LAS VEGAS — Throughout the offseason, new Memphis football coach Charles Huff repeatedly stressed one thing.
He'd learned a lot about his team throughout offseason training and preseason practices. But there was one thing he couldn't prepare for in the offseason.
"I didn't know how they would respond if we got down," Huff said after Memphis' game against UNLV on Aug. 29. "I didn't know how they would respond if the game was close. I know what we trained for, but you still don't know."
Memphis (1-0) checked that box in a major way, coming from behind to earn a 27-21 win over the Rebels (0-1) and putting the Tigers right at the forefront of the College Football Playoff race in the Group of Six.
Here's what we learned about the Tigers after one game.
Memphis football is built for the trenches
As college football has become more and more about resources, the trenches have become a new kind of battleground — and the teams with more resources often have a wider advantage there than anywhere else.
In 2025, South Florida opened with eye-catching wins over Boise State and Florida. The Bulls did it by dominating the trenches in a way they hadn't over the past few seasons.
In 2026, Memphis went to UNLV and overwhelmed the Rebels on the lines. UNLV looked for a while like it had the two best players on the field in quarterback Jackson Arnold and running back Jai'Den "Jet" Thomas. But they were ineffective in the second half as Elijah Kinsler and the Memphis defensive line took over the game.
Assuming health, the Tigers' physicality on both sides of the ball should be there throughout the season. And that's going to give them a major advantage over basically everyone on their schedule.
QB Marcus Stokes flashes potential in Memphis debut
Memphis didn't need a great performance from its quarterback to win, and there's certainly room for improvement from Marcus Stokes, a transfer from Division II West Florida. He finished 15-of-26 for 223 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed seven times for 45 yards.
Stokes had a few notable misses, including an underthrown deep ball to tight end Hunter Tipton and a couple throws that skipped into the hands of open receivers. The top highlight was his 48-yard touchdown pass to Stonka Burnside, where he hit Burnside perfectly in stride for an easy score.
He took care of the ball and displayed good decision-making. He also showed what he can do with his legs and had no problems escaping the pocket.
"Any time a quarterback's not turning the ball over and he's making good decisions, we're going to have a chance to win," Huff said. "Probably five or six throws he'd love to have back that we missed that he was probably a little off platform here or there, but then you flip that around, he managed the game well."
Elijah Kinsler, Jaylin Carter among Memphis standouts
Memphis went into 2026 with an almost entirely new roster, and the majority of Memphis' players were making their Tiger debuts.
Kinsler was the standout, tallying 2.5 sacks. Zach Ruffin started next to Mike Montgomery at linebacker and led the team with 13 tackles.
Jaylin Carter got the majority of work at running back and impressed. He rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while Manny Covey had 41 yards on 10 carries. Tipton was very involved in the offense at tight end and finished with three catches for 31 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown with a hurdle over UNLV DB Tre Fulton at the goal line.
Jemyri Davis led Memphis in receiving with three catches for 62 yards.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What we learned about Memphis football, Marcus Stokes in comeback win over UNLV
