Overview
- Memphis, which won on Aug. 29, rallied from a third-quarter deficit to beat UNLV 27-21 in a nationally televised Week 0 game in Las Vegas.
- The Tigers’ defensive front dominated the second half, finishing with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss and delivering four sacks in the final seven minutes.
- Elijah Kinsler led the pass rush with eight tackles and 2.5 sacks while Jaylin Carter rushed for 97 yards to help erase UNLV’s early lead.
- Quarterback Marcus Stokes completed his Memphis debut with 223 passing yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers, highlighted by a 48-yard scoring pass that shifted momentum.
- Coach Charles Huff called the result a “national statement,” pushed to sell out the renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Sept. 5, and faces a key résumé test at Boise State on Sept. 12 that analysts say will better define Memphis’ CFP chances and Huff’s marketability.