The Tigers erased a halftime deficit against UAB and won 38–13, moving to 5–1 with a second half that looked little like the first.
Memphis Needed a Response. Carter and the Defense Supplied It.
Memphis had work waiting at halftime. UAB led 13–10, the Tigers’ passing game had started poorly and the Blazers had found early success on the ground. By the end of the afternoon, Memphis had won 38–13. The Tigers scored 28 unanswered points after the break, collected their third straight victory and improved to 5–1 overall and 2–0 in the American.
The Comfortable Finish Followed an Uncomfortable Start
The final margin should not obscure the path. UAB had done enough in the first half to put Memphis behind. The Tigers needed to change the game, rather than simply keep doing what had already worked.
They changed it decisively. The Blazers did not score after halftime, and Memphis turned a three-point deficit into a 25-point victory.
That is a meaningful response, especially on an afternoon when the offense had not immediately found its footing. The Tigers encountered a problem and prevented it from lasting four quarters. Memphis did not spend the afternoon protecting an early lead. It had to earn control after UAB had already made the game uncomfortable.
The Running Game and Defense Carried Their Share
Jaylin Carter rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Memphis forced three turnovers and held UAB to 3.7 yards per carry for the game. Those contributions gave the Tigers dependable ways to win while the passing game was uneven.
UAB quarterback Ryder Burton completed 10 of 20 passes for 131 yards, with an interception and a lost fumble. The defense took away scoring, and the offense supplied enough points to separate. Memphis did not need every component to perform perfectly at the same time. The running game and defense provided the support required to change the afternoon.
That is a useful quality for a team working through conference play. When one part struggles, another has to provide something dependable.
Tulane Is Next, and the Review Should Include Both Halves
Memphis will visit Tulane on Friday, October 16, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. Central on ESPN. There is not much time to dwell on the UAB celebration.
The Tigers can take encouragement from Carter’s production and the defensive finish. They should also examine why the opening half required such a response. A win is often the best time to address those questions. The mistakes have not cost a place in the standings, but the evidence is still available.
Memphis earned a convincing final margin. Now it has an opportunity to make the next performance convincing earlier.
