After losing to Boise State by 18 points on the road, Memphis returns to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for its final non-conference game of the season against UT Martin. Like the Tigers, the Skyhawks have played three games this season, and they’re 1-2.
The FCS kicked of its season on Thursday, August 27, which was week zero at the FBS level. UT Martin began the season with a home loss against Central Arkansas before beating Chicago State by 35 points in week 2.
Last week, the Skyhawks played their first game against an FBS opponent and lost 52-7 in Morgantown against West Virginia.
Their only win was a lopsided victory over Chicago State, but the Cougars are in their first season playing college football at any level.
UT Martin is led by head coach Jason Simpson, who is the father of former Alabama and current Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson. He also has a younger son, Graham, who is a four-star in the class of 2028.
Simpson is in his 21st season, and he’s 131-54 in that time. Memphis has played the Skyhawks three times since Simpson took the job, and the Tigers are 2-1 in those games.
In 2012, Memphis lost to UT Martin by three points at home in Justin Fuente’s first game as the Tigers’ head coach.
The Skyhawks have had a lot of success in recent years, going 27-6 in conference games over the last five years, and they were predicted to win the OVC ahead of the season. In the preseason, 12 UT Martin players were named to the “OVC Preseason Players to Watch List”, and Phil Steele named eight Skyhawks to his Preseason All-OVC teams.
Graduate student Julian Clavez has started all three games of the season, but UT Martin could be making a change at the quarterback position. Redshirt freshman Tate Suber played against Chicago State and took a majority of the snaps last week against West Virginia.
Through two games, Suber has completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 359 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. The Skyhawks have yet to score on a passing play this season.
At the running back position, juniors Tommy Ansley and Chris Franklin have split the carries. Ansley currently leads the team with 200 yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries, while Franklin has added 193 yards and two touchdowns on 38 attempts.
Mathis Sherrard and Kaleb Washington lead the receivers with nine receptions each, but Sherrard leads the team with only 121 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Skyhawks lead the FCS with two defensive touchdowns through three games. Safety Trey Cotton returned an interception for a 55-yard touchdown in the opener against Central Arkansas, while linebacker John Betts III had a scoop-and-score last week against the Mountaineers.
Cotton leads the defense with 25 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble, while defensive lineman Dustin Chavis has made some plays in the backfield, recording 1.5 tackles for a loss and one sack.
As a whole, the defense has recorded 14 tackles for loss and two sacks through three games.
The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and will be the Tigers’ second home game of the season.
