The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Charlotte
11/5/2026 4:42:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB returns to Protective Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, looking to remain unbeaten at home as the Blazers host Charlotte in an American Conference matchup presented by Regions Bank. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT, with the game streaming on ESPN+.
The Blazers (4-4, 2-2 American) enter Saturday's contest with a perfect 4-0 record at Protective Stadium this season and will look to bounce back from a 30-10 road loss at South Florida. Charlotte (1-7, 1-3 American) arrives in Birmingham following a 38-31 overtime loss to Tulane after earning its first victory of the season against Temple on Oct. 17.
Saturday also marks the 10th annual Children's Harbor Game, one of the most meaningful traditions in UAB football history. The Blazers will honor 99 children served by Children's Harbor by wearing specially designed gray jerseys featuring the children's names on the back.
The game is part of Kids Takeover, presented by Regions Bank, featuring family-friendly activities, special ticket offers, giveaways and free admission for Blazer Buddies Kids Club members.
GAME INFORMATION
| Matchup | Charlotte (1-7, 1-3 American) at UAB (4-4, 2-2 American) |
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 7 |
| Kickoff | 2:30 p.m. CT |
| Location | Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala. |
| Television | ESPN+ |
| Television Crew | Jack Benjamin (PxP), Doc Holliday (Analyst), Maria Trivelpiece (Sideline) |
| Radio | WJOX-FM 94.5 / Varsity Network |
| UAB Radio Crew | David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline) |
| Series | Tied 2-2 |
| Promotion | Kids Takeover, presented by Regions Bank |
| Special Event | 10th Annual Children's Harbor Game |
| Game Day Information | UAB-Charlotte Game Day Guide |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
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PROTECTING THE HOME TURF — UAB is a perfect 4-0 at Protective Stadium this season, defeating ULM (26-20), Navy (24-20), Samford (33-14) and East Carolina (30-17, OT). The Blazers have outscored opponents 113-71 at home and are averaging 28.3 points per contest in Birmingham. UAB will look to improve to 5-0 at home for the first time since 2019.
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A DECADE OF CHILDREN'S HARBOR — Saturday marks the 10th annual Children's Harbor Game, continuing a partnership that began in 2016 under former head coach Bill Clark. The Blazers will honor 99 children by wearing their names on specially designed gray jerseys, which will be presented to the children and their families following the game. UAB is 8-1 all-time in Children's Harbor games, including four consecutive victories. Last year's celebration featured a 31-24 upset of No. 22 Memphis in Alex Mortensen's first game as interim head coach.
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KIDS TAKEOVER AT PROTECTIVE — Saturday's contest is also Kids Takeover, presented by Regions Bank. Blazer Buddies Kids Club members receive free admission and can pick up a special belt bag giveaway in the Family Fun Zone. Blazer Village opens at 10:30 a.m. with inflatable attractions, interactive games, Blaze's Home Field Collection featuring "Derail the Niners" and a Gridiron Great appearance by former UAB running back Carl Sanders. Fans are encouraged to wear gray in support of Children's Harbor.
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NO. 1 PASS DEFENSE IN THE NATION — UAB continues to lead the FBS in passing defense, allowing just 116.0 yards per game. The Blazers have held all eight opponents under 200 passing yards, surrendering just 928 yards through the air this season. Most recently, UAB limited South Florida to 46 passing yards, its lowest total allowed in a game this season. The Blazers are also tied for the American Conference lead and rank 24th nationally in total defense at 306.6 yards allowed per game.
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DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND CONTINUES — Under first-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, UAB has made significant improvements across the board. Through eight games last season, the Blazers allowed 430.1 total yards and 38.8 points per game. Those averages have dropped to 306.6 yards and 25.3 points this season, improvements of 123.5 yards and 13.5 points per contest. UAB has also reduced its passing yards allowed from 242.0 to a nation-leading 116.0 per game, a 52.1% improvement.
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TWENTY IS PLENTY — UAB is 4-0 when allowing 20 points or fewer this season and 0-4 when surrendering 21 or more. The Blazers have limited five opponents to 21 points or fewer, including four of their last six. UAB's defense held South Florida to just 237 total yards and one offensive touchdown last Saturday, but two fumbles returned for touchdowns proved costly in the 30-10 defeat.
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DEAN OF DEFENSE — Defensive end Marlin Dean has established himself as one of the nation's most disruptive defenders, leading UAB with 7.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. His 7.5 sacks are the most by a Blazer in a single season since 2020. Dean ranks seventh nationally in sacks per game (0.94) and 16th in tackles for loss per game (1.31). He has recorded 2.5 sacks in two different games this season, including against Navy and South Florida.
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TACKLING MACHINES — UAB boasts two of the nation's top six players in solo tackles per game. Linebacker Muaaz Byard ranks second nationally with 5.88 solo tackles per contest, while safety Jo'Tavion Pierce ranks sixth at 5.50. Byard leads the Blazers with 76 total tackles, including 47 solo stops, while Pierce has added 70 tackles, including 44 solo. The duo has combined for 146 tackles through eight games, accounting for more than 27% of UAB's total tackles this season.
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BRINGING THE PRESSURE — UAB has recorded 17 sacks through eight games, its most at this point in a season since 2021. The Blazers are already one sack shy of matching their entire season total from both 2024 and 2025 (18). UAB has registered 10 sacks over its last three games, including a season-high six against South Florida. Three additional sacks would move the 2026 team into a tie for 10th on UAB's single-season team sacks list.
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CHARLOTTE FINDING ITS STRIDE — Despite its 1-7 record, Charlotte has shown considerable improvement in recent weeks under second-year head coach Tim Albin. The