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Memphis at Iowa State

Friday, December 29, 2023, Liberty Bowl

Memphis beat Iowa State 36–⁠26. It was their second meeting; the series is even at 1–⁠1.

AwayMemphis10–⁠3 in 2023
36
HomeIowa State7–⁠6 in 2023
26

Final at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, MemphisTV: ESPN, ESPN+Attendance 48,789

MVP Seth Henigan (QB, Memphis)Wikipedia

At kickoff
39°F, overcast, wind 9 mph from the westWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Memphis International Airport (KMEM), 7 km from the stadium
Official
Matt LoefflerGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Memphis19314036
Iowa State0137626

Standouts

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Memphis

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Seth Henigan24/3436440
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Blake Watson15107055
Seth Henigan627111
Sutton Smith422012
Brandon Thomas71004
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Roc Taylor8102024
DeMeer Blankumsee276170
Joseph Scates375151
Sutton Smith245148
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Chandler Martin8510
Geoff Cantin-Arku7100
An’Darius Coffey5000
DeAgo Brumfeld4000
William Whitlow Jr.1110

Iowa State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Rocco Becht22/3844630
Jaylin Noel0/1000
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Abu Sama III12407
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Jayden Higgins9214153
Jaylin Noel679128
Beni Ngoyi146046
Carson Hansen135035
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Beau Freyler11000
Caleb Bacon8000
Myles Purchase6000
Will McLaughlin5100

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

MemphisIowa State
530Total yards446
364Passing yards446
166Rushing yards0
10.7Yards per pass11.2
5.2Yards per rush0.0
22First downs19
7–⁠14Third downs7–⁠13
3–⁠5Fourth downs0–⁠1
0Turnovers0
0–⁠0Penalties3–⁠19
34:24Possession25:36
2Sacks (by defense)0

Efficiency

MemphisIowa State
46%Success rate29%
0.44EPA per play0.11
1.55Explosiveness2.23
0.23Rushing EPA−0.59
0.62Passing EPA0.44
44%Passing-down success32%
0.26First-down EPA−0.02
0.10Second-down EPA−0.04
1.25Third-down EPA1.12
20%Havoc by its defense8%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Iowa State 61% to win. Memphis won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Iowa State −5.5, over/under 57.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Iowa State 77%, Memphis 23%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

The money

The Liberty Bowl was put on by the Liberty Bowl Festival Association, a nonprofit. Its IRS Form 990 for the year to March 2024, which takes in this game, reports $12.5 million in revenue, $4.7 million of it from media, and $12.5 million in expenses. The largest payments it lists that year:

Big 12to support the mission of american universities of higher education and their conferences who participate in the liberty bowl game each year.$2.5 million
American Athleticto support the mission of american universities of higher education and their conferences who participate in the liberty bowl game each year.$2.3 million

From the organization’s IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the IRS’s e-file data. Payments are the grants it lists on Schedule I of that return. See every filing at ProPublica (EIN 62-6064769).

