MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two days after the Memphis Tigers beat Army 49-22 on Halloween night, the Monday look back is about where the win leaves the team. The Daily Memphian's beat writer Frank Bonner II and columnist John Martin broke down the victory and what it means for the American Conference standings.
The short answer is that Memphis is in a solid spot. The Tigers are 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the American, and they stayed in the title race with a win over Army, which came in 5-3 and 4-2 in the conference. Memphis had needed a win to stay in the chase after a close call the week before, when it scored three points in the first half against East Carolina and needed overtime to win.
This time the Tigers answered early. Marcus Stokes threw four touchdown passes and ran for another, completing 29 of 35 passes for 371 yards. Memphis scored in every quarter and gained 554 yards. After the game, coach Charles Huff said the challenge was facing Army's option offense, saying the Tigers "talked about being Sisyphus and pushing the rock."
The defense played its part. Memphis held Army to 45 passing yards, the fewest it has allowed since 2023, and had two interceptions, one by Chauncey Logan Jr. and another by Ellis Ellis Jr. on the game's last play. Linebacker Mike Montgomery led the Tigers with nine tackles.
Looking ahead, Memphis has an open week and then travels to Florida to play South Florida (6-2, 2-2 American) on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Central on ESPN. The Bulls play at East Carolina before they host the Tigers.
For a team that has now won seven games, the break comes at a useful time. The Tigers have scored at least 15 points in 91 consecutive home games, the second-longest active streak in the FBS, and they were penalized only twice against Army, the fewest since the 2024 Frisco Bowl.
The Thursday game at South Florida is the next test in the conference race.