MEMPHIS TIGERS NOTES:
SETTING THE SCENE
• The University of Memphis football team will face Iowa State in the 65th AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. on Friday, Dec. 29. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN. • The Tigers are one of nine teams in the FBS with nine or more consecutive bowl-game appearances along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, and Iowa. • Memphis has posted 87 victories since 2014, the 16th-most in the nation during that stretch. • The 87 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span. • The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 26-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation – dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021. • Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 24 of their last 30 games, piling up 54 takeaways over that span.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
• The Cyclones posted a record of 7-5 on the season overall and a mark of 6-3 in Big 12 play in 2023. • Among the teams’ wins in 2023 were Oklahoma State (34-27) and then-ranked No. 19 Kansas State (42-35) in the last game of the regular season. • As a team, Iowa State ranks fifth in the NCAA in passes intercepted (16), ninth in red zone offense (.935), ninth in sacks allowed (1.00), 10th in team passing efficiency defense (113.41), 11th in fumbles lost (3), 12th in turnovers lost (11), 14th in red zone defense (.757), 14th in fourth-down conversion percentage (.677), 16th in kickoff returns (24.21) and 17th in turnover margin (.670). • Quarterback Rocco Becht was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year to highlight the Big 12 Conference postseason awards for the Cyclones. • Senior cornerback T.J. Tampa and sophomore safety Jeremiah Cooper earned All-Big 12 First-Team honors, while junior wide receiver Jaylin Noel and junior tight end/fullback Stevo Klotz earned second-team accolades. Twelve other Cyclones earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 accolades.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• The game will mark the second time the two programs have met and will be a rematch of the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, when Iowa State edged the Tigers, 21-20. • Quarterback Riley Ferguson and defensive lineman Genard Avery were named Memphis’ Most Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Players, respectively. • Ferguson was 21-of-33 passing for 286 yards and two scores. Avery had five total tackles (four solo), two sacks (19 yards) and 2.5 TFL (28 yards).
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 87 victories since 2014, the 16th-most in the nation during that stretch. • The 87 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that span. • The Tigers are also 20th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 87-41 (.680) mark. • Memphis’ streak of 10-straight seasons with a record of .500 or better is tied for the third-longest streak among Group of 5 and independent schools and is the longest such streak in the AAC.
MEMPHIS LEADS NATION IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 20 OR MORE POINTS
• The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 26-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation – dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021. • Memphis scored 968 points over that stretch for an average of 37.2 points. • The next longest active streak belongs to North Texas (24), followed by Georgia (17), LSU (16) and Michigan (16). • Over the last six games, Memphis has scored 272 points – the most over a six-game stretch since the Tigers scored 330 (55 PPG) in a six-game span in 2017 (vs. Houston, Tulane, Tulsa, SMU, ECU, UCF).
FORCING TURNOVERS
• Dating back to the 2021 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 24 of the last 30 games. • Over that stretch, the Tigers have totaled 35 interceptions and 19 fumbles. • Memphis has forced multiple turnovers in 16 of those 30 contests.
BOWL STREAK
• With the team’s berth to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis has appeared in a bowl game in 10-straight seasons. • Memphis is one of nine teams in the FBS with nine or more consecutive bowl-game appearances along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, and Iowa. • In 2022, the Tigers defeated Utah State, 38-10, in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, improving the program’s record to 7-8 in bowl games. • The 2021 EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl was canceled due to COVID issues in the Hawai’i program last year and Memphis was named champions.
TIGERS’ 2023 SEASON RANKS AMONG BEST ALL-TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY
• The 2023 season has been a historic one for Memphis. • This year’s team is just the 10th in program history to win nine or more games in a season and just the fourth in school history to win five road games in a year. • With a win over Iowa State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, this season’s Tigers would be just the fifth in school history to win 10 or more games in a year (2019, 2017, 2014, 1938).
MEMPHIS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• Entering the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the Tigers rank in the top-25 nationally in 14 statistical categories. • As a team, the Tigers are ranked 12th in the NCAA in fewest penalties (53), 13th in fewest penalties per game (4.42) and 21st in winning percentage (.750). • Offensively, the team is ranked seventh in scoring offense (39.7), 13th in passing offense (301.7), 19th in total offense (452.5), 19th in completion percentage (.664), 23rd in fourth down conversion percentage (.652), 25th in red zone offense (.898) and 25th in third down conversion percentage (.449). • Defensively, Memphis is ranked fourth in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.300), 13th in defensive touchdowns (3), 17th in third down conversion percentage defense (.316) and 19th in fumbles recovered (9).
