee: C Lamertina TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones (play–by–play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline reporter)

Pregame line	Over/under
CIN −6.5	57.5[8]

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
	Rushing	Rodrigues Clark	12 carries, 16 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	7 receptions, 121 yards
Cincinnati	Passing	Desmond Ridder	21/26, 271 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jerome Ford	9 carries, 116 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Alec Pierce	3 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD

South Florida at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Bulls 3 24 3 3 33 • Tigers 6 7 7 14 34 Date: November 7, 2020 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 11:05 a.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 14 minutes Game attendance: 10,300 Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: SE 7 MPH Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (ESPN+): Lincoln Rose (play–by–play) and LaDarrin McLane (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM −17.5	67.5[9]

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
	Rushing	Brian Battie	10 carries, 76 yards
	Receiving	Kelley Joiner Jr.	3 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
Memphis	Passing	Brady White	30/50, 437 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Kylan Watkins	10 carries, 44 yards
	Receiving	Sean Dykes	7 receptions, 147 yards, 2 TDs

Stephen F. Austin at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Lumberjacks 0 14 0 0 14 • Tigers 14 6 15 21 56 Date: November 21, 2020 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 11:05 a.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes Game attendance: 9,684 Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: S 6 MPH Referee: Nate Black TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play–by–play) and Keith Moreland (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM −31	61.5[10]

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
	Rushing	Jaquarion Turner	14 carries, 22 yards
	Receiving	Xavier Gipson	6 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
Memphis	Passing	Brady White	18/31, 269 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Kylan Watkins	11 carries, 100 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	10 receptions, 173 yards

Memphis at Navy

1 2 3 4 Total • Tigers 7 0 0 3 10 Midshipmen 7 0 0 0 7 Date: November 28, 2020 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD Game start: 6:02 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 2 minutes Game attendance: 0 Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C) • Weather: Clear Referee: Luke Richmond TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): John Sadak (play–by–play), Randy Cross (analyst), and Sheehan Stanwick-Burch (sideline reporter)

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
	Rushing	Marquavius Weaver	15 carries, 49 yards
	Receiving	Tahj Washington	4 receptions, 68 yards
Navy	Passing	Tyger Goslin	3/9, 73 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Nelson Smith	29 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Chance Warren	1 reception, 41 yards

Memphis at Tulane

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 7 7 7 0 21 • Green Wave 14 7 7 7 35 Date: December 5, 2020 Location: Yulman Stadium New Orleans, LA Game start: 11:05 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 24 minutes Game attendance: 2,400 Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: NE 10 MPH Referee: Charles Lamerti TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play–by–play) and Keith Moreland (analyst)

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
	Rushing	Asa Martin	13 carries, 39 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	5 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD
Tulane	Passing	Michael Pratt	21/33, 254 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Stephon Huderson	10 carries, 67 yards
	Receiving	Jha'Quan Jackson	3 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD

Houston at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Cougars 3 3 0 21 27 • Tigers 3 14 10 3 30 Date: December 12, 2020 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 2:45 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 25 minutes Game attendance: 9,475 Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: W 11 MPH Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (ESPN2/ESPN+): David Saltzman (play–by–play) and Keith Moreland (analyst)

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
	Rushing	Kyle Porter	15 carries, 70 yards
	Receiving	Christian Trahan	5 receptions, 84 yards
Memphis	Passing	Brady White	22/35, 246 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Asa Martin	11 carries, 27 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD

2020 Montgomery Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total • Tigers 10 8 7 0 25 Owls 0 0 10 0 10 Date: December 23, 2020 Location: Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL Game start: 6:01 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes Game attendance: 2,979 Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • Weather: Cloudy, Some Rain • Wind: NNW 7 MPH Referee: Marshall Lewis TV announcers (ESPN): Clay Matvick (play–by–play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), and Lauren Sisler (sideline reporter)

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
	Rushing	Asa Martin	15 carries, 96 yards
	Receiving	Javon Ivory	7 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD
Florida Atlantic	Passing	Nick Tronti	16/32, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	James Charles	16 carries, 82 yards
	Receiving	Brandon Robinson	4 receptions, 39 yards

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