The Mississippi State Bulldogs will host the Memphis Tigers on Saturday in the season opener. The Tigers beat the Bulldogs 31-29 in Memphis last September as a three-point underdog. Mississippi State did outgain Memphis 468 to 246 in total yards for that game, but Memphis scored on a flukey and questionable 94-yard punt return in the fourth quarter of that game that fueled the upset.
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After starting the 2021 season with a 3-0 record, the Tigers finished with a 6-6 record. Four of the six losses did come by six points or less, and the Tigers have the potential to be much better here in 2022.
The SEC said Saturday night that officials made two different officiating errors in allowing Memphis' gamebreaking punt return TD in the Tigers' 31-29 win over Mississippi State. https://t.co/0K1dK2Gwmlpic.twitter.com/TGm0lcgfNh (via @American_FB)
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) September 19, 2021
The Tigers bring back seven offensive and six defensive starters from last season. Sophomore quarterback Seth Henigan will run the offense after throwing for 3,322 yards and completing 59.8% of his passes for 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In last season's game against Mississippi State, Henigan went 16 for 28 for 159 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Tigers rushed for 87 yards on 25 carries in that victory.
Memphis was predicted to finish fifth in the AAC this season, behind Houston, Cincinnati, UCF, and SMU.
Defensively the Tigers finished 99th in the nation allowing 255.6 yards per game. They do return All-AAC second-team defensive back Quindell Johnson who will be tested against the Bulldogs. Syracuse transfer Geoffrey Cantin will also be an impact new addition at linebacker.