Every drive

Iowa State end zoneMemphis end zoneQ1 MemphisTouchdown, 3 playsQ1 Iowa StateTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ1 MemphisTouchdown, 9 playsQ1 Iowa StatePunt, 6 playsQ1 MemphisTouchdown, 4 playsQ1 Iowa StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ2 MemphisPunt, 3 playsQ2 Iowa StateField goal, 7 playsQ2 MemphisTurnover on downs, 8 playsQ2 Iowa StateField goal, 8 playsQ2 MemphisEnd of half, 4 playsQ3 Iowa StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 MemphisTouchdown, 4 playsQ3 Iowa StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 MemphisTouchdown, 3 playsQ3 Iowa StateTouchdown, 7 playsQ3 MemphisMissed FG, 13 playsQ4 Iowa StateTouchdown, 6 playsQ4 MemphisTurnover on downs, 17 playsQ4 Iowa StateResult not recorded, 8 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Iowa State drives left to right, Memphis right to left.
  1. Q1 MemphisTouchdown, 3 plays, −75 yards
  2. Q1 Iowa StateTurnover on downs, 7 plays, −21 yards
  3. Q1 MemphisTouchdown, 9 plays, −46 yards
  4. Q1 Iowa StatePunt, 6 plays, −28 yards
  5. Q1 MemphisTouchdown, 4 plays, −84 yards
  6. Q1 Iowa StateTouchdown, 7 plays, −75 yards
  7. Q2 MemphisPunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
  8. Q2 Iowa StateField goal, 7 plays, −67 yards
  9. Q2 MemphisTurnover on downs, 8 plays, −35 yards
  10. Q2 Iowa StateField goal, 8 plays, −42 yards
  11. Q2 MemphisEnd of half, 4 plays, −10 yards
  12. Q3 Iowa StatePunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
  13. Q3 MemphisTouchdown, 4 plays, −65 yards
  14. Q3 Iowa StatePunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  15. Q3 MemphisTouchdown, 3 plays, −50 yards
  16. Q3 Iowa StateTouchdown, 7 plays, −85 yards
  17. Q3 MemphisMissed FG, 13 plays, −57 yards
  18. Q4 Iowa StateTouchdown, 6 plays, −80 yards
  19. Q4 MemphisTurnover on downs, 17 plays, −96 yards
  20. Q4 Iowa StateResult not recorded, 8 plays, 38 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Memphis 19, Iowa State 0
Memphis Touchdown, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at opp 35Keegan Shackford kickoff for 61 yds for a touchback
14:301st & 10 at opp 25Seth Henigan pass complete to Anthony Landphere for 4 yds to the MEM 29
14:002nd & 6 at opp 29Blake Watson run for 1 yd to the MEM 30
13:413rd & 5 at opp 30Seth Henigan pass complete to Demeer Blankumsee for 70 yds for a TD (Tanner Gillis PAT MISSED)Iowa State 6, Memphis 0
Iowa State Turnover on downs, 7 plays
13:413rd & 5 at opp 35Tristian Vandenberg kickoff for 62 yds for a touchback
13:351st & 10 at opp 25Iowa State Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the ISU 15
13:001st & goal at opp 15Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 16 yds to the ISU 31
12:452nd & 4 at opp 31Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Jaylin Noel
12:033rd & 4 at opp 31Rocco Becht run for 6 yds to the ISU 37 for a 1ST down
11:511st & 10 at opp 37Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Daniel Jackson
11:462nd & 10 at opp 37Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Jaylin Noel
11:213rd & 10 at opp 37Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 9 yds to the ISU 46
10:534th & 1 at opp 46Rocco Becht run for no gain to the ISU 46
Memphis Touchdown, 9 plays
10:221st & 10 at own 46Blake Watson run for 14 yds to the ISU 32 for a 1ST down
10:121st & 10 at own 32Seth Henigan pass incomplete to Joseph Scates
10:042nd & 10 at own 32Blake Watson run for 2 yds to the ISU 30
9:453rd & 8 at own 30Seth Henigan pass complete to Anthony Landphere for 9 yds to the ISU 21 for a 1ST down
9:001st & 10 at own 21Seth Henigan pass complete to Sutton Smith for a loss of 3 yards to the ISU 24
8:002nd & 13 at own 24Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 4 yds to the ISU 20
7:073rd & 9 at own 20Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 8 yds to the ISU 12
6:424th & 1 at own 12Timeout Memphis, clock 06:42
6:304th & 1 at own 12Brandon Thomas run for 1 yd to the ISU 11 for a 1ST down
5:531st & 10 at own 11Seth Henigan run for 11 yds for a TD (Tanner Gillis KICK)Iowa State 13, Memphis 0
