BYU faces Memphis in Miami Beach Bowl

PROVO, Utah – BYU football heads to Miami Wednesday to prep for Monday's Miami Beach Bowl vs. Memphis, which is set to kick off at 2 p.m. EST.

ESPN will broadcast the game. A live radio broadcast is also available on the Cougar IMG Sports Network via byucougars.com, KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM and the BYU Cougars app. Pregame radio coverage starts at noon EST.

BYUtv's coverage of the game launches with Countdown to Kickoff at 1 p.m. EST on BYUtv and byutvsports.com. A postgame show begins after the conclusion of the game.

BYU (8-4) vs. Memphis (9-3, 7-1 AAC)
Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 at 2 p.m. EST
Marlin Park
Miami, Fla.

BYU Game Notes

Memphis Game Notes

Notes Highlights

Four in a Row. BYU achieved a 3-0 record against Power 5 conference schools and overcame a rash of midseason injuries to key players to finish with four-straight wins and an 8-4 record en route to a 10th-straight bowl appearance. In doing so, BYU became one of only 12 programs to earn a bowl invitation each of the last 10 years.

Postseason Success. The Cougars bring a 6-3 bowl record under Bronco Mendenhall to the Miami Beach Bowl matchup with the American Athletic Conference Champion Memphis Tigers (9-3). Only Florida State with seven bowl wins has topped BYU’s six postseason victories during the past nine seasons.

BYU vs. AAC. BYU is 18-3 against AAC schools after defeating UConn and Houston, and falling to UCF this year.

10 seasons. Bronco Mendenhall is now in his 10th season as head coach of the Cougars. Mendenhall has a 90-38 record, and BYU ranks 12th in total wins nationally during his tenure.

Beating the best. Since 2003, BYU has 18 wins against Power 5 schools, which ranks second among non-Power 5 schools behind Navy. BYU has the longest season streak, with nine straight seasons with a Power 5 win. 

12 weeks on national stage. BYU games have been televised on network channels available to a national audience for 12 of its 13 games this season­—ESPN seven times, ESPN2 once, ESPNU once, Fox Sports 1 once, CBS Sports Network once and BYUtv once. 

Offense

Go fast, go hard has been the mantra of offensive coordinator Robert Anae. In 2014 the team is averaging one play every 20.9 seconds and 79.9 plays per game. Last year with a new offense, the Cougars averaged 89.9 plays per game, the second most of any team in the country only behind Texas Tech. Comparatively, BYU ran 79.2 plays per game in 2012.

BYU has not been shut out for 136 consecutive games. The last time the Cougars failed to score was in 2003 in a 3-0 loss to Utah. That loss was the only time BYU has not produced points since 1975. BYU has scored in the last 493 of 494 games since 1975.

First downs. BYU’s offense is averaging 25.3 first downs per game, tying it for No. 11 in the nation.

C-Stew. On the season, Christian Stewart now has 26 touchdowns (22 passing, four rushing). He has 2,273 passing yards on the season with only seven starts.

Total offense. BYU’s offense has totaled over 500 yards of total offense in five games this year, including one game over 600.

Scoring offense. The offense is ranked No. 19 in the country for points per game with 36.2. The Cougars have scored 23 touchdowns in the past four games combined. 

Receiving. BYU receiver Jordan Leslie caught an 83-yard touchdown from Christian Stewart for the team’s  longest play from scrimmage this year. It is the second touchdown pass of 80 or more yards this season for Stewart (Pearson 81-yard catch at Boise State).

Blue zone. The BYU offense’s 40 blue-zone TDs are tied with No. 14 in the nation, finding the end zone 71.43 percent of the time.

Defense

BYU’s run defense has been dominant. At 117.5 rushing yards allowed per game, BYU ranks No. 14 in the country.

In the past nine seasons, BYU has finished ranked in the top 25 in various national statistical categories 61 times on defense. Currently, BYU ranks in the top 25 in defensive rushing yards per game (No. 14, 117.4 ypg), opponent rushing yards per attempt (No. 13, 3.26 ypa), total opponent yards per play (No. 25, 4.93 ypp) and total pass breakups (No. 6, 62 pbu).

Lengthening the field. The Cougars have allowed 36 rushing plays of 10 or more yards this season, ranking them in a tie at No. 2 in the nation with East Carolina and Michigan State. For the 2013 season, BYU allowed opponents 54 run plays of 10 yards or more to rank No. 26 in the country. The defense is also No. 1 in runs of 20 or more yards allowed this season.

Safety. The BYU defense has recorded safeties against Houston, Boise State and Savannah State. Three is the most in one season under Bronco Mendenhall.