Las Vegas, NV— Memphis overcame a halftime deficit Saturday night, scoring the final 13 points of the game to defeat UNLV 27-21 in the season opener for both teams.
Quarterback Marcus Stokes provided the spark for the Tigers, passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns while completing 15 of 26 attempts without committing a turnover. The victory also gave Charles Huff a piece of Memphis history, making him the first Tigers head coach to win his road debut.
Memphis leaned on its running game as well. Jaylin Carter carried 15 times for 97 yards and a touchdown, including a 36-yard scoring run that helped the Tigers pull even at 21-21.
UNLV controlled much of the first half and entered halftime with a 14-7 advantage. Jackson Arnold accounted for both Rebels touchdowns, connecting with Tavian McNair on a 38-yard scoring strike before adding a 6-yard touchdown run.
The halftime lead appeared promising for UNLV, which had won its previous 11 games when ahead at the break. The Rebels’ last such loss came against Syracuse on Oct. 4, 2024.
Memphis quickly erased the deficit after halftime. Stokes found Stonka Burnside for a 48-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to tie the game at 14.
Arnold responded later in the quarter, throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass to Kayden McGee to put UNLV back in front. Memphis answered once again, with Carter breaking free for his 36-yard touchdown run to make it 21-21.
From there, the Tigers took control.
Philippe Laforge connected on field goals of 32 and 36 yards, giving Memphis a 27-21 lead and ultimately providing the difference on the scoreboard.
UNLV had an opportunity to respond in the fourth quarter after moving the ball to the Memphis 18-yard line. The Rebels’ drive ended when Memphis sacked Arnold on fourth-and-7 with 6:08 remaining, turning the ball over on downs.
The Tigers’ defense continued to pressure Arnold during the closing minutes, preventing UNLV from mounting another serious threat. Memphis finished the night with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Arnold completed the game with 291 passing yards and two touchdowns, but Memphis’ second-half surge and defensive pressure proved decisive as the Tigers opened the season with a road victory.
