The Tigers’ defense, hindered by unfamiliar assignments and a pandemic last season, have been able to play faster.

I wrote a column last week pondering whether race was a factor in Memphis being perpetually overlooked in realignment. As you can imagine, this went over well. 

The 18-year-old passed the initial eye test, but tougher opponents loom.

Brandon Thomas nearly blew off his hand in a fireworks accident in high school. Now he may be the star running back that the Memphis Tigers need.

More on punter Joe Doyle’s non-punting day, and Danton Barto to be honored Sept. 18.

Seth Henigan on Saturday became the first true freshman quarterback to start an opener for the Memphis Tigers. And the best part? He didn’t look anything like a true freshman. 

The University of Memphis had 322 rushing yards against Nicholls State, the most since Nov. 23, 2019.

Sept. 4, 2021: University of Memphis (1-0) defeats Nicholls State (0-1) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Seth Henigan became the Tigers’ first freshman starting quarterback to open a season, and running back Brandon Thomas had 16 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown. 

Related story:

Box score: Memphis, 42; Nicholls State, 17

Tigers had a strong run game in the opener; Can they keep it up?

All signs point to Henigan to get the first official start to lead the Tigers into the 2021 season.

Here is a look at some of the key stats and numbers to pay attention to heading into the game against Nicholls State. 

The pandemic continues and conference realignment does not appear to be going well for the Memphis Tigers. But amid the gloom, there is reason to celebrate. Tiger tailgating is back!

BYU, Cincinnati, UCF and Houston are expected to be officially invited in by Friday.

The Tigers are entering the 2021 season with a veteran presence in the locker room that is unprecedented.

At a time when diversity is supposedly valued in education, you’d think Memphis would be an important addition to the Big 12. Instead, the conference is preparing to add BYU, where just 1% of the student body is Black.

Nicholls State has one Memphis native on its roster and two former Tigers, among other connections between the schools.

Fans can expect to see a better, quicker version of Tate than they saw two years ago, when he suffered an Achilles injury.

The answers might surprise you.

City overturned its original decision because of “overwhelming demand.”

Beat writers Steven Johnson and Frank Bonner II talk with columnist Geoff Calkins about the notable observations from the football depth chart and Rasheed Wallace joining the men’s basketball coaching staff. 

Tailgating and socializing among Tigers fans like Shawn Massey can feel just as important as the game itself.

The running back appears to be set, but a number of spots on defense remain undecided.

Ryan Silverfield declined to name a starting QB heading into Saturday’s opener against Nicholls State. It’s not the first time that has happened at Memphis — but it’s not great.