The last time UT Martin came to Memphis, the Skyhawks left with a 20-17 win. Fourteen years later, the Tigers have a chance to make sure that painful memory remains in the past.
Memphis Fans Still Haven’t Forgotten This UT Martin Nightmare
Memphis fans do not need a long reminder of what happened the last time UT Martin came to town. On Sept. 1, 2012, UT Martin walked into Memphis and left with a 20-17 victory. It was a stunning result then, and it remains the defining memory connected to this matchup today. That game was played 14 years ago. The players are different. The coaches are different. The programs are in different places. But the score has not changed. UT Martin 20, Memphis 17.
That is why Saturday’s game carries more historical weight than a typical nonconference meeting. Memphis should be the better team. The Tigers are at home, they play at the FBS level and they have more depth throughout the roster. But UT Martin already owns an unforgettable result in this series, and Tigers fans know exactly how difficult that loss was to accept.
Memphis hosts UT Martin at 6 p.m. CT Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The Tigers enter after a 38-20 loss at Boise State, while the Skyhawks arrive with a 1-2 record. This is not about revenge for 2012. It is about remembering it.
The Game Memphis Fans Never Forgot
The 2012 loss did not define Memphis football forever. But it became one of those games supporters remember every time UT Martin is mentioned.
The Skyhawks entered as an FCS opponent. Memphis expected to open the season with a win. Instead, UT Martin made history with a 20-17 victory that remains its only win over the Tigers. For UT Martin, it was a program-defining road victory. For Memphis, it was an upsetting afternoon that remains attached to the series more than a decade later.
The teams have not played since that day, which makes the history even more noticeable. There are no returning players from 2012, and there is no direct connection between the current roster and the team that lost that game. Still, Memphis fans will remember.
They will remember a game that did not go according to plan. They will remember the frustration of watching an opponent from a lower division leave the stadium with a victory. And they will remember why no football game should be treated as a formality before the final whistle. Saturday offers the Tigers an opportunity to write a different chapter in the series.
Memphis Needs a Strong Response
Memphis returns home after its first loss of the season, a 38-20 defeat at Boise State. The Tigers opened the year with victories over UNLV and Arkansas State before their trip to Idaho. Now, they have a chance to respond at home before an open week and the beginning of American Conference play.
The goal is simple: play sharp football from the opening kickoff. Memphis needs to protect the football, avoid preventable penalties and finish scoring opportunities. The Tigers need to control the line of scrimmage and make the game reflect the talent and depth advantages they possess.
A strong first quarter would set the tone. An early scoring drive would give Memphis momentum. Defensive stops would allow the Tigers to dictate the pace and keep UT Martin from becoming comfortable.
The Tigers do not need to carry the emotional burden of a 2012 loss. They only need to play with the level of attention that reflects what this game represents for the program and its fans.
UT Martin enters Saturday at 1-2. The Skyhawks opened with a loss to Central Arkansas, followed with a win over Chicago State and then fell 52-7 at West Virginia. Those results do not change Memphis’ responsibility. The Tigers need to execute their game plan and play to their standard.
A Final Tune-Up Before Conference Play
Saturday is Memphis’ final game before the schedule shifts to American Conference competition. The Tigers have an open date after UT Martin before traveling to Charlotte on Oct. 3. Memphis then hosts UAB on Oct. 10 and travels to Tulane on Oct. 16.
Those games will play a larger role in determining Memphis’ conference standing. But this week remains important because it gives the Tigers a chance to establish momentum heading into the break.
A convincing win would provide a needed response after Boise State. It would allow Memphis to enter the open week with confidence and a clearer picture of what needs to improve before conference play begins.
The Tigers cannot erase what happened in 2012. But they can make sure the latest chapter in this series gives their fans a much better memory.
