The student becoming the master proved actual Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee. Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield marched his Tigers into Doak Campbell and embarrassed Florida State for 60 minutes of football.
Silverfield was on the staff at Memphis with Mike Norvell before he took his talents to Florida State.
"Winning is hard, and I never want to minimize a win," Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said. "But this is monumental. Let's call it what it is. To go on the road, regardless of the record, they were preseason No. 10 in the country.
It was a massive week for the Memphis program. Now 3-0, with the G5 playoff bid very much in the picture; they also went home with a $1.3 million check from Florida State after whooping their tail in their stadium.
Memphis controlled the game the whole way, forcing a fumble on Florida State's first offensive play from scrimmage. It was all downhill for the Seminoles from there on out.
Memphis QB Seth Henigan showcased his experience and playmaking ability, throwing for 272 yards with two downs—this marked Henigan's 40th straight game with a passing touchdown.
While it was not very challenging to stop the Seminoles' offense, the Tigers' defense dominated at all levels.
DJ Uiagalelei finished the game 16/30 for 201 yards with an interception. He led a pair of scoring drives in the third quarter to make it a one-score game, but it proved to be too little too late.
Florida State still showcases zero ability to run the football. The unit finished the day with 37 yards on the ground averaging 1.5 yards. They are still very questionable while running backs are totaling a combined 15 carries.
There is no identity, no execution, and no saving grace. Fans have clamored for a change at quarterback, but it won't fix this situation. There is not enough talent in this offense for a quarterback to flourish.
FSU offensive coordinator Alex Atkins is set to return next week from his three-game suspension; you'd hope for an uptick in production on that side of the ball, but what has this unit shown to give you any confidence?
Defensively, Florida State played with a winning effort. The front seven played exponentially better, especially the linebackers. Juice Cryer showcased his athletic ability on a highlight-reel interception. Up front, Joshua Farmer and Patrick Payton played much better.
The 'Noles won up front. A run defense that was bullied by both Georgia Tech and Boston College showed up Saturday and held the Tigers to just 65 rushing yards at two yards per carry.
It came down to Seth Henigan making clutch throws when he had to, and he did it repeatedly.
Memphis moves to 3-0 with a G5 playoff bid in play. Florida State moves to 0-3 for the third time in program history and the second time in Mike Norvell's tenure.
Memphis is on the road next week vs Navy, Florida State is back home for a primetime matchup with California.
A nightmare 2024 season for Florida State doesn't end anytime soon. Prepare for a very long year in Tallahassee.