The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Temple
11/12/2026 9:29:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB returns to the road Saturday, Nov. 14, with an opportunity to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2022 as the Blazers travel to Philadelphia to face Temple in an American Conference matchup at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT (1 p.m. ET), with the game streaming on ESPN+.
The Blazers (5-4, 3-2 American) enter Saturday's contest coming off a 23-12 victory over Charlotte, their fifth home win of the season and most victories overall since 2022. UAB is seeking its first road victory of 2026 while continuing to build momentum behind a defense that ranks among the nation's best.
Temple (2-7, 1-4 American) returns home following a 42-35 loss at Navy in which the Owls erased a 28-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Under head coach K.C. Keeler, Temple has remained competitive despite its record, including a road victory over South Florida earlier this season. Saturday will also serve as the Owls' Senior Day and Family Day.
The matchup marks UAB's first trip to Philadelphia and just the second meeting between the programs. The Blazers defeated Temple 34-24 at Protective Stadium on Nov. 18, 2023.
GAME INFORMATION
| Matchup | UAB (5-4, 3-2 American) at Temple (2-7, 1-4 American) |
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 14 |
| Kickoff | Noon CT / 1 p.m. ET |
| Location | Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Television | ESPN+ |
| Television Crew | Joe Tordy (Play-by-Play), Patrick Murray (Analyst), Jake Starr (Sideline) |
| Radio | WJOX-FM 94.5 / Varsity Network |
| UAB Radio Crew | David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline) |
| Series | UAB leads 1-0 |
| Last Meeting | UAB won 34-24 on Nov. 18, 2023 |
| Special Event | Temple Senior Day / Family Day |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
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ONE WIN FROM BOWL ELIGIBILITY — UAB enters Saturday with five victories and needs one more to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2022. The Blazers last appeared in the 2022 Bahamas Bowl, defeating Miami (Ohio) 24-20. After finishing with four victories in each of the previous three seasons, UAB has already secured its most wins since 2022. The Blazers also remain in contention in the American Conference standings with three regular-season games remaining.
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SEEKING THAT FIRST ROAD WIN — UAB is a perfect 5-0 at Protective Stadium this season but remains winless in four road contests. The Blazers have defeated ULM, Navy, Samford, East Carolina and Charlotte in Birmingham, marking their first 5-0 home start since 2019. Saturday presents an opportunity to carry that success away from home and secure their first road victory of the Alex Mortensen era as full-time head coach.
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NO. 1 PASS DEFENSE IN THE NATION — UAB continues to lead the FBS in passing defense, allowing just 122.6 yards per game through nine contests. The Blazers have held all nine opponents below 200 passing yards, surrendering only 1,103 yards through the air this season. UAB has also climbed to 20th nationally and first in the American Conference in total defense (298.6 yards per game). The Blazers limited Charlotte to 175 passing yards and just 234 yards of total offense last Saturday.
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DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND CONTINUES — Under first-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, UAB has emerged as one of the nation's most improved defenses. Through nine games, the Blazers are allowing 298.6 total yards and 23.8 points per contest, compared to 408.1 yards and 37.1 points at the same point last season. The improvements of 109.5 yards and 13.3 points per game have helped transform the Blazers into one of the American's top defensive units. UAB has held four opponents below 300 total yards, including each of its last two.
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DEAN OF DEFENSE — Defensive end Marlin Dean earned his second American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor Monday following a career-high three sacks, four tackles and a forced fumble against Charlotte. Dean leads the Blazers with 10.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles through nine games. His sack total ranks fifth in UAB single-season history and is the most by a Blazer since Larry McSwain recorded 13 in 2004. Dean leads the American in sacks and tackles for loss, while his five forced fumbles are tied for the national lead.
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HISTORIC CONFERENCE HONORS — UAB has earned three American Conference Defensive Player of the Week awards this season after never receiving the honor during its first three seasons in the league. Dean has won twice, following victories over Navy and Charlotte, while linebacker Ike Esonwune was recognized after the Blazers' win over ULM. Combined with kicker Jonah Delange's Special Teams Player of the Week honor, UAB has collected four American Conference weekly awards this season.
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BRINGING THE PRESSURE — UAB has recorded 21 sacks through nine games, surpassing its full-season totals of 18 in both 2024 and 2025. The Blazers have registered seven sacks over their last two games, including four against Charlotte. Dean accounts for half of UAB's team sack total with 10.5, while Tylin Jackson has added 3.5 and Jo'Tavion Pierce has recorded 2.5. The Blazers' pressure has played a significant role in limiting opposing passing attacks throughout the season.
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TACKLING MACHINES — Linebacker Muaaz Byard and safety Jo'Tavion Pierce continue to rank among the nation's top defenders in solo tackles. Byard leads UAB with 83 total tackles, including 52 solo stops, while Pierce has added 78 tackles and 50 solo. The duo ranks fourth and fifth nationally, respectively, in solo tackles per game. Together, they have combined for 161 tackles and 102 solo stops, accounting for more than 27% of UAB's total tackles this season.
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TWENTY IS PLENTY — UAB is a perfect 5-0 when holding opponents to 20 points or fewer this season and 0-4 when allowing 21 or more. The Blazers have limited three of their last four opponents to 17 points or fewer, including a season-low 12 against Charlotte. UAB has also held opponents below 250 total yards in three of its last five games, surrendering 230 against Samford, 237 at South Florida and 234 against Charlotte.
