TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield summed up it perfectly: “The defense played lights out. What a tremendous job.”

The Memphis Tigers just beat Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium, and they didn’t need a 40-point game to do it. Memphis won 20-12 while earning three takeaways in the first half.

The 39.4 scoring average by Memphis last year ranked No. 6 in the country. Memphis scored at least 35 points while also winning by single digits in four games last season. The Tigers reached at least 44 points in three of those games.

Memphis had to score a lot to win games.

Linebacker Chandler Martin told quarterback Seth Henigan he wouldn’t need to score as many points to secure wins this year. Martin made good on his promise against the most recognizable football brand on the Memphis schedule this season.

It started with Martin recovering a fumble forced by defensive back An’Darius Coffey on the second play of the game, and it ended with the defense standing firm on the final two FSU drives.

“After that, I knew we were going to play hard on defense,” Martin said of the first takeaway. “At the end of the day, it’s the first drive. It doesn’t really tell you much. So we still had to keep playing and play a complete game.”

The defense never let up.

Martin, who led the Tigers with eight tackles, 2½ tackles for loss and a sack, continued leading the way without fellow linebacker Elijah Herring on the field. Herring was out with an injury. 

It wasn’t just the fumble recovery or the interception by defensive back Tahj Ra-El that made the difference. It was Florida State only converting two of its 12 third downs. It was the 37 rushing yards allowed and the four sacks for -33 yards.

Most importantly, it was the defensive pressure on the final two FSU drives that secured the first road win against a Power Five school since 2015.

The Seminoles had the ball with 2:46 remaining while looking at an eight-point deficit. Martin sacked FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei for a 9-yard loss on first down. Defensive back Kobee Minor broke up a pass on second down. Defensive lineman William Whitlow Jr. and linebacker Matt Hudson sacked Uiagalelei again on third down to end FSU’s best chance of putting together a game-tying drive.

FSU started its final drive with 46 seconds left and ended the game 39 yards shy of the end zone. Martin has been telling anyone who would listen that Memphis is going to be good on defense this year. After what transpired on Saturday, it’s hard to disagree with him.

Defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins was asked earlier this week about Martin’s aspiration for the Tigers to be known for their defense this year. Hankins said he doesn’t care what the team is known for as long as it wins.

“I don’t care who gets the shining light,” Hankins said Wednesday. “It makes no difference to me whatsoever. Absolutely, I want to play great defense (and) all that stuff, but this game is about winning football games no matter how we have to do it.”

Hankins may not care which unit gets the spotlight, but his defense took center stage when the Tigers needed it the most. Silverfield appreciated the performance. 

“I want to be a complete football team,” Silverfield said. “Offense, defense and special teams, they’ve all got to be on point. …I love playing great defense. I’m not quote, the offensive guy, I’m a Memphis Tigers guy. I’m a football guy. And to see us go out there and play clean defense and do things at a high level is huge.”