Marcus Stokes’ 223 yards and two TD passes lift Memphis past UNLV 27-21 in season opener

Memphis started its season the way teams want to begin: with a quarterback-led offensive effort and a late defensive push that changed the finish. Marcus Stokes threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers rallied for the last 13 points to beat UNLV 27-21 on Saturday night in a season opener for both programs.

The game’s momentum increasingly tilted toward Memphis in the second half. After UNLV had a chance to keep control late, Memphis answered with a sequence of scoring drives that flipped the score. The decisive factor was not just points on the board, but timing, as Memphis delivered the final 13 of the game to secure the win.

Stokes’ role was central to that offensive surge. His 223 passing yards formed the basis of Memphis’ ability to sustain drives and put points on the board when the game tightened. His two touchdown passes also provided direct scoring impact during a contest that ultimately came down to the final margin.

Memphis’ defense contributed by forcing the late swing. The result credits the Tigers’ defensive line for leading the way, and the outcome suggests the unit’s pressure helped disrupt UNLV at critical moments when the Rebels were trying to protect leads or close out the opener.

UNLV, playing its own first game of the season, had enough to keep pace and make Memphis earn the finish. A one-score game with a late rally means the Rebels were still in striking distance late into the contest, and Memphis had to handle the pressure that comes with defending and then converting in the final minutes.

For Memphis, the win provides early evidence of two things coaches typically value: game-management in the closing stretch and an offense capable of producing efficient scoring when it matters. For UNLV, the narrow defeat is a reminder that early-season execution on both sides of the ball will be crucial if the Rebels want to avoid similar late collapses.

What to watch next is whether Memphis can repeat the closing performance that produced the final 13 points, and whether Stokes can build on this opener by sustaining production across subsequent games. On the other side, UNLV will be looking to address the late-game moments that prevented a season-opening victory despite being in the fight to the end.