The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Florida
10/29/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB returns to action following its bye week as the Blazers travel to Tampa for an American Conference matchup against South Florida on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT (noon ET), with the game televised nationally on ESPNU.
The Blazers (4-3, 2-1 American) enter the contest following a dramatic 30-17 overtime victory over East Carolina on Oct. 15 and will look to secure their first road win of the season. South Florida (5-2, 1-2 American) also returns from a bye week after defeating Kent State 29-2 in its last outing.
Saturday's matchup features two of the American Conference's top defensive units. UAB leads the league in total defense and ranks first nationally in passing defense, while South Florida leads the American in scoring defense, allowing just 15.1 points per game.
GAME INFORMATION
| Matchup | UAB (4-3, 2-1) at South Florida (5-2, 1-2) |
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 31 |
| Kickoff | 11 a.m. CT / Noon ET |
| Location | Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Fla. |
| Television | ESPNU |
| Television Crew | Mark Neely (play-by-play), Leger Douzable (analyst) |
| Live Stream | Watch ESPN |
| Radio | WJOX-FM 94.5 / Varsity Network |
| UAB Radio Crew | David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline) |
| Series | South Florida leads 3-2 |
| Game Notes | UAB Game Notes at South Florida |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
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BACK TO BUSINESS — UAB returns to action for the first time in 16 days after its dramatic 30-17 overtime victory over East Carolina on Oct. 15. The Blazers erased a 17-9 deficit in the final 1:02 of regulation, driving 93 yards without a timeout to tie the game before scoring twice in overtime, including an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown by Delvon Gulley. UAB and South Florida both enter Saturday coming off a bye week.
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LOOKING FOR A ROAD BREAKTHROUGH — UAB is a perfect 4-0 at Protective Stadium this season but has yet to win away from Birmingham, falling at Illinois, Louisiana and Memphis. The Blazers are averaging 28.3 points per game at home compared to 16.7 on the road. UAB's last road victory came at Tulsa on Nov. 29, 2025, when the Blazers defeated the Golden Hurricane 31-24.
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NO. 1 PASS DEFENSE IN THE NATION — UAB leads the FBS in passing defense, allowing just 126.0 yards per game through seven contests. No opponent has thrown for 200 yards against the Blazers this season, including East Carolina, which managed just 126 passing yards in UAB's most recent victory. The Blazers also lead the American Conference and rank 31st nationally in total defense at 316.6 yards per game.
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DRAMATIC DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND — UAB has made significant strides defensively in 2026. Through seven games last season, the Blazers allowed 438.1 total yards and 38.9 points per contest. Those numbers have dropped to 316.6 yards and 24.6 points this season, improvements of 121.5 yards and 14.3 points per game. UAB has also reduced its passing yards allowed from 238.4 per game to a nation-leading 126.0.
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TWENTY IS PLENTY — The Blazers are 4-0 this season when holding opponents to 20 points or fewer, defeating ULM (26-20), Navy (24-20), Samford (33-14) and East Carolina (30-17). UAB is 0-3 when allowing 21 or more points. The Blazers have held four of their last six opponents to 20 points or fewer.
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DEFENSIVE SHOWDOWN IN TAMPA — Saturday features two of the American Conference's top defenses. South Florida leads the conference and ranks 13th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 15.1 points per game. The Bulls are second in the American in total defense (325.1 yards per game) and passing defense (181.0). UAB counters with the league's top total defense (316.6) and the nation's best passing defense (126.0).
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BULLS BRING THE PRESSURE — South Florida has recorded 50 tackles for loss through seven games, an average of 7.1 per contest. The Bulls have also tallied 14 sacks while holding five of their first seven opponents to 17 points or fewer. Under first-year head coach Brian Hartline and defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge, South Florida has established itself as one of the conference's most physical defensive units.
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A DIFFERENT TEST IN CONFERENCE PLAY — South Florida has posted contrasting defensive numbers against nonconference and American Conference opponents. The Bulls went 4-0 outside the league while allowing just 8.5 points and 82.8 rushing yards per game. In three conference contests, however, South Florida is 1-2 and has allowed 24.0 points and 226.0 rushing yards per game.
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GROUND GAME KEY FOR UAB — UAB is averaging 168.0 rushing yards per contest and is led by Roderick Robinson II and Bam McReynolds. Robinson has rushed for a team-high 436 yards, while McReynolds has added 335 yards and four rushing touchdowns. The duo has combined for 771 rushing yards, accounting for nearly 66 percent of UAB's ground production this season. McReynolds leads the Blazers with five total offensive touchdowns.
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BULLS PROTECT THE FOOTBALL — South Florida enters Saturday as one of the nation's few teams without a passing interception this season, having attempted 183 passes without a pick. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. has completed 115-of-179 passes for 1,266 yards and six touchdowns. The Bulls have committed just four turnovers, all on lost fumbles, through seven games.
