The Memphis Tigers improved to 3-0 on Saturday, September 13, 2025, with a convincing 28-7 road victory over the Troy Trojans at Veterans Memorial Stadium, solidifying their status as a force in the Group of Five landscape. In a game that started competitively but turned into a defensive masterclass, Memphis outgained Troy 330-112 in total yards, holding the Trojans to just 3.3 yards per play and forcing two turnovers. Quarterback Brendon Lewis threw for 213 yards and a touchdown, while running back Sutton Smith powered the ground game with 217 team rushing yards and two scores.
Troy’s lone touchdown came on a strip-sack fumble return, but the Trojans managed only 112 yards, highlighting Memphis’s defensive dominance. This win extends the Tigers’ streak against Sun Belt Conference opponents to 13 games and keeps them on pace for a projected 9–10-win season, with +760 CFP odds still alive. As Memphis prepares for a marquee Week 4 clash with Arkansas, here are four key observations from the game that shaped the outcome and signal the Tigers’ potential.
1. The Defensive Front Seven Shines, Shutting Down Troy’s Run Game
Under coordinator Jordon Hankins, Memphis’s defense was the game’s story, limiting Troy to just 112 total yards—the Trojans’ lowest output since 2023—and holding them to 40 rushing yards (1.3 yards per attempt). All-American defensive end William Whitlow Jr. anchored the line with two tackles for loss and a sack. In comparison, transfer linebacker Drue Watts accounted for six tackles, including a crucial stop on third down that forced a Troy punt. The front seven’s physicality overwhelmed Troy’s offensive line, which struggled to protect quarterback Goose Crowder, who only completed 2-of-7 passes for 7 yards with an interception before exiting early with a minor injury. This performance addresses early-season concerns about replacing 2024 stars like linebacker Chandler Martin (111 tackles). Hankins’s aggressive 4-2-5 scheme forced Troy into negative plays, with the Tigers sacking Crowder three times and recovering a fumble that set up a short field for Sutton Smith’s first touchdown.
Troy entered the game averaging 4.7 yards per carry, led by running back Tae Meadows (76 yards in Week 2), but Memphis’s run defense—ranked top-25 nationally in 2024 (108.4 yards allowed)—stifled them completely. Brumfield’s sideline-to-sideline speed and Whitlow’s edge pressure created a domino effect, allowing the secondary to focus on coverage. This unit’s dominance (holding opponents to under 100 rushing yards for the third straight game) bodes well for upcoming tests like Arkansas’s mobile quarterback and Navy’s triple-option in November. If the front seven maintains this form, Memphis could boast a top-20 defense nationally, a key to its American Conference title hopes.
2. Brendon Lewis’s Efficient Management Keeps the Offense Balanced
Transfer quarterback Brendon Lewis solidified his role as Memphis’s steady hand, completing 18-of-25 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions in a game that highlighted his growth from Week 1’s minor miscues. Despite a strip-sack fumble in the second quarter that led to Troy’s only score, Lewis bounced back quickly, orchestrating a 75-yard touchdown drive.
His 72% completion rate against Troy—up from 78.6% in Week 1—showed poise under pressure, as he avoided the turnovers that plagued Georgia State (12-of-25, 69 yards in Week 2). Lewis’s dual-threat ability (adding 32 rushing yards on scrambles) added a wrinkle absent in predecessor Seth Henigan’s pocket-passing style, but his decision-making stood out. He targeted short-to-intermediate routes effectively, spreading the ball to six receivers, including Cortez Braham Jr., with four catches for 69 yards.
The offense’s balance—217 rushing yards on 42 carries—aligned with coordinator Tim Cramsey’s up-tempo scheme, sustaining drives and controlling possession (35:22 time of play). Lewis’s ability to escape Troy’s edge rusher Eric Thomas (5.5 sacks in 2024) on key third downs prevented the game from tightening. With a projected 2,500+ total yards for the season, Lewis’s efficiency (no picks in two of three games) positions Memphis to exploit weaker secondaries like Tulsa’s in Week 5. However, the fumble underscores the need for better ball security as the Tigers face Arkansas’s ferocious pass rush.
More: American Conference Power Rankings: Week 3
3. Sutton Smith’s Ground-and-Pound Emergence Powers the Run Game
Memphis’s rushing attack, a staple of their 2024 success (187.6 yards per game), exploded for 217 yards on 42 carries, led by redshirt sophomore Sutton Smith, who scored twice in the first half and finished with 112 yards on 18 attempts (6.2 yards per carry). Smith’s patient vision and burst through holes created by the rebuilt offensive line—senior Austin Gentle at guard and transfers Travis Burke and Yakiri Walker—wore down Troy’s front, which allowed 5.8 yards per play in Week 1 but couldn’t contain Memphis’s physicality. His 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead, and his 28-yard scamper set up the game’s final score. Smith’s emergence complemented Frank Peasant, who added 39 yards, respectively, forming a two-headed monster that kept Troy’s defense honest.
This balanced approach—53.5% run rate—addressed concerns after losing Rashad Amos and exploited Troy’s vulnerability to the run (4.7 yards allowed per carry in 2024). Coach Ryan Silverfield’s emphasis on the ground game (40 rushes vs. Georgia State) paid dividends, as Smith’s scores came on short-yardage plays where the line’s push was decisive. His receiving contributions (two catches for 7 yards) add versatility, opening the passing game for Lewis and receivers like Hutchins (three catches, 42 yards). As Memphis eyes a 6-0 non-conference slate, Smith’s ability to grind out 100+ yards against stouter fronts like Arkansas’s will be crucial, potentially making him a 1,000-yard rusher and a cornerstone of the Tigers’ CFP push.
4. Secondary Stability and Turnover Creation Seal the Victory
Memphis’s revamped secondary, a 2024 Achilles’ heel (219.7 passing yards allowed per game), stepped up big, holding Troy to 84 passing yards on 15-of-28 attempts (one interception) and limiting Crowder to 3.0 yards per completion before his exit. Defensive back Jaidyn Denis was pivotal with six tackles and a pass breakup.
The unit’s coverage allowed the front seven to pin their ears back, resulting in three sacks and a fumble recovery that negated Troy’s momentum after their strip-sack score. This performance validates the offseason additions, including transfers like Chauncey Logan Jr., addressing the loss of NFL-bound Kobee Minor. Kamari Wilson’s Power 4 experience shone in man coverage against Troy’s Tray Taylor, preventing big plays and contributing to Memphis’s two turnovers forced—their third straight game with multiple takeaways.
The secondary’s discipline on third downs (Troy converted 3-of-12) kept drives short, aligning with Hankins’s aggressive scheme. As the Tigers transition to American Conference play against Florida Atlantic in Week 5, this stability could elevate the defense to elite status, especially against pass-heavy teams like Rice. However, Troy’s limited aerial attack (72 yards) was no true test; Arkansas’s explosive offense will reveal if Wilson’s lockdown skills hold up in high-stakes scenarios.