DO-IT-ALL WATSON
• Running back Blake Watson has done it all for Memphis this season, ranking 18th in the nation and third in the AAC in all-purpose yards at 125.67 per game. • The Old Dominion transfer also ranks eighth in the NCAA in total touchdowns (17), 13th in rushing touchdowns (14), 24th in scoring (8.5) and 27th in total points scored (102). • His 50 receptions are second-most in the country among running backs. • Watson ranks third on the team in receptions (50) and receiving yards (463).
MARTIN MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
• Chandler Martin has made an immediate impact after transferring from East Tennessee State. • Martin leads Memphis with 87 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
NCAA STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Defensive back Simeon Blair ranks 17th in the NCAA and fourth in the AAC in fumbles recovered (2). • Running back Sutton Smith ranks 18th in the FBS and second in the conference in kickoff returns (24.7). • Wide receiver Roc Taylor ranks 25th in the nation in receiving yards per game (81.8) and 26th in receiving yards (981).
IOWA STATE CYCLONES NOTES:
THE LEAD
Iowa State heads to the 65th AutoZone Liberty Bowl to face Memphis in a rematch of the 2017 game that saw the Cyclones earn a 21-20 win. The game will be ISU’s 18th bowl appearance and sixth in the last seven seasons.
KEY STORYLINES
• Iowa State is making its sixth bowl game appearance in eight seasons under Matt Campbell … prior to Campbell leading the program, ISU had made 12 bowl games in 124 seasons. • Iowa State has 16 interceptions as a team and three fumble recoveries … the Cyclones are tied for 18th nationally with a +8 turnover margin. • The 16 interceptions played a role in postseason recognition for a number of Cyclone defensive backs … senior cornerback T.J. Tampa (2 int.) earned AP All-America third-team honors and was a first-team All-Big 12 pick alongside safety Jeremiah Cooper (5 int.) … Beau Freyler was a second-team All-Big 12 selection from the AP. • QB Rocco Becht, the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, has tossed a touchdown in 11 of his 12 career starts … he now owns ISU freshman records for touchdown passes (20) and passing yards (2,674) that were previously held by Brock Purdy … he also owns the ISU freshman record for completions (209) and is just the 10th freshman in Big 12 history to reach 200 completions. • WR Jaylin Noel has become a triple threat for the Cyclones, excelling as a receiver, punt returner and kick returner … he is the first FBS player since 2014 (J.J. Nelson, UAB) to have at least four receptions of 50 yards, two kick returns of 50 yards and two punt returns of 30 yards in a single season … Noel earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. • In Iowa State’s last game, the Cyclones started just four seniors (two offense, two defense) … the Cyclones started six freshmen in the game, a 42-35 win at No. 19 K-State. • True freshman RB Abu Sama III rushed for 276 yards and three TDs (71, 77, 60) against the Wildcats in his first career start in the backfield.
IOWA STATE BOWL NOTES
• Iowa State earned its 18th bowl bid in school history and its sixth in the last seven years. BIG 12 BOWL APPEARANCES SINCE 2017 1. 7 – Oklahoma 7 – Oklahoma State 3. 6 – Iowa State 6 – Texas 5. 5 – Kansas State 5 – West Virginia 7. 4 – Baylor 4 – TCU 4 – Texas Tech 10. 2 – Kansas 11. 1 – UCF J This will be Iowa State’s fourth time playing in the Liberty Bowl: 1972 (Lost to Georgia Tech, 31-30); 2012 (Lost to Tulsa, 31-17), 2017 (Def. Memphis, 21-20). J The Big 12 is 6-9 all-time in the Liberty Bowl. J Gerry Vaughn has been a member of five bowl teams, though he didn’t play in the 2018 Alamo Bowl … Darien Porter will be playing in his fourth game and Jarrod Hufford is expected to play in his third bowl game. J Iowa State is 5-12 all-time in bowl games, winning the 2000 Insight.com Bowl (37-29 vs. Pittsburgh), the 2004 Independence Bowl (17-13 vs. Miami of Ohio), the 2009 Insight Bowl (14-13 vs. Minnesota), the 2017 Liberty Bowl (21-20 vs. Memphis) and the 2021 Fiesta Bowl (34-17 vs. Oregon). J This marks the first time under Matt Campbell that ISU has played a bowl opponent that wasn’t ranked at kickoff … the last five opponents in bowl games were ranked (#19 Memphis, #12 Washington State, #14 Notre Dame, #25 Oregon, #19, Clemson). J In ISU’s last bowl game, Beau Freyler tallied 15 tackles vs. Clemson, the thirdmost by a Cyclone in a bowl game … Jaylin Noel led the Cyclone receiving corps with four receptions for 54 yards. J Iowa State started three true freshmen in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl (Freyler, Jaylin Noel, Myles Purchase) … it matched the most true freshman to start a bowl game in school history … the Cyclones started five true freshmen in their last game and could surpass the previous bowl mark. J Campbell could become the first Cyclone head coach to win three bowl games: BOWL WINS BY COACH 1. 2 – Matt Campbell 2 – Dan McCarney 3. 1 – Paul Rhoads J Campbell is 4-4 as a head coach in bowl games … he did not coach Toledo in the 2015 Boca Raton Bowl after accepting the Iowa State job. J This will be the 13th bowl game of Campbell’s coaching career. J Iowa State will be playing its third bowl game at its opponents home stadium (2 at Memphis, 1 at Boise State), tied for the second-most in college football:
BOWL GAMES AT OPP. HOME STADIUM
1. 5 – Nebraska 2 3 – Iowa State 3 – Bowling Green 3 – Wisconsin • Rocco Becht will be the 13th different Cyclone to start at QB in a bowl game.