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CROWTHER LEADS THE CHARGE — South Florida running back D.J. Crowther leads the Bulls with 518 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 74.0 yards per game. Crowther also has eight receptions for 81 yards and another touchdown, giving him a team-high eight total scores. South Florida has scored 15 of its 21 offensive touchdowns on the ground this season.
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BURTON'S LATE-GAME HEROICS — Quarterback Ryder Burton engineered one of the most memorable comeback drives in UAB history against East Carolina, leading the Blazers 93 yards without a timeout in the final 1:02 of regulation before converting the game-tying two-point attempt. Burton then connected with Rod Robinson II for a touchdown on UAB's first overtime possession. Burton has thrown for 1,184 yards and six touchdowns this season and enters Saturday 108 passing yards shy of 2,000 for his collegiate career.
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SMITH AND MIMS PROVIDE BIG-PLAY THREATS — Wide receivers CJ Smith and Ty Mims have combined for 699 receiving yards this season. Smith leads UAB with 350 yards on 19 receptions, averaging 18.4 yards per catch, while Mims has 349 yards on a team-high 20 catches. Smith is coming off his most productive game as a Blazer, recording eight catches for 119 yards against East Carolina.
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PIERCE MAKING HIS PRESENCE FELT — Safety Jo'Tavion Pierce earned American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honorable mention following his performance against East Carolina. Pierce recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including 10 solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He ranks second on the team with 59 tackles (40 solo) and has added 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles this season.
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DEAN DISRUPTING OFFENSES — Marlin Dean continues to be one of the nation's most disruptive defensive linemen, leading UAB with eight tackles for loss, five sacks and four forced fumbles. His four forced fumbles rank second nationally and lead the American Conference. Dean's breakout performance came against Navy, when he registered 12 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles to earn American Defensive Player of the Week honors.
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BYARD LEADING THE WAY — Linebacker Muaaz Byard leads UAB with 69 tackles through seven games, averaging 9.9 stops per contest. Byard ranks among the top 10 nationally in tackles per game and is second in the FBS in solo tackles per game (6.1). He has recorded double-digit tackles in three games this season, including a season-high 15 against East Carolina.
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DUH-LONG-UH RANGE CONTINUES — Jonah Delange has established himself as one of the nation's most productive kickers, connecting on 17-of-19 field-goal attempts (89.5 percent) while remaining perfect on 14 PATs. Delange leads the American in made field goals and has accounted for a team-high 65 points. He set a UAB record with a 57-yard field goal at Memphis and ranks fourth in program history with 48 career field goals. Delange has never missed an extra point, converting all 74 career attempts.
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SPECIAL TEAMS MAKING A DIFFERENCE — Punter Oliver Straw is averaging 45.9 yards per punt, with 11 of his 20 attempts traveling at least 50 yards and nine downed inside the 20-yard line. Ty Mims has also been a weapon in the return game, averaging 15.2 yards on 10 punt returns, a mark that ranks among the top 10 nationally. Kickoff specialist Owen Simpson has recorded touchbacks on 27 of his 35 kickoffs this season.
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FOURTH-QUARTER FINISHERS — UAB has outscored opponents 59-31 in the fourth quarter this season, holding four consecutive opponents scoreless in the final period earlier in the year. The Blazers have limited opponents to 7-of-20 (35.0 percent) on fourth-quarter third-down attempts. South Florida has also excelled late, outscoring opponents 80-34 in the fourth quarter through seven games.
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HALLOWEEN FOOTBALL — Saturday marks the sixth time UAB has played on Oct. 31 in program history. The Blazers are 1-4 in their previous five Halloween contests, with their lone victory coming in a 38-33 win at UTEP in 2009. This season's matchup will be UAB's first Halloween game against South Florida.
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SERIES HISTORY — South Florida leads the all-time series 3-2, with Saturday marking the sixth meeting between the programs and fourth consecutive season they have faced one another. UAB won the inaugural meeting 22-19 in Tampa on Nov. 22, 2003, and earned a 56-35 victory in Birmingham in 2023. The Bulls have won the last two meetings, including a 48-18 victory at Protective Stadium in 2025.
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BLAZER FIT CHECK — UAB will wear gold helmets, white jerseys and gold pants against South Florida, the most frequently worn uniform combination in program history. The Blazers are 26-77 all-time in gold-white-gold, with Saturday marking the 104th appearance of the combination. UAB has worn the look twice this season, defeating Navy 24-20 and falling at Memphis 38-13. The combination also has a connection to Saturday's opponent, as the Blazers wore gold-white-gold in their 22-19 victory at South Florida in 2003.
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BACK ON NATIONAL TELEVISION — Saturday marks UAB's fourth appearance on an ESPN linear network in a five-game stretch. The Blazers defeated Navy on ESPN on Sept. 25 before facing Memphis on ESPN2 and East Carolina on ESPN earlier this month. The South Florida matchup will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
For more information on UAB football, visit UABSports.com and follow @UAB_FB on social media.