Iowa State Punt, 6 plays
5:531st & 10 at opp 35Tristian Vandenberg kickoff for 57 yds , Jaylin Noel return for a loss of 4 yards to the ISU 4
5:301st & goal at opp 4Abu Sama III run for a loss of 2 yards to the ISU 2
5:002nd & goal at opp 2Rocco Becht run for 3 yds to the ISU 5
4:303rd & goal at opp 5Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 28 yds to the ISU 33 for a 1ST down
4:001st & 10 at opp 33Abu Sama III run for a loss of 1 yard to the ISU 32
3:082nd & 11 at opp 32Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Daniel Jackson
2:593rd & 11 at opp 32Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Carson Hansen
2:454th & 11 at opp 32Tyler Perkins punt for 52 yds, downed at the MEM 16
Memphis Touchdown, 4 plays
2:151st & 10 at opp 16Seth Henigan pass complete to Blake Watson for 11 yds to the MEM 27 for a 1ST down
1:361st & 10 at opp 27Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 18 yds to the MEM 45 for a 1ST down
1:001st & 10 at opp 45Sutton Smith run for 4 yds to the MEM 49
0:302nd & 6 at opp 49Seth Henigan pass complete to Joseph Scates for 51 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)Iowa State 19, Memphis 0
Iowa State Touchdown, 7 plays
0:302nd & 6 at opp 35Tristian Vandenberg kickoff for 64 yds for a touchback
0:011st & 10 at opp 25Rocco Becht pass complete to Daniel Jackson for 14 yds to the ISU 39 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:451st & 10 at opp 39Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the ISU 40
Q2 13:522nd & 9 at opp 40Rocco Becht run for 10 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Q2 13:301st & 10 at the 50Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 12 yds to the MEM 38 for a 1ST down
Q2 12:321st & 10 at own 38Abu Sama III run for a loss of 2 yards to the MEM 40
Q2 12:002nd & 12 at own 40Rocco Becht pass complete to Daniel Jackson for 11 yds to the MEM 29
Q2 11:253rd & 1 at own 29Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 29 yds for a TD (Chase Contreraz KICK)Iowa State 19, Memphis 7
2nd quarter5 drives, then Memphis 22, Iowa State 13
Memphis Punt, 3 plays
11:253rd & 1 at opp 35Keegan Shackford kickoff for 58 yds , Sutton Smith return for 21 yds to the MEM 28
11:001st & 10 at opp 28Blake Watson run for no gain to the MEM 28
10:362nd & 10 at opp 28Seth Henigan pass incomplete to Blake Watson
10:303rd & 10 at opp 28Seth Henigan pass incomplete to Demeer Blankumsee
10:224th & 10 at opp 28Reid Bauer punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Jaylin Noel at the ISU 29
Iowa State Field goal, 7 plays
9:551st & 10 at opp 29Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 4 yds to the ISU 33
9:312nd & 6 at opp 33Abu Sama III run for 3 yds to the ISU 36
8:343rd & 3 at opp 36Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 53 yds to the MEM 11 for a 1ST down
8:021st & 10 at own 11Abu Sama III run for 7 yds to the MEM 4
7:112nd & 3 at own 4Abu Sama III run for a loss of 2 yards to the MEM 6
6:553rd & 5 at own 6Rocco Becht run for 2 yds to the MEM 4
6:194th & 3 at own 4Chase Contreraz 22 Yd Field GoalIowa State 19, Memphis 10
Memphis Turnover on downs, 8 plays
6:194th & 3 at opp 35Keegan Shackford kickoff for 60 yds , Sutton Smith return for 22 yds to the MEM 27
5:421st & 10 at opp 27Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 14 yds to the MEM 41 for a 1ST down
5:051st & 10 at opp 41Blake Watson run for 3 yds to the MEM 44
4:182nd & 7 at opp 44Seth Henigan pass complete to Blake Watson for 6 yds to the 50 yard line
3:413rd & 1 at the 50Brandon Thomas run for 4 yds to the ISU 46 for a 1ST down
2:451st & 10 at own 46Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 7 yds to the ISU 39
2:322nd & 3 at own 39Seth Henigan pass incomplete
2:003rd & 3 at own 39Blake Watson run for 1 yd to the ISU 38
1:444th & 2 at own 38Blake Watson run for 1 yd to the ISU 37
Iowa State Field goal, 8 plays
1:161st & 10 at opp 37Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 30 yds to the MEM 33 for a 1ST down
1:121st & 10 at own 33Rocco Becht run for a loss of 5 yards to the MEM 38
1:122nd & 15 at own 38Timeout Iowa State, clock 01:12