NOTABLE LIBERTY BOWL GAME RECORDS
• Allen Lazard had 10 receptions in the 2017 Liberty Bowl against Memphis, which still stands along with two others as the record for the game. • The Cyclone defensive unit had an ISU bowl record six sacks against Memphis in the 2017 game: J.D. Waggoner (2), JaQuan Bailey (2), Joel Lanning (1), Marcel Spears (1). • In the 2012 Liberty Bowl against Tulsa, 10-year NFL linebacker A.J. Klein concluded his Cyclone career with a 19-tackle performance. • Ernst Brun’s 69-yard reception against Tulsa in the 2012 game was the longest catch by a Cyclone in a bowl game.
IOWA STATE AND THE AAC
• Iowa State is 7-2 all-time against AAC teams: 1-0 vs. Memphis; 3-1 vs. Tulane; 3-1 vs. Tulsa.
IOWA STATE IN TENNESSEE
• Iowa State is 1-5 all-time in games played in Tennessee: 1-3 at Memphis, Tenn.; lost to Vanderbilt at Nashville, Tenn. in 1983; lost to Tennesee at Knoxville, Tenn. in 1982.
QUICK HITS
• ISU closed the season with four-straight conference road wins, the first time in school history it won four in a row away from home in a single season. • ISU averaged 29.4 ppg in Big 12 play this season … last season it averaged just 16.3 vs. league foes … the +13.1 improvement is the best among Big 12 teams and fourth-best among Power 5 teams this season. • ISU has scored 30 or more points in four of its last six games and was 6-0 on the year when doing so. • In Big 12 action, ISU was second in the league in rushing defense (138.8) … the Cyclones have allowed just one of their last 26 opponents to rush for 200 yards. • ISU’s defense has five multi-interception games this season. • ISU is second in the Big 12 in 4th-down conversion percentage (10-for-15) and first in red zone offense (29-for-31) … the Cyclones have converted their last 25 trips to the red zone to points (16 TDs-9 FGs). J In the last four games, Rocco Becht has completed 72 percent of his passes with seven touchdown passes and just two interceptions. • Abu Sama averaged 13.8 yards per carry against BYU, the highest average by a Cyclone with 100 yards since Duran Hollis rushed four times for 101 yards (25.3) against Texas Tech in 2011 … he then followed with an even better performance, averaging 17.2 ypc against Kansas State. • PK Chase Contreraz’s 12 consecutive field goals made was the third-longest streak in school history. • DT J.R. Singleton entered the season with no sacks but has 3.5 this season, all in league play. • DE Joey Petersen has 2.5 sacks over the last three games. • Beau Freyler needs four tackles to become the first Cyclone since 2017 (Joel Lanning, Marcel Spears) to record 100 stops in a single season … he’s got 205 career tackles. • WR Jayden Higgins is averaging 17.5 yards per reception, the most by a Cyclone (min. 15 receptions) since Tarique Milton (20.9) in 2019 … his 75- yard reception at Cincinnati was the program’s longest non-scoring TD dating back to the 1971 season.
TURNED IT AROUND
• Iowa State has surpassed both its overall and conference win totals from a season ago … this marks the third six-win conference season in program history, all under Campbell. • Iowa State went 4-8 overall and 1-8 in Big 12 Conference action in 2022 … the Cyclones lost three players to the NFL Draft and saw four 2022 starters and a key reserve ruled ineligible before the season. • The Cyclones were picked to finish 10th in the Big 12 preseason poll by the league’s media. • The Cyclones started the season 1-1 but then fell on the road at Ohio with multiple players battling a stomach illness. • After a win at home against Oklahoma State, ISU was beaten 50-20 at Oklahoma and went into the month of October with a 2-3 record. • With their backs against the wall, Iowa State went 5-2 in October and November to finish 7-5 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 action, tying for fourth in the league standings. • Iowa State has produced the only two teams in Big 12 history to go from zero or one win to five the next season … this year’s team and the 2000 Cyclones (finished 5-3) both accomplished the impressive turnaround.
