Memphis, #22 and riding a 10-game win streak, traveled to Birmingham and fell 31-24 in the 2025 edition of the "Battle for the Bones". The Tigers showed resiliency late in the game but ultimately were undone by missed opportunities and a late defensive stand by UAB.
Geoff Calkins started his show discussing the Memphis Tigers as well as later in the 9 a.m. hour including them as part of the fight song "Roundup" as a theme song to blow up.
AUDIO:
The Blazers were led by quarterback Ryder Burton, who completed 20 of 27 for 251 yards and three touchdowns, and receiver Iverson Hooks, who hauled in 11 catches for 172 yards and all three of Burton’s TDs. Their ground game also showed up, as UAB ran for 219 yards, their best against an FBS foe since 2023.
For Memphis, things got dicey when quarterback Brendon Lewis exited early in the third quarter with an injury and freshman AJ Hill took over, going 13-of-25 for 175 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Tigers’ usually potent run game was held to just 119 yards.
Memphis made a push in the final minutes: after trailing 31-17 with 4:06 remaining, Hill found receiver Christian Ross on a 37-yard touchdown pass with about 2:19 left. They then drove down to the 1-yard line with under a minute left, but three penalties and a false start pushed them back, and they failed to convert on fourth-and-goal from the 11. UAB’s defense held strong to seal the upset.
The loss is a big one for Memphis: it not only snapped their undefeated season, but also took away margin for error in their push for the conference title and any potential playoff hopes. Meanwhile, UAB picked up a huge morale-boosting win under interim coach Alex Mortensen in his debut after the Blazers fired Trent Dilfer.
Memphis-South Florida Game to Air on ESPN2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. The University of Memphis football team’s game against South Florida on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will air on ESPN2, the conference announced Saturday night.
Kicking off at 11 a.m., Memphis (6-1, 2-1 American) and South Florida (6-1, 3-0 American) will face off for the 14th time in the program’s histories. Last season when the team’s met, the Tigers took a 21-3 victory over the Bulls behind 208 yards in the air and two touchdowns from Seth Henigan.