2021 American Athletic Conference football standings

	Conf.							Overall
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 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.

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]

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021.^[2] 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)
1	Cincinnati	262 (22)
2	UCF	241 (2)
3	SMU	188
4	Houston	181
5	Memphis	168
6	Tulsa	153
7	Tulane	132
т-8	East Carolina	85
т-8	Navy	85
10	Temple	46
11	South Florida	43

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	6:00 p.m.	No. 22 (FCS) Nicholls*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	W 42–17	30,263
September 11	6:00 p.m.	at Arkansas State*	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR (Paint Bucket Bowl)	ESPN+	W 55–50	19,501
September 18	3:00 p.m.	Mississippi State*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN2	W 31–29	43,461
September 25	2:30 p.m.	UTSA*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPNU	L 28–31	29,264
October 2	11:00 a.m.	at Temple	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPNU	L 31–34	28,573
October 9	8:00 p.m.	at Tulsa	H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK	ESPN2	L 29–35	17,593
October 14	6:30 p.m.	Navy	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN	W 35–17	30,042
October 22	6:00 p.m.	at UCF	Bounce House Orlando, FL	ESPN2	L 7–24	39,328
November 6	11:00 a.m.	SMU	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPNU	W 28–25	30,191
November 13	11:00 a.m.	East Carolina	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN+	L 29–30 OT	28,431
November 19	8:00 p.m.	at No. 24 Houston	TDECU Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN2	L 13–31	28,712
November 27	6:30 p.m.	Tulane	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPNU	W 33–28	27,416
December 24	8:00 p.m.	at Hawaii*	Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex Honolulu, HI (Hawaii Bowl)	ESPN	Canceled A	_
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) - Released prior to game All times are in Central time

• ^ Hawaii was forced to withdraw due to COVID-19 and other related issues within the team. The game was canceled shortly after.^[3]

^[4]

Nicholls at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total No. 22 (FCS) Colonels 7 0 7 3 17 • Tigers 10 19 6 7 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)

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM –22.5	68

Statistics	Nicholls	Memphis
First downs	17	32
Total yards	299	587
Rushing yards	100	322
Passing yards	199	265
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	28:45	31:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nicholls	Passing	Lindsey Scott Jr.	17/30, 194 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Julien Gums	13 carries, 48 yards
	Receiving	Dai'Jean Dixon	7 receptions, 107 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	19/32, 265 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	16 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Javon Ivory	5 receptions, 106 yards

Memphis at Arkansas State

1 2 3 4 Total • Tigers 20 14 7 14 55 Red Wolves 10 13 7 20 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)

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM –5.5	65

Statistics	Memphis	Arkansas State
First downs	24	35
Total yards	680	680
Rushing yards	263	98
Passing yards	417	582
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	24:04	35:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs
Arkansas State	Passing	James Blackman	19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs
	Rushing	Lincoln Pare	6 carries, 36 yards
	Receiving	Jeff Foreman	8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD

Mississippi State at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 3 14 0 12 29 • Tigers 7 0 7 17 31 Date: September 18, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 1:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes Game attendance: 43,461 Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: NE 7 MPH Referee: Marc Curles TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play–by–play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)

Pregame line	Over/under
MSST –3.0	64

Statistics	Mississippi State	Memphis
First downs	26	12
Total yards	468	246
Rushing yards	49	87
Passing yards	419	159
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	37:30	32:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi State	Passing	Will Rogers	50/67, 419 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Dillon Johnson	7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Makai Polk	11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	16/28, 159 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	16 carries, 83 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs

UTSA at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total • Roadrunners 0 7 7 17 31 RV Tigers 21 0 7 0 28 Date: September 25, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 2:35 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes Game attendance: 29,264 Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: W 6 MPH Referee: Joe Lehring TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen (play–by–play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
MEM –3.0	67

Statistics	UTSA	Memphis
First downs	25	16
Total yards	399	407
Rushing yards	205	78
Passing yards	194	329
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	35:42

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTSA	Passing	Frank Harris	18/28, 186 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Sincere McCormick	42 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Joshua Cephus	6 receptions, 82 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	15/25, 329 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Brandon Thomas	20 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Sean Dykes	6 receptions, 167 yards

Memphis at Temple

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 3 14 6 8 31 • Owls 0 17 7 10 34 Date: October 2, 2021 Location: Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA Game start: 11:00 a.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes Game attendance: 28,573 Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 12 MPH Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (ESPNU):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	Temple
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Temple	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Memphis at Tulsa

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 0 13 0 16 29 • Golden Hurricane 7 7 7 14 35 Date: October 9, 2021 Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK Game start: 8:06 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 33 minutes Game attendance: 17,593 Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: S 11 MPH Referee: Charl Lamertina TV announcers (ESPN2):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	Tulsa
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tulsa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Navy at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Midshipmen 7 3 7 0 17 • Tigers 14 14 7 0 35 Date: October 14, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3 hours Game attendance: 30,042 Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: S 8 MPH Referee: Edwin Lee TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) & Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)

Pregame line	Over/Under
MEMPHIS –11.0	56

Statistics	Navy	Memphis
First downs	17	15
Total yards	241	415
Rushing yards	198	200
Passing yards	43	215
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	39:19	20:41

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Navy	Passing	Tai Lavatai	3/4, 27 yards, TD
	Rushing	Isaac Ruoss	18 carries, 75 yards
	Receiving	Mychal Copper	1 reception, 21 yards, TD
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	8/12, 215 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Calvin Austin III	1 carry, 69 yards, TD
	Receiving	Eddie Lewis	3 receptions, 92 yards, TD

Memphis at Central Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 0 7 0 0 7 • Knights 14 0 7 3 24 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):

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	UCF
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UCF	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Southern Methodist at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total Mustangs 0 10 0 15 25 • Tigers 0 7 14 7 28 Date: November 6, 2021 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Game start: 11:00 a.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:14 Game attendance: 30,191 Game weather: Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 0 MPH Referee: Luke Richmond TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
SMU –3.5	72

Statistics	SMU	Memphis
First downs	16	25
Total yards	323	468
Rushing yards	61	36
Passing yards	262	432
Turnovers	3	1
Time of possession	23:05	36:55

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
SMU	Passing	Tanner Mordecai	19/28, 262 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Tre Siggers	12 rushes, 53 yards
	Receiving	Danny Gray	4 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	34/53, 392 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Marquavius Weaver	10 rushes, 17 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	8 receptions, 88 yards

East Carolina at Memphis

1 2 Total 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

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	East Carolina	Memphis
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
East Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Memphis at Houston

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 0 3 7 3 13 • No. 24 Cougars 0 21 0 10 31 Date: November 19, 2021 Location: TDECU Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 8:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3 hours and 40 minutes Game attendance: 28,712 Game weather: • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SE 4 MPH Referee: Hank Johns TV announcers (ESPN2): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)

Pregame line	Over/under
HOU –9.5	59

Statistics	Memphis	Houston
First downs	24	25
Total yards	322	461
Rushing yards	106	197
Passing yards	216	264
Turnovers	2	2
Time of possession	25:34	34:26

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	21/45, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Rodrigues Clark	12 rushes, 32 yards
	Receiving	Calvin Austin	5 receptions, 103 yards
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	20/34, 264 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Ta'Zhawn Henry	13 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Tank Dell	7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

Tulane at Memphis

1 2 Total 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

Pregame line	Over/under

Statistics	Tulane	Memphis
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tulane	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

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	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—	RV	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
CFP	Not released									—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released