University of Houston
Memphis
Game Primer: Houston at Memphis
12/11/2020 10:04:00 AM | Football
Game will air on ESPN2 (TV) and KPRC 950-AM (radio)
GAME 7
Houston (3-3, 3-2 American) at Memphis (6-3, 4-3 American)
Dec. 12, 2020 | 2:45Â p.m. CT | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Memphis, Tenn.
TV: ESPN2/ESPN+
Radio: KPRC 950-AM | TuneIn
Game Notes
THE RUNDOWN
« Houston returns to the field for the first time in 28 days as the Cougars face Memphis inside Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:45 p.m. CT and the game will air on ESPN2 with David Saltzman (pxp) and Keith Moreland (analyst) on the call.
« Saturday's game marks the 29th all-time meeting between Houston and Memphis, with the Cougars leading the series, 15-13. Memphis defeated Houston, 45-27, in last year's matchup in Houston.
« Houston is 24-18-1 all-time in games played in the month of December. This marks the Cougars first regular season conference game played in December since 2014 (at Cincinnati).
« The Cougars' schedule has seen its fair share of changes during the 2020 season. Houston has had eight games postponed, canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19 issues.
« Junior quarterback Clayton Tune ranks 22nd in the FBS in total offense, averaging 302.0 yards per game. The junior also ranks fourth in the league and 27th in the FBS in passing yards per game (279.4).
« Tune totaled five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) and combined for 285 yards of total offense against USF on Nov. 14. The junior was the first UH quarterback since 2018 to account for five touchdowns in a game. He also set a career-high with 120 rushing yards, while adding three touchdown passes.
« Senior linebacker Grant Stuard continues to lead Houston's defense with 50 tackles this season. He ranks third in the American with 8.3 tackles per game. Stuard logged nine tackles in the victory over USF.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« A win would mark Houston's first regular season victory in the month of December since defeating Rice, 18-17 in the final game played in the Southwest Conference on Dec. 2, 1995.
« The Cougars' pass rush has increased their production this season. Houston's 20 sacks are a major improvement over last year's total of 22 sacks in 12 games. The Cougars rank first in the American and are 13th nationally with 3.33 sacks per game.
« Junior Marcus Jones has made an impact in the punt return game, leading the conference and the FBS in punt return average (21.6). That average would rank as the second-best mark in UH single-season history if the season ended today. Jones picked up his first career punt return touchdown versus USF (72 yards).
« In the win over USF, Houston recorded a season-high 13 explosive plays (20 yards or more). UH logged a season-high seven rushes of 20 yards or more. The Cougars entered the game with just one rushing attempt over 20 yards prior to last time out against the Bulls.
« The Cougars have not seen a dip in production at punter as 26-year-old freshman Laine Wilkins has stepped into the role this season. Opponents have not returned a punt by Wilkins this season for positive yards. As a team, Houston leads the American and ranks second nationally in punt return defense (-2.00).
GAME 6 RECAP: USF
« Houston scored in all three phases of the game in a 56-21 win over USF during the Cougars' Homecoming game inside TDECU Stadium.
« The Cougars combined for 505 total yards of offense, scoring the most points in a single game since Oct. 27, 2018 against USF when Houston won 57-36.
« Junior quarterback Clayton Tune completed 14-of-25 passes for 165 yards, while throwing for a season-high three touchdowns. On the ground, Tune led UH with 120 yards and scored twice, marking the first time in his career he rushed for multiple touchdowns in a single game.
« The UH defense combined for four sacks, seven tackles for loss and two fumbles, which was highlighted by an 85-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by junior defensive end Derek Parish.
« Houston's special teams unit made plays when it counted as junior Marcus Jones recorded the first true punt return touchdown in TDECU Stadium history on a 72-yard return for a score in the third quarter.
« Houston senior Keith Corbin led the Cougars with four catches for 67 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Junior Bryson Smith caught his first touchdown of the season on Houston's opening drive and finished with three catches for 45 yards.
NOTABLES // MEMPHIS
« Saturday marks the seventh all-time meeting between Houston and USF. The Cougars lead the all-time series, 4-2 and « Houston leads the all-time series with Memphis, 15-13. The Tigers have won four straight meetings, their longest winning streak against Houston in series history.
« From 2006-14, the Cougars won six straight matchups between the two teams. That run is the longest winning streak among the two teams in series history.
« Saturday marks the third matchup against Memphis for Houston quarterback Clayton Tune. Making his first career start, Tune threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers in 2018. A season ago, he added 157 yards and a touchdown alongside a 68-yard touchdown rush.
« The Cougars are looking to snap a two-game losing streak in Memphis. Houston had run off three consecutive road victories in the series (2006-14). In its last win at Memphis (Oct. 11, 2014), Houston forced five turnovers and notched its 400th victory in program history with a 28-24 decision.
