The Tigers’ 34-31 upset of South Florida has moved Memphis back into the Top 25. 

Memphis rallied to beat nationally-ranked USF Saturday. And suddenly, all is right with the Tiger football universe once again.

Brendon Lewis overcame an injured ankle to throw for a career-high 307 passing yards.

Memphis scores the final 17 points and wins a crucial American Conference game.

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Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis returns against USF

Box score: Memphis 34, South Florida 31

NCAA college football box score for Saturday’s game between the Memphis Tigers and South Florida Bulls played at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

Tigers quarterback Brendon Lewis missed most of the second half with an injury against UAB last week. 

Coach Ryan Silverfield’s Tigers will face their first Top 25 opponent of the season as they look to keep their American Conference title hopes alive. 

“All of our hopes, goals and dreams are still in front of us,” Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said after suffering a loss to UAB. Now, nationally ranked USF comes to town.

Two days after starter Brendon Lewis left a loss to UAB early, and with South Florida coming to town, Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield addresses quarterback options. 

When Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis was sidelined with an injury during the Tigers’ 31-24 loss at UAB, head coach Ryan Silverfield called on his four-star true freshman AJ Hill.

The Memphis Tigers entered Saturday as the No. 22 team in the country, but three costly penalties have tarnished what was an undefeated season. 

The No. 22 Memphis Tigers lost a lot after falling to the Blazers in Birmingham, starting with their perfect record.

Memphis suffers its first loss of the season as UAB quarterback Ryder Burton throws for 251 yards and three touchdowns. 

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Three penalties cost Tigers against UAB. Big-time.

Box score: UAB 31, Memphis 24

NCAA college football box score for the game between the Memphis Tigers and UAB Blazers. 

UAB backup quarterback Burton Ryder, in his first career start, is 14-of-18 for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna is averaging 296 passing yards per game, which ranks No. 8 in the country. 

The Tigers are returning from a bye week while UAB is preparing to play its first game after firing head coach Trent Dilfer.

A catalyst of the Tigers' defense this season is Everett Roussaw Jr., a junior transfer from UAB who’s racked up 27 tackles for Memphis in five games played.

Memphis’ Matt Adcock may not be the most athletically gifted Tiger, but his rural Misssissippi work ethic goes a long way.

The expanded playoff has helped Group of Six schools, including Memphis and South Florida, share a bigger part of the national spotlight during the regular season. 

ESPN College GameDay may have interest in the Memphis Tigers, but much depends on what happens in other games this weekend.

“It would be terrific,” American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti said of the possibility of College GameDay coming to Memphis. “I’m crossing every finger. I’m saying every prayer, hoping that (the Tigers and USF) continue to play well. And we’ll see where the chips fall.”

UAB fired its head coach six days before playing Memphis. What challenges does the coaching change present for the Tigers? 

The Memphis Tigers and South Florida Bulls now know when their much-hyped Oct. 25 game will begin.

The competition will get tougher, but Memphis’ defense has shown its ability to meet the challenge. The Tigers rank No. 21 in the country, averaging 16.17 points allowed per game.