Jason & John discussed the Memphis Tigers depth on Monday's Jason & John Show here:
QUICK STATS COMPARISON - Game Notes
Team Statistic Memphis Mississippi St. Points/Game 30.1 29.1 Rushing Yards/Game 136.2 63.2 Passing Yards/Game 298.8 378.3 Total Offense/Game 434.9 441.5 Penalties-Yards 58-475 98-753 Third Down Conversions 71-175 (41%) 78-171 (46%) Fourth Down Conversions 22-38 (58%) 10-16 (62%) Red Zone Scores 36-45 (80%) 48-57 (84%)
SERIES HISTORY: MISSISSIPPI STATE LEADS, 34-11 RECORD IN STARKVILLE: MISSISSIPPI STATE LEADS, 15-4 LAST MEETING: MEMPHIS WON, 31-29 (9/18/21) FIRST MEETING: MISSISSIPPI STATE WON, 27-20 (11/10/51)
SETTING THE SCENE
• The University of Memphis will open the 2022 season on the road against SEC rival Mississippi State on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
• Memphis posted a record of 6-6 last season, earning the program’s eighth-straight bowl appearance. • The Tigers were named the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl Champions after Hawai’i was unable to participate. • The eight-consecutive bowls streak is tied for the eighth-best in the nation and is the best among all non-Power 5 programs.
• Individually, true freshman quarterback Seth Henigan had a record-breaking season in 2021, earning FWAA Freshman All-America honors. The Denton, Texas native completed 235-of-393 passes for 3,322 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
• On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back Quindell Johnson returns after earning All-AAC Second-Team honors for the second-straight season.
• Johnson ranked 12th in the NCAA in solo tackles (5.5) and 27th in total tackles (8.8)
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
• In 2021, Mississippi State ended the season with an overall record of 7-6, earning a berth to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, losing to Texas Tech, 34-7.
• MSU was the only school in the country that faced six teams ranked in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 and was one of four teams with three wins against teams ranked in the final poll. • Head coach Mike Leach became the first MSU head coach, at least in the modern era, to beat three teams in one season who finished ranked in a final poll.
• In 2021, quarterback Will Rogers – at only 20 years old – became the first MSU quarterback to lead the SEC in passing yards per game (364.5).
• His 4,739 passing yards are the third most in SEC single-season history.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• The meeting between Memphis and Mississippi State on Saturday will mark the 46th game between the two programs dating back to 1951.
• The Bulldogs hold a record of 34-11 over the Tigers, including a mark of 15-4 in Starkville. • Last year, Memphis snapped MSU’s 12-game winning streak in the series with a 31-29 win at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
• The Tigers came back from a 17-7 halftime deficit to win the contest, thanks in part to wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who had nine receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
• He also returned a punt 94 yards for a score in the fourth quarter, the longest return for a Tiger since 1975.
Full coverage of the Memphis Tigers and the SEC, including Mississippi State, all this week on 92.9FM ESPN.
