Memphis wins its first-ever Liberty Bowl, defeating Iowa State 36–26 to finish 10-3.
About half of the Memphis Tigers’ football games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium typically end with them running out of the tunnel.
But Memphis usually gives up on that location after November passes and doesn’t use it again until August or September of the next year. However, the Tigers took part in the Liberty Bowl, which is hosted at their home stadium, for the second time in the program’s history.
The Tigers achieved an unprecedented feat in front of their home crowd of approximately 50,000 people: they won a bowl game at their stadium. Memphis completed a successful 10-3 season by defeating Iowa State 36-26 in a rematch of the 2017 Liberty Bowl, winning the game from start to finish. Under head coach Ryan Silverfield, who had his first 10-win season in his four years in charge, the Tigers rejoiced with their third bowl trophy.
Memphis’ explosive offenses have helped them establish a national reputation during the last ten years. The Tigers started the game with 19 straight points in the first quarter, showcasing this year’s explosive squad. After quarterback Seth Henigan connected with DeMeer Blankumsee for a 70-yard touchdown pass less than 80 seconds into the contest, the de facto home team continued to produce big plays. With a QB keeper, Henigan extended the lead to 13-0. He then manufactured a 19-0 lead over the Cyclones by hitting Joe Scates for a 51-yard air mail play.
Iowa State pulled off a brief comeback, cutting the deficit to one point with 13 straight points in the second quarter. However, a strange play by Memphis turned the tide in the Tigers’ favor for the rest of the contest. The Tigers attempted a fake kneeldown before halftime in a play against Memphis in the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl game against WKU, and they gained 21 yards on the trick play. Memphis was able to enter Iowa State territory thanks to that play call, and kicker Tanner Gillis made a career-long 49-yard field goal to give the Tigers a multi-score lead that they maintained throughout the second half.
