The Memphis Tigers will remain home for bowl season when they take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the 2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. It’s the program’s fifth consecutive bowl appearance under the tenure of head coach Ryan Silverfield. The Tigers will have the opportunity to reach a double-digit winning record for the first time since the magical 2019 campaign, including an appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl. As for Iowa State, they go into Friday’s matchup winning five of the season’s final seven games.
They closed the regular season with an impressive 42-35 upset win over Kansas State. Standings-wise, the Cyclones would finish the season as a fourth-place team in the Big 12 Conference. With a freshman quarterback, Rocco Becht, under center, Iowa State started their season sluggishly with a 1-2 record. However, it would gain momentum with a 34-27 victory over eventual Big 12 conference runner-up Oklahoma State.
Becht finished the game with his best performance of the season when he completed 27 of 38 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns against zero interceptions. Regarding the 2023 storyline for Memphis, it was a year where they came up short in all their big games during the regular season. Despite the mishaps in matchups against Tulane, Missouri, and SMU, the Tigers reached nine wins on the season, the most since the 2020 campaign. Like Iowa State, the Tigers finished fourth in the American Athletic Conference standings.
Iowa State Scouting Report
When you look at the statistics, Iowa State does not fit what we are accustomed to seeing with a typical Big 12 football team. Their numbers are indeed middle of the pack, especially on the offensive side. However, do not expect those numbers to look like this in 2024. Head coach Matt Campbell may have found the quarterback to usher in the program’s next era of success since losing Brock Purdy to the National Football League.
Becht closed the season by throwing for 2,674 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. On the outside, the Cyclones have two wide receivers who have been reliable all season: Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Both wideouts combined for over 1,500 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. On the ground, Freshman running back Abu Sama lll led the team in rushing with 610 yards and six touchdowns on 72 carries. Defensively, the Hawkeyes have been efficient. They ranked 35th in the nation in points allowed, 41st in third down conversion, and 50th against the pass.
Memphis Keys to Victory
For Memphis to close out the year with their 10th victory of the season, they must continue to do what they have already done: get the ball into the hands of their best players. The playmaker that comes to mind is running back Blake Watson. The former Old Dominion standout became the Tigers’ first 1,000-yard rusher since the 2019 campaign. Watson is also effective for the Tigers as a receiver. In 2023, he caught 50 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns. Getting him involved early and often in Friday’s matchup will be crucial for the Tigers’ success.
Quarterback Seth Hennigan needs to make sound decisions when handling the football and not allow the Cyclones to have a good field position because of turnovers. Defensively, they must neutralize Iowa State’s big play capabilities. While the Cyclones’ stats may not resemble what you typically see in Big 12 teams like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas State, it’s essential to remember that Iowa State brings unique strengths.
In recent years, they have established themselves as a formidable force in college football, relying on a tenacious defense and an efficient, methodical offense. Minimizing the explosive play ability of wide receiver Jaylin Noel will be necessary. In the snowstorm game against Kansas State, Noel caught only three passes, but those three receptions led to 160 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Score Prediction
The Tigers will keep this contest close, but the Cyclones will eventually pull away a win in the 2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Memphis missing two offensive line members can play a huge part in consistently protecting QB Seth Henigan. Also, the Tigers’ secondary has been ineffective against the pass for most of the season. Expect the Cyclones to exploit those deficiencies.
Iowa State 41, Memphis 35
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