FRISCO, Texas — Seth Henigan experienced an extraordinary farewell in his final game as Memphis’ starting quarterback, as he tied the American Athletic Conference (AAC) career record with his 104th touchdown pass and propelled the 25th-ranked Tigers to a triumphant victory.
In the Frisco Bowl on Tuesday night, Henigan completed the game with 294 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and narrowly missed another score, leading Memphis to a tight 42-37 win over West Virginia. The victory marked the second time in the program’s 109-year history that the Tigers finished with an impressive 11 wins.
“It means everything to me, and being able to exit with a win feels like a fitting conclusion to my career,” Henigan expressed. “Staying at the same university for four years reflects my character and the quality of those around me.”
Henigan, the only current four-year starting quarterback in the FBS who has played all his games with one team, marked his 50th game not far from his hometown of Denton, Texas. He completed 18 of his 26 passes throughout the night, including a notable 89-yard connection in the fourth quarter before receiver DeMeer Blankumsee was stopped just short of the end zone.
Aware that he could surpass the 104 touchdowns record held by Clayton Tune of Houston, Henigan chose to hand the ball off to Brandon Thomas for a 1-yard touchdown on the next play instead of taking the opportunity himself. “Ultimately, I’m just thrilled that we managed to secure the win,” Henigan stated.
West Virginia (6-7) had a momentary surge, scoring on six consecutive possessions that included four touchdowns. They found themselves in a position for a comeback late in the game after the Tigers missed a 50-yard field goal, but the Mountaineers’ efforts ended in disappointment when Elijah Herring intercepted a pass.
“The dynamics of a football game are unpredictable. We executed what was necessary, and we found a way to succeed,” commented fifth-year coach Ryan Silverfield, now boasting a 4-0 record in bowl games with the Tigers. “That’s been our mantra this entire season; to leave no doubt and always find a way.”
Reflecting on his time with Henigan during the post-game press conference, Silverfield expressed his appreciation, stating, “He has been everything to this program. His loyalty is truly exceptional.”
For West Virginia, Garrett Greene completed 29 out of 40 passes for 328 yards, with two touchdown connections to Hudson Clement, alongside a rushing performance of 95 yards and one touchdown. Clement finished with 11 catches totaling 166 yards, while CJ Donaldson added 83 rushing yards and two touchdown scores.
The Mountaineers entered the game just five days after Rich Rodriguez was reappointed as head coach, marking his second tenure with the program. While Rodriguez was present at the game, offensive coordinator Chad Scott took the reins as interim head coach.
“We didn’t start as quickly as we had hoped, but the team remained steadfast,” Scott noted. “Their resilience was commendable. Unfortunately, the outcome wasn’t in our favor.”
During the contest, Memphis quickly took the lead, trailing only briefly. Henigan’s first touchdown pass came roughly ten minutes into the game, connecting with Mario Anderson on a 4-yard underhand throw. His 104th touchdown pass matched the AAC record on an 18-yard completion to Blankumsee just before halftime, establishing a 28-14 advantage.
Henigan concluded his Memphis career with an impressive record, racking up 14,266 passing yards, 104 touchdowns, and 1,147 completions — all higher than the previous records held by Brady White, the quarterback he succeeded.
At one point, West Virginia fell behind 17-0 early in the second quarter. After a fourth-down failure by Greene, Memphis swiftly capitalized with a 46-yard touchdown run by Greg Desrosiers. Nevertheless, the Mountaineers managed to score six consecutive times afterward, even outgaining the Tigers in total yards, 534 to 474.
Memphis has now scored 20 or more points in each of its last 40 games, holding the longest active streak in the nation. This season also marks the Tigers’ consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time in school history, with their sole higher victory tally coming in 2019 when they finished 12-2.
Looking ahead, Rodriguez will kick off his second stint as West Virginia’s coach at home against FCS team Robert Morris on August 30. During his prior tenure, Rodriguez last coached the Mountaineers in a narrow 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh in December 2007.
Meanwhile, Memphis has claimed victory in eight straight games at its home stadium since a win over Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl. They will open their next season against FCS opponent Chattanooga on August 30, 2025.