Liberty Bowl Preview and Prediction: Iowa State vs. Memphis
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl matchup between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Memphis Tigers.
GAME INFO
Friday, December 29; 2:30 p.m. CT; Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium; Memphis, Tennessee
TV: ESPN, ESPN+
Radio: ESPN Radio
Records: Iowa State (7-5); Memphis (9-3)
Rankings: N/A
Series History: Iowa State leads, 1-0-0
Last Meeting: Iowa State 21, Memphis 20 (2017)
Line: Iowa State (-10.0)
Fun Fact: These two teams have met just once in their history, and as fate would have it, it was in the 2017 Liberty Bowl. Kyle Kempt and Allen Lazard connected 10 times for 142 yards and a score in a 21-20 victory over a 20th-ranked Memphis team.
KEY PLAYERS
IOWA STATE CYCLONES
QB ROCCO BECHT
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht was the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year after helping lead the Cyclones to a 7-5 record in 2023. The freshman signal-caller threw for 2,674 yards and 20 touchdowns with eight interceptions, completing 63.5% of his attempts along the way. As the Cyclones’ running game found its stride down the stretch under Abu Sama, a balanced attack helped keep Iowa State on track, allowing its defense to control the majority of the games it played.
DB BEAU FREYLER
An unsung hero for the Cyclones’ defense in 2023, Beau Freyler led the team with 95 tackles this season, 43 more than the second-highest tackler on the team. Freyler also ranked second on the team with three interceptions, trailing only First-Team All-Big 12 honoree Jeremiah Cooper (5). The junior safety out of Colorado Springs, CO, was a consistent playmaker all season for ISU and will need tobe so yet again when they take on the Memphis Tigers.
MEMPHIS TIGERS
QB SETH HENIGAN
Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan leads one of the most potent offenses in the country, as the Tigers rank 14th in passing yards per game (301.7) and seventh nationally in scoring offense (39.7 ppg). Henigan has been efficient all season long, completing 66.5% of his passes for 3,519 yards and 28 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He’s also added four rushing touchdowns and 247 yards on the ground but isn’t as much of a threat to run. Against a Jon Heacock defense, Henigan will have to display patience to find success.
LB CHANDLER MARTIN
Memphis sophomore linebacker Chandler Martin emerged as the best playmaker that the Tigers’ defense has at its disposal in 2023. Martin leads the team with 86 tackles but also made huge contributions elsewhere with two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions, one of which was returned 60 yards for a touchdown. If Memphis’ defense is going to have a big day against the Cyclones, the most obvious contributor would likely be Martin.
KEY STORYLINES
IOWA STATE CYCLONES
Can Jon Heacock’s defense slow down one of the top passing offenses in the country? Memphis likes to throw the football all over the field, but against the 3-3-5 defense that Iowa State has mastered over the years, that can be difficult. If the Cyclones are able to stymie Memphis’ vertical passing game and force them to take what the defense gives them underneath, it plays right into the kind of game that ISU wants to play.
MEMPHIS TIGERS
Can Memphis be balanced enough offensively to force Iowa State to account for the run? The Tigers have a middle-of-the-road running game, ranking 75th nationally with 150.8 yards per game. If they can’t force Iowa State to account for the run, Seth Henigan is going to have a hard time making big plays through the air. Memphis will need to make a concerted effort to run the football in order to bring ISU’s safeties into the box. If they don’t, this could be a long day for the Tigers’ offense.
PREDICTION: IOWA STATE 31, MEMPHIS 21
I’ve seen it happen too many times to ignore, and this game is the perfect example of why Jon Heacock is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. Memphis brings a high-flying attack into the Liberty Bowl, and on paper, it looks like they should have success against the Cyclones. However, Memphis hasn’t seen anything like the Iowa State defense that they’re going to face in this contest, and there’s no amount of practice reps that can fully prepare them for it. I expect Memphis to bring some swagger into what will literally be a home game, and they might even jump out to an early lead. But, at some point in the game, Heacock’s defense is going to put the vice grips on and force Memphis to take the underneath routes. Eventually, the Tigers’ offensive coordinator and quarterback will get frustrated and try to force some throws down the field, and that’s going to play right into Iowa State’s game plan. With a couple of forced turnovers and a balanced attack from the ISU offense, I like the Cyclones to win this game rather comfortably.
