Memphis football vs North Alabama: Final score, highlights from Week 1 game
Memphis football has passed its first test.
The Tigers (1-0) easily cruised to a season-opening win, beating North Alabama 40-0 in front of 25,849 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Saturday night. Seth Henigan was 22 of 30 for 308 yards and two touchdowns and Mario Anderson rushed for two touchdowns as the Tigers dominated an overmatched FCS-level opponent.
Though the Lions (0-2) never troubled Memphis, it suffered a blow in the first quarter when starting running back Sutton Smith hurt his leg and had to be helped off the field. He did not reenter the game, appearing on the sideline on crutches.
Everything else went according to plan for the Tigers, whose defense forced three takeaways, and North Alabama couldn’t get anything going offensively. Memphis used an impressive second quarter to take a 31-0 lead into halftime, and North Alabama never threatened a comeback.
Roc Taylor had five catches for 87 yards to lead Memphis’ receivers, and tight ends Anthony Landphere and Brendan Doyle each caught a touchdown pass from Henigan.
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Memphis vs North Alabama score updates
Memphis 40, North Alabama 0
Greg Desrosiers rushed for a five-yard touchdown, but the extra point was no good.
Memphis 34, North Alabama 0
Costa hit a 21-yard field goal.
Halftime: Memphis 31, North Alabama 0
Memphis 31, North Alabama 0
Caden Costa hit a 38-yard field goal, his first as a Tiger.
Memphis 28, North Alabama 0
Anderson gets his second touchdown of the day, carrying it in from five yards out.
Memphis 21, North Alabama 0
Henigan hit his backup tight end, Brenden Doyle, for a 32-yard score.
Memphis 14, North Alabama 0
Seth Henigan finds Anthony Landphere from two yards out to extend the Tigers' lead.
End of first quarter: Memphis 7, North Alabama 0
Sutton Smith exits with apparent leg injury
Smith appeared to injure his leg after a carry and eventually walked off the field and into the injury tent. He later left the field on crutches.
Memphis 7, North Alabama 0
Memphis won the toss and elected to receive. The Tigers immediately drove down the field and scored an opening-drive touchdown, capped off by a four-yard carry from Mario Anderson.
Tigers set to kick off highly anticipated season
The most-anticipated season in Memphis football history kicks off today.
The Tigers will host North Alabama (0-1) at 6 p.m. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. It'll be the first game since the stadium started undergoing construction earlier this summer. It'll also be the start of a season in which Memphis hopes to compete for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff.
Saturday should be straightforward for the Tigers, who are massive favorites over the FCS-level Lions. Seth Henigan, Roc Taylor and the rest of the offense will be expected to put up big numbers and help Memphis cruise to a season-opening win.
Memphis vs North Alabama time today
Date: Aug. 31
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
What channel is Memphis vs North Alabama on today?
TV channel: N/A
Streaming: ESPN+
Memphis vs. North Alabama will be broadcast on ESPN+. James Westling and Leger Douzable will have the call.
Memphis vs North Alabama history
Series record: Memphis leads, 1-0
Memphis' last win: Nov. 19, 2022 (59-0)
North Alabama's last win: N/A
Memphis vs North Alabama
Memphis 55, North Alabama 10. Memphis gets a comfortable victory, setting up a much more daunting non-conference slate that includes Troy next week and Florida State on Sept. 14.
Memphis vs North Alabama betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
Spread: Memphis -37.5
Over/under: 61.5
Moneyline: N/A
Memphis vs North Alabama weather update
The forecast calls for a high of 88 degrees and a low of 73 degrees. There is a 40 percent chance of rain.
Memphis football 2024 schedule
Aug. 31: vs. North Alabama
Sept. 7: vs. Troy
Sept. 14: at Florida State
Sept. 21: at Navy
Sept. 28: vs. Middle Tennessee
Oct. 11: at South Florida
Oct. 19: vs. North Texas
Oct. 26: vs. Charlotte
Nov. 2: at UTSA
Nov. 8: vs. Rice
Nov. 16: vs. UAB
Nov. 28: at Tulane
Buy Memphis football tickets this season with StubHub
North Alabama football 2024 schedule
Aug. 24: 37-15 L vs. Southeast Missouri
Aug. 31: at North Alabama
Sept. 7: Illinois State
Sept. 14: at UT Martin
Sept. 21: Tarleton State
Sept 28: at West Georgia
Oct. 5: Utah Tech
Oct. 12: Abilene Christian
Oct. 26: at Central Arkansas
Nov. 2: Austin Peay
Nov. 9: at Southern Utah
Nov. 23: at Eastern Kentucky
Memphis football news
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football vs North Alabama: Final score, highlights Week 1 game