« Houston and Memphis previously competed against one another as members of Conference USA (1996-2012). Among notable matchups, the Cougars outlasted the Tigers, 23-20 in overtime during the 2006 regular season finale thanks to a 17-yard winner from kicker Ben Bell. Next time out, Houston captured its first conference title in a decade.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
« Memphis finished 2019 with a 12-2 overall record, won the American Athletic Conference Championship outright for the first time and earned a berth in the 84th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic -- its first New Year's Six Bowl.
« With its 10-7 win at Navy, Memphis completed the month of November 3-0. The Tigers have now won their last 16 games played in the month of November, dating back to the 2016 season.
« Ryan Silverfield became the 25th head coach in Memphis football history in December 2019. Silverfield served as deputy head coach and offensive line coach during the 2019 season as the Tigers won their first outright conference title in 50 years. He also was part of Memphis staffs to four-straight bowl appearances (2016-19).
« Since joining The American in 2013, Memphis has posted a 66-35 overall record and a 41-22 record in league play.
« Back for year number three donning the Blue and Gray, senior quarterback Brady White returns as the FBS's only 4,000-yard passer from a year ago. He finished with 33 touchdowns last season, making him just the second Memphis quarterback all-time to record 30 TDs in a single season.
LAST TIME AGAINST MEMPHIS
« Quarterback Brady White threw for 341 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another score and No. 18 Memphis overcame a 10-point first-quarter deficit to beat Houston 45-27 on Nov. 16, 2019.
« Houston signal caller Clayton Tune was 14 of 22 for 157 yards and a touchdown. Tune also had a 68-yard touchdown run and wide receiver Marquez Stevenson caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
« Trailing 17-7 to begin the second quarter, Memphis outscored Houston 35-3 over the next two quarters.
« The Cougars recorded their fourth blocked punt of the season, blocking a fourth quarter punt against Memphis for a touchdown. It was the first blocked punt return for a touchdown since Zach Chatman on Oct. 12, 1991 against Arkansas.
AMONG THE BEST
« Houston ranks third among FBS programs in Texas with 44 victories since 2015. After three consecutive weeks off, the Cougars trail Texas A&M (46) and TCU (45). Houston owns three more wins than Texas and are six ahead of Baylor and boast nine victories more than fellow conference foe, SMU.
« Since 2013, Houston is tied with Baylor for most victories among FBS programs in Texas (60). The Cougars are four wins ahead of Texas in that span. Houston also leads the state of Texas among FBS schools with 10 seasons of at least eight wins since 2006. TCU is second in that span with nine.
« The Cougars also rank third among American Athletic Conference Teams with 39 victories in league history. UH remains the last FBS school in the state of Texas to win a league championship (2015 American Athletic Champions).
STOP, START AND STOP AGAIN
« Houston's 2020 season as been defined by stop and starts this year. The Cougars have had eight games canceled and/or posted due to COVID-19 issues. The Cougars first five games of the season were all affected: Rice (Sept. 3 - canceled), at Washington State (Sept. 12 - canceled), at Memphis (Sept. 18 - rescheduled), at Baylor (Sept. 19 - canceled), North Texas (Sept. 26 - canceled).
« UH was able to play for six straight weeks before having to pause football activities on Nov. 17. The Cougars were slated to face SMU on Nov. 21 and Tulsa on Nov. 28 but had to postpone both games due to COVID-19 issues. With the SMU game rescheduled for Dec. 5, Houston hoped to return to the field last Saturday, but COVID-19 issues within the Mustangs' programs caused a cancellation.
« Saturday's game will be Houston's first contest since Nov. 14 against USF, a layoff of 28 days.
THE THIRD PHASE
« Houston leads the American in punt return average (20.50), punt return defense (-2.00) and PAT kicking (1.000). The Cougars are second in the American in kick return average (27.73).
« Among active FBS players, Houston's Marcus Jones and Marquez Stevenson rank second and third, respectively in career kickoff return touchdowns. Jones ranks second among active FBS players with four career kickoff return touchdowns (all four kickoff return touchdowns came during his time at Troy), while Stevenson picked up his third career kickoff return touchdown against Tulane (97 yards) on Oct. 8.
« Against USF, Jones recorded his first punt return for a touchdown in his career, marking the first true punt return inside TDECU Stadium. The 72-yard return was also the first true punt return in a home game since Charles West returned an 87-yard punt against Southern Miss (Nov. 9, 1996).
A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...
« Improve Houston's program win-loss record to 449-377-15 all-time since 1946 and give Houston its 61st win since 2013. The Cougars' 60 victories are tied with Baylor for the most among FBS programs in Texas during that span.
« Snap a four-game losing streak against Memphis and notch Houston's first victory against the Tigers since Nov. 14, 2015.
« Match Houston's win total (4) from a season ago, coming in just the seventh game of the season.
« Be Houston's first December victory since defeating No. 9 Florida State, 38-24 in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31, 2015.
« Be Houston's first regular season victory in the month of December since defeating Rice, 18-17 in the final game played in the Southwest Conference on Dec. 2, 1995.