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FOURTH-QUARTER FINISHERS — UAB has outscored opponents 76-47 in the fourth quarter this season, with its plus-29 scoring margin representing its best differential of any quarter. The Blazers scored 17 points in the final period against Charlotte, including two rushing touchdowns by Ja'Vin Simpkins. UAB held four consecutive opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter earlier this season and has limited opposing offenses to just 8-of-27 (29.6%) on fourth-quarter third-down attempts.
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GROUND GAME LEADING THE WAY — UAB's three-headed rushing attack of Rod Robinson II, Bam McReynolds and Ja'Vin Simpkins has combined for 1,165 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns this season, accounting for approximately 85% of the Blazers' rushing production. Robinson leads the team with 551 yards and recorded his second 100-yard game of the season against Charlotte, rushing for 101 yards on 14 carries. McReynolds has added 411 yards and four rushing touchdowns, while Simpkins has contributed 203 yards and three scores, including two fourth-quarter touchdowns against the 49ers.
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BUILDING ON THE SECOND HALF — After struggling offensively in the first half against Charlotte, UAB responded with 20 second-half points and a strong finish on the ground. The Blazers controlled the line of scrimmage down the stretch while limiting costly mistakes. Redshirt junior quarterback Ryder Burton has thrown for 1,474 yards and six touchdowns this season and enters Saturday just 26 passing yards shy of 1,500 for the year. Burton also engineered UAB's dramatic 93-yard game-tying drive in the final 1:02 of regulation against East Carolina before throwing the go-ahead touchdown in overtime.
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SMITH STRETCHING THE FIELD — Wide receiver CJ Smith continues to provide an explosive threat in the passing game, leading UAB with 437 receiving yards on 23 catches. Smith averages 19.0 yards per reception, ranking first in the American Conference and among the top 20 nationally. He has recorded at least one reception in all nine games this season, highlighted by a career-high eight catches for 119 yards against East Carolina. Smith needs 63 additional receiving yards to reach 500 for the season.
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DUH-LONG-UH RANGE — Kicker Jonah Delange enters Saturday one field goal shy of tying UAB's single-season school record of 22, established by Swayze Waters in 2007. Delange has converted 21-of-25 field-goal attempts (84.0%) and all 17 PATs through nine games, ranking second nationally and first in the American with 2.33 made field goals per game. His team-high 80 points account for 40.8% of UAB's scoring this season. Delange also ranks third in program history with 52 career field goals and owns the school record for longest made field goal following his 57-yard kick at Memphis on Oct. 10.
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SPECIAL TEAMS SHOWDOWN — Saturday features two of the nation's most productive special teams units. UAB punter Oliver Straw, a Ray Guy Award midseason watch list selection, is averaging 46.6 yards per punt, with 14 of his 27 attempts traveling at least 50 yards. Straw has placed 10 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line without a touchback. Temple counters with one of the nation's most dangerous return specialists in JoJo Bermudez, who leads the FBS in punt-return average (22.4 yards per return). Bermudez set a Temple single-game record with 159 punt-return yards at Navy, including a 78-yard touchdown. He enters Saturday just 10 yards shy of the Owls' single-season punt-return record of 305.
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TEMPLE MORE DANGEROUS THAN ITS RECORD — Despite a 2-7 record, Temple has demonstrated its ability to challenge American Conference opponents. The Owls rallied from a 28-0 deficit at Navy last Saturday, scoring 35 unanswered points to tie the game before falling 42-35. Temple previously earned a road victory at South Florida, while several of its losses have come in competitive games. The Owls are averaging 352.1 yards and 24.9 points per contest, including 175.9 rushing yards per game. Temple will recognize 23 seniors before Saturday's contest.
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FINISHING DRIVES — UAB has scored on 22 of its 26 red-zone opportunities (84.6%) this season but has reached the end zone on only 10 of those possessions (38.5%), with 12 trips resulting in field goals. Temple has allowed opponents to score on 32 of 37 red-zone possessions (86.5%), including 26 touchdowns (70.3%). The Owls have surrendered 22 rushing touchdowns this season and are allowing 188.9 rushing yards per game. Converting red-zone trips into touchdowns will be an important factor for the Blazers as they seek their first road victory.
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FIRST TRIP TO PHILADELPHIA — Saturday marks UAB's first football game in Philadelphia and just its second game played in Pennsylvania. The Blazers' only previous trip to the Keystone State came on Dec. 1, 2001, when UAB fell 24-6 at Pittsburgh. The trip also serves as a homecoming for two Blazers with Pennsylvania ties, including linebacker Muaaz Byard (York) and offensive lineman Cooper Young (Downingtown).
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SERIES HISTORY — UAB and Temple have met once previously, with the Blazers earning a 34-24 victory on Nov. 18, 2023, at Protective Stadium. UAB outgained the Owls 505-359 in that contest, led by 153 rushing yards from Jermaine Brown Jr. The Blazers scored 17 fourth-quarter points to secure the victory on Senior Day in Birmingham. Saturday marks the first meeting between the programs in Philadelphia and the first time UAB will face Temple under head coach K.C. Keeler. Temple is 0-4 all-time against Alabama-based programs, including its 2023 loss to UAB.
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UP NEXT: UAB returns to Protective Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 21, to host UTSA for Senior Day before concluding the regular season at North Texas on Nov. 28.
