Paxton Lynch, who finished the game with 384 passing yards and three touchdowns in the 37-24 win against Ole Miss Saturday, was named the American Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career.
Lynch set career highs in pass attempts (52) and completions (39) in leading his team to victory against No. 13 Mississippi in front of a national television audience on ABC.
Before Saturday’s monumental victory, the Tigers were ranked No. 22 in the Amway Coaches Poll and were unranked in the AP Poll. This week, Memphis checks in at No. 17 in the Coach’s Poll and No. 18 in the AP Poll, the team’s highest ranking in school history in both polls.
Notable year-to-date stats
532.8 – The number of yards per game the Tigers are producing on offense, which ranks 10th in the country. Additionally, Memphis is one of just five Division 1 FBS schools to have thrown for at least 2,000 yards and rushed for 1,000 yards through six games this season.
46.0 – The number of points Memphis is scoring per game this season, which ranks fourth best in the country.
90.9 – Junior placekicker Jake Elliot’s field goal percentage. Elliot is 10 for 11 on field goals this season and is tied for 10th in the nation in field goal percentage and a perfect 34-for-34 on extra point attempts. Elliot, who also handles the kickoff duties, ranks fifth in the country with 74 percent of his kickoffs resulting in touchbacks.
5 – The number of times the Tiger have turned the ball over in their six games. The Tigers are tied for the seventh fewest turnovers by an offense in the nation.
49.46 – The percentage of third downs converted by Memphis’ offense this season, ranking ninth best in the country.
97.14 – The Tigers scoring percentage in the red zone this season. Only Idaho, who has made 14 fewer trips to the red zone, has a better red zone scoring percentage than Memphis.
4 – The number of 60-plus yard plays Memphis has had this season, tied for the 10th most in the country.
15.58 – The Tigers opponents average 15.58 yards per kickoff return, which ranks as tied for fourth fewest in the nation.
9 – The number of touchdowns the Memphis defense has surrendered in 20 opponent red zone opportunities. The 45 percent touchdown rate is tied for 17th best in the country among defenses.
172.05 – This number represents Lynch’s quarterback rating through six games, which ranks sixth in the country. Lynch has also thrown the second fewest interceptions (one) of any quarterback who’s attempted at least 200 passes.
7 – The number of total touchdowns junior Sam Craft has scored this season, which is tied for the fifth most in the AAC. Craft has recorded five rushing and two receiving touchdowns.
16.8 – The average number of yards gained every time freshman Jae’Lon Oglesby touches the ball on offense or on returns, which ranks highest in the AAC. His teammate, sophomore Anthony Miller, ranks fifth in the AAC at 15 yards per touch.
Junior running back Sam Craft has scored seven total touchdowns this season, which is tied for the fifth most in the AAC.
