Memphis scores on bizarre 94-yard punt return against Mississippi State

Memphis’ Calvin Austin picked up a punted ball Missississippi State thought it had downed and returned it for a TD

One of the stranger plays of the season to date — or for the entire season — took place on Saturday as Mississippi State played at Memphis.

The Tigers led 21-17 in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs punted.

The ball was kept out of the end zone by one of the Mississippi State special teams players. Another thought he downed it inside the Memphis 10.

However, an alert Calvin Austin III picked up the ball and took off the other way. While one Mississippi State player congratulated another and an official looked like he was calling the play dead.

But …

Before Mississippi State knew it, Austin was in the end zone 94 yards later for a Memphis touchdown.

Austin had already caught a pair of touchdown passes in the second half before his alert decision.

The touchdown Memphis a 28-17 lead en route to a 31-29 victory. It was the Tigers’ 17th home win in a row and it came over an SEC opponent. Memphis has won 22 consecutive nonconference home games, with the last loss coming in 2013

The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs by the same score Alabama topped Florida an hour or so earlier.