1:072nd & 15 at own 38Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Benjamin Brahmer
1:073rd & 15 at own 38Timeout Memphis, clock 01:07
0:553rd & 15 at own 38Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 17 yds to the MEM 21 for a 1ST down
0:491st & 10 at own 21Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Benjamin Brahmer
0:452nd & 10 at own 21Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Benjamin Brahmer
0:393rd & 10 at own 21Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Jayden Higgins
0:354th & 10 at own 21Chase Contreraz 39 yd FG GOODIowa State 19, Memphis 13
Memphis End of half, 4 plays
0:354th & 10 at opp 35Keegan Shackford kickoff for 59 yds for a touchback
0:221st & 10 at opp 25Blake Watson run for 21 yds to the MEM 46 for a 1ST down
0:111st & 10 at opp 46Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 17 yds to the ISU 37 for a 1ST down
0:111st & 10 at own 37Timeout Memphis, clock 00:11
0:041st & 10 at own 37Seth Henigan pass complete to Demeer Blankumsee for 6 yds to the ISU 31
0:042nd & 4 at own 31Timeout Iowa State, clock 00:04
0:002nd & 4 at own 31Tanner Gillis 49 yd FG GOODIowa State 22, Memphis 13
3rd quarter6 drives, then Memphis 36, Iowa State 20
Iowa State Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at opp 35Tristian Vandenberg kickoff for 56 yds , Jaylin Noel return for 11 yds to the ISU 20
14:501st & 10 at opp 20Abu Sama III run for no gain to the ISU 20
14:062nd & 10 at opp 20Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Jayden Higgins
14:023rd & 10 at opp 20Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Benjamin Brahmer
13:524th & 10 at opp 20Tyler Perkins punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Koby Drake at the MEM 35
Memphis Touchdown, 4 plays
13:251st & 10 at opp 35Seth Henigan pass complete to Blake Watson for 5 yds to the MEM 40
12:432nd & 5 at opp 40Blake Watson run for 55 yds to the ISU 5 for a 1ST down
12:061st & 0 at own 5Blake Watson run for no gain to the ISU 5
11:382nd & 0 at own 5Seth Henigan pass complete to Anthony Landphere for 5 yds for a TD (Tanner Gillis KICK)Iowa State 29, Memphis 13
Iowa State Punt, 3 plays
11:382nd & 10 at opp 35Tristian Vandenberg kickoff for 58 yds , Jaylin Noel return for 23 yds to the ISU 30
11:001st & 10 at opp 30Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the ISU 31
10:402nd & 9 at opp 31Iowa State Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the ISU 26
10:002nd & 14 at opp 26Rocco Becht sacked by Chandler Martin for a loss of 6 yards to the ISU 20
9:263rd & goal at opp 20Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 5 yds to the ISU 25
9:004th & 15 at opp 25Tyler Perkins punt for 34 yds , Koby Drake returns for 9 yds to the 50 yard line
Memphis Touchdown, 3 plays
8:541st & 10 at the 50Seth Henigan pass incomplete
8:232nd & 10 at the 50Seth Henigan pass complete to Koby Drake for 2 yds to the ISU 48
7:593rd & 8 at own 48Seth Henigan pass complete to Sutton Smith for 48 yds for a TD (Tanner Gillis KICK)Iowa State 36, Memphis 13
Iowa State Touchdown, 7 plays
7:593rd & 8 at opp 35Tristian Vandenberg kickoff for 59 yds , Jaylin Noel return for 9 yds to the ISU 15
7:171st & 10 at opp 15Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the ISU 16
6:402nd & 9 at opp 16Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 10 yds to the ISU 26 for a 1ST down
6:101st & 10 at opp 26Abu Sama III run for a loss of 2 yards to the ISU 24
5:452nd & 12 at opp 24Rocco Becht sacked by William Whitlow Jr. for a loss of 14 yards to the ISU 10
4:483rd & goal at opp 10Rocco Becht pass complete to Carson Hansen for 35 yds to the ISU 45 for a 1ST down
4:151st & 10 at opp 45Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 40 yds to the MEM 15 for a 1ST down
4:011st & 10 at own 15Rocco Becht pass complete to Easton Dean for 15 yds for a TD (Chase Contreraz KICK)Iowa State 36, Memphis 20
Memphis Missed FG, 13 plays
4:011st & 10 at opp 35Keegan Shackford kickoff for 56 yds , Sutton Smith return for 21 yds to the MEM 30
3:331st & 10 at opp 30Blake Watson run for no gain to the MEM 30
