TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Memphis (8-2, 5-1 American) football team came up big when needed to secure a 52-41 win over South Florida (6-4, 2-4 American) in a Thursday night shootout inside Raymond James Stadium.

Quarterback Marcus Stokes accounted for five touchdowns for a third-straight game and running back Jaylin Carter became the 12th FBS rusher to reach the 1,000-yard mark racking up 109 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns including the game-clinching touchdown with 44 seconds left in the game.

The Tigers high-powered offense accumulated more than 500 yards for the sixth time this season, powering past a talented South Florida team that threatened to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. However, the Memphis defense racked up a season-high seven sacks and got the necessary stops, denying the Bulls on a fourth and goal attempt from the Tigers' four-yard line with just under four minutes to play.

Stokes recorded his fourth-straight 300-yard passing game and was 15-of-31 through the air for 313 yards and three touchdowns. It was Stokes' fifth game with at least three touchdown passes, however it was his legs that carried him to a career day on the ground. The junior from St. Augustine, Florida picked up 73 yards on the ground showing his toughness throughout the game.

Carter became the 10th Memphis running back to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark in a single season tallying 1,038 yards. Carter is the first Tigers running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Mario Anderson rushed for 1,362 yards in 2024.

With 8:04 left in the fourth quarter a Nico Gramatica 38-yard field goal handed South Florida its first lead of the contest climbing all the way back from a 21-point first quarter deficit. The quick-strike Memphis offense took just two plays to counter as Stokes connected with junior wide receiver Jemyri Davis on a 76-yard bomb scoring in just 30 seconds to regain the lead for good 45-41 with 7:34 left to play.

A wild third quarter witnessed a quick three-and-out by Memphis to open the second half which South Florida capitalized on with a well-executed middle screen hauled in by Jason Collins, Jr. to pull the Bulls within four, 28-24.

Freshman running back Jordan Thompson sparked a Memphis drive that was capped by a strike from Stokes to Stonka Burnside to put the Tigers up 35-24. The touchdown reception was Burnside's fourth of the season.

It took South Florida one play to respond as senior running back Collins broke away from the Memphis defense for a 75-yard touchdown run as his second score of the evening trimmed the lead back to four points. On the ensuing drive, the Tigers moved the ball to the Bulls' nine yard line but stalled and settled for a Phillippe Laforge 27-yard field goal that ricocheted off the left upright.

South Florida responded with a 10 play 75-yard touchdown drive that took over five minutes to come all the way back and tie the game 38-38 with 1:42 left in the third quarter.

Memphis raced out to a 21-0 first quarter lead following an acrobatic touchdown run by Stokes. The eight-yard scamper was Stokes' second rushing touchdown of the game after posting a career-long 47-yard touchdown run to open the scoring for the Tigers. The score was the longest touchdown run by a Memphis quarterback in the last 30 seasons.

Stokes found Tipton from seven yards out for their sixth touchdown connection of the season to provide Memphis with a quick 14-0 cushion. The 21-0 first quarter lead marked the third time the Tigers scored 21 points in a quarter this season and the first time Memphis has scored 21 points in an opening quarter since 2021.

South Florida responded with 10 unanswered second quarter points after converting a fourth and goal to trim the Tigers' lead to 11 with 4:13 remaining in the half. Carter answered with a five-yard touchdown run, his 11th on the season to push Memphis' lead back to 18. However, South Florida quickly matriculated down the field as Luke Kromenhoek found Mudia Ruben on a 19-yard pitch and catch with under a minute remaining in the half to pull within 28-17 heading into the break.

Memphis recorded four sacks in the first half which was the most since the 2019 Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Penn State. The Tigers' seven total sacks were the most since 2017 against Tulane.

UP NEXT
Memphis (8-2, 5-1) heads to Annapolis next Saturday, November 21 for its 12th consecutive meeting with the Naval Academy (2-4, 3-6) at 11:00 AM CT which will air on one of the ESPN family of networks.