Part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, it was played on December 21, 2007, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
With 12:03 remaining in the first quarter, FAU quarterback Rusty Smith connected on a four-yard touchdown pass to running back Charles Pierre.
On their third play, Memphis quarterback Martin Hankins connected on a 21-yard pass to wide receiver Carlton Robinzine, driving the Tigers into Owl territory.
With 9:20 remaining, Hankins connected on his 23rd touchdown pass of the season, an eight-yard strike to tight end Brett Russell.
The punt gave Florida Atlantic its worst starting field position of the game, but the Owls were able to complete a 30-yard pass on their first play of the drive, erasing the deficit and setting up the offense in Memphis territory.
FAU continued to move the ball effectively, picking up a quick first down before Diivory Edgecomb earned his second touchdown of the game on a 29-reception from Smith.
Thanks to the poor field position and good defensive play from Memphis, the Owls failed to reach their own 40-yard line and were forced to punt the ball for the first time in the game.
Punter Keegan Peterson failed to connect accurately with the ball, which bounced to a stop at the Memphis 37-yard line after traveling just 28 yards.
A long pass downfield fell incomplete, and the quarter ended with Memphis facing a second-and-ten situation and losing by a score of 17–7.
Thanks to their offensive effectiveness and several long kickoff returns, the Florida Atlantic Owls led Memphis 17–7 at the end of the first quarter.
Memphis had success moving the ball, but wide receiver Maurice Jones apparently fumbled after a short catch.
Despite having been stopped with no score on its last drive of the first quarter, Florida Atlantic returned to the offensive efficiency that characterized its possessions at the beginning of the game.
After three straight plays were stopped for no gain or negative yardage, Memphis was forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal attempt that was successful.
As before, however, good field position and a successful offense allowed Florida Atlantic to strike quickly for a score.
Rusty Smith completed a 32-yard pass to Cortez Grant that made up most of the seven-play, 55-yard drive, which was capped by a four-yard reception by William Rose.
Inside the Florida Atlantic 30-yard line, the Owls managed to slow the Tigers' offense, forcing Memphis to convert a third down in order to keep the drive alive.
Florida Atlantic continued to play tough defense, but after a sack on Memphis quarterback Martin Hankins was negated by a facemask penalty, the Tigers were able to finally punch the ball across the goal line on a 19-yard pass to Earnest Williams and gain their first touchdown of the second quarter.
Inside the 20-yard line, the Owls managed to force a third-and-long possession against Memphis, but the Tigers were able to convert the first down on a pass interference call against Florida Atlantic.
Driving the ball inside the one-yard line, Memphis was called for a false start penalty, but on the next play, quarterback Martin Hankins threw a six-yard screen pass for a touchdown.
[8] With their once-large lead having waned to a single field goal, FAU began its first drive of the second half hoping to put points on the scoreboard.
A 55-yard kick return by Florida Atlantic seemed to put the Owls in excellent position to do just that, but three plays resulted in -11 yards, and FAU was limited to its first three-and-out possession of the game.
The poor field position didn't deter Florida Atlantic's offense, which completed a 30-yard pass on the second play of its first drive of the fourth quarter.
With three yards needed to earn a first down, Howard Schnellenberger elected to send in his offense rather than attempt a field goal.
Their cause was not helped by an illegal blocking penalty on the return, which pushed Memphis's starting field position back to their own 25-yard line.
Despite good field position, the Owls were unable to earn a first down and punted the ball back to Memphis, which was forced to begin at its own 11-yard line with just 6:36 remaining and trailing by 17 points.