3:032nd & 10 at opp 30Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 24 yds to the ISU 46 for a 1ST down
2:301st & 10 at own 46Sutton Smith run for 3 yds to the ISU 43
2:002nd & 7 at own 43Seth Henigan run for a loss of 3 yards to the ISU 46
0:353rd & 10 at own 46Seth Henigan pass complete to Joseph Scates for 17 yds to the ISU 29 for a 1ST down
0:011st & 10 at own 29Seth Henigan run for 9 yds to the ISU 20
Q4 14:302nd & 1 at own 20Blake Watson run for no gain to the ISU 20
Q4 14:143rd & 1 at own 20Seth Henigan pass incomplete to Anthony Landphere
Q4 14:004th & 1 at own 20Brandon Thomas run for 2 yds to the ISU 18 for a 1ST down
Q4 13:041st & 10 at own 18Blake Watson run for 3 yds to the ISU 15
Q4 12:172nd & 7 at own 15Seth Henigan pass complete to Jamauri Chislom for 2 yds to the ISU 13
Q4 11:563rd & 5 at own 13Seth Henigan pass incomplete
Q4 11:524th & 5 at own 13Tanner Gillis 31 yd FG MISSED
4th quarter3 drives, then Memphis 36, Iowa State 26
Iowa State Touchdown, 6 plays
11:451st & 10 at opp 20Jaylin Noel pass incomplete to Jayden Higgins
11:302nd & 10 at opp 20Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 11 yds to the ISU 31 for a 1ST down
11:161st & 10 at opp 31Rocco Becht pass incomplete
10:522nd & 10 at opp 31Rocco Becht pass complete to Beni Ngoyi for 46 yds to the MEM 23 for a 1ST down
10:051st & 10 at own 23Abu Sama III run for no gain to the MEM 23
9:552nd & 10 at own 23Rocco Becht pass complete to Jaylin Noel for 23 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)Iowa State 36, Memphis 26
Memphis Turnover on downs, 17 plays
9:552nd & 10 at opp 35Keegan Shackford kickoff for 40 yds fair catch by Sutton Smith at the MEM 2
9:521st & 10 at opp 25Seth Henigan pass incomplete to Sutton Smith
9:452nd & 10 at opp 25Seth Henigan pass incomplete to Joseph Scates
9:003rd & 10 at opp 25Seth Henigan pass complete to Roc Taylor for 10 yds to the MEM 35 for a 1ST down
8:251st & 10 at opp 35Sutton Smith run for 12 yds to the MEM 47 for a 1ST down
8:001st & 10 at opp 47Sutton Smith run for 3 yds to the 50 yard line
7:302nd & 7 at the 50Seth Henigan pass complete to Koby Drake for 22 yds to the ISU 28 for a 1ST down
6:331st & 10 at own 28Blake Watson run for 2 yds to the ISU 26
5:302nd & 8 at own 26Blake Watson run for 4 yds to the ISU 22
4:303rd & 4 at own 22Seth Henigan pass complete to Joseph Scates for 7 yds to the ISU 15 for a 1ST down
4:001st & 10 at own 15Seth Henigan run for a loss of 3 yards to the ISU 18 Seth Henigan fumbled, recovered by MEM
3:002nd & 13 at own 18Seth Henigan run for 11 yds to the ISU 7
2:373rd & 2 at own 7Brandon Thomas run for 1 yd to the ISU 6
2:374th & 1 at own 6Timeout Iowa State, clock 02:37
2:244th & 1 at own 6Seth Henigan run for 2 yds to the ISU 4 for a 1ST down
2:241st & 0 at own 4Timeout Iowa State, clock 02:24
2:191st & 0 at own 4Brandon Thomas run for no gain to the ISU 4
2:192nd & 0 at own 4Timeout Iowa State, clock 02:19
2:052nd & 0 at own 4Brandon Thomas run for 1 yd to the ISU 3
1:203rd & 0 at own 3Brandon Thomas run for 1 yd to the ISU 2
0:424th & 0 at own 2Seth Henigan pass incomplete to Jamauri Chislom
Iowa State Result not recorded, 8 plays
0:381st & goal at opp 2Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 12 yds to the ISU 14 for a 1ST down
0:321st & 10 at opp 14Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Jayden Higgins
0:242nd & 10 at opp 14Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 15 yds to the ISU 29 for a 1ST down
0:191st & 10 at opp 29Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Beni Ngoyi
0:132nd & 10 at opp 29Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Easton Dean
0:043rd & 10 at opp 29Rocco Becht pass complete to Jayden Higgins for 11 yds to the ISU 40 for a 1ST down
0:011st & 10 at opp 40TEAM pass incomplete
0:002nd & 10 at opp 40Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Jaylin Noel

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Memphis–Iowa State game

Tied 1–⁠1 in two meetings.

Recent meetings
2023Memphis 36, Iowa State 26Liberty Bowl
2017Iowa State 21, Memphis 20Liberty Bowl

Around this game

Memphis

Iowa State

Ranked games that day

Every game of the bowls and playoff