BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team jumps back into American Conference play this Saturday, Nov. 8, with a road game at Rice. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Both teams are in search of a much needed conference win as UAB enters the game at 1-3 in league play and Rice at 1-4. Rice most recently fell to Memphis 38-14, which is the team UAB beat back on Oct. 18. However, two weeks ago, Rice defeated UConn which is the team UAB lost to last weekend.
Who: UAB (3-5, 1-3 American) at Rice (4-5, 1-4 American)
Where: Rice Stadium – Houston, Texas
When: Saturday, Nov. 8 – 1 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
On The Call: Shawn Kenney (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst), Smacker Miles (sideline)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: UAB leads, 7-5
Last Meeting: Nov. 23, 2024 – UAB, 40-14
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
- Saturday marks the 13th all-time meeting between the Blazers and Owls with UAB holding a 7-5 advantage in the series. UAB and Rice met last year in Birmingham with the Blazers cruising to a 40-14 victory. Last time UAB was in Houston, the Owls defeated the Blazers 28-24 back in 2022.
- Rice’s offense ranks 120th overall in the nation but has the 16th best rushing offense nationally. The triple-option ground game is led by junior running back Quinton Jackson, who averages 5.4 yards per carry and 75.2 rushing yards per game.
- The Blazers did a good job in stopping the run last week by holding UConn to 107 rushing yards, which was a season-best mark for UAB in rushing yards allowed. UAB enters the Rice game ranked 117th nationally by allowing an average of 188.1 rushing yards per game.
- The interior line has been producing of late thanks in part to a pair of redshirt sophomores in Eamon Smalls and Jonathan Allen. Smalls has started every game and is second on the team with 39 total tackles, while Allen has started the last four games and has 20 total stops. Each had a sack last week and both will be key in helping UAB contain the run.
- UAB’s 19th ranked passing offense (283.6) looks to capitalize on a Rice team that ranks 67th in pass defense (218.1) and 66th overall in total defense (367.2). UAB is averaging 410.1 yards per game, good for 50th in the country.
- Wide receiver Brandon Hawkins Jr. scored two of UAB’s three touchdowns last weekend at UConn and looks to build on that momentum after a career performance in which he had 89 receiving yards and 32 rushing yards for a career-best 121 all-purpose yards. He had one receiving and one rushing touchdown.
- Quarterback Jalen Kitna returned from injury to start the UConn game, but Ryder Burton saw the majority of the playing time following the third series and finished the game with 209 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Blazers have received great quarterback play all season long as Kitna has thrown for 1,776 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Burton is completing 72.4 percent of his passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns.
- Solomon Beebe is having a strong year as a weapon all over the field for the Blazers and currently ranks 21st nationally in all-purpose yards per game (115.1) with 249 rush yards, 244 receiving yards and 428 kickoff return yards with six total touchdowns. His 428 kickoff return yards are ninth most nationally and his average of 25.2 is 19th nationally.
- UAB will look to control the clock as Rice is 16th nationally in time of possession at 32:19. In UAB’s win against Memphis, the Blazers had the ball for 10 more minutes than the Tigers and overall is 62nd in TOP at 30:15.
Following the Rice contest, UAB opens a two-game home stand against North Texas on Nov. 15 at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Click here to purchase tickets.
