Arkansas State Red WolvesvsMemphis Tigers
ARST 24/MEM 42
Things to say
Memphis beat Arkansas State 42-24 at home to move to 2-0.
01
opener
Memphis handled Arkansas State 42-24 at home. Closer than the final for a half, then the Tigers just pulled away on the ground. Never really in doubt after the third.
02
key player
Jaylin Carter was the whole game. 19 carries, 183 and four touchdowns, including a 74-yarder. You don't need a passing game when your back is doing that.
03
hot take
Forget the 42 points, Memphis threw two picks and still ran away with it. That tells you Arkansas State just couldn't stop the run at all.
04
deep cut
Trey Owens threw for 325 but had four interceptions. Their receiver Summers went for 98, but garbage-time stats. Four picks is how you turn a live game into a blowout.
05
exit
Tigers look legit at 2-0. Curious to see how they hold up once the schedule gets real.
The recap
Memphis leaned on Jaylin Carter and rode him to the house all night — 183 yards and four touchdowns, including a 74-yard burst that put the game out of reach in the second half. Arkansas State hung around early behind Trey Owens, who threw for 325 but coughed up four interceptions that flipped the field every time the Red Wolves built any momentum.
The turning point was that pick parade: every time Owens gave one back, Carter or Marcus Stokes made him pay. Final's 42-24, and it wasn't as close as even that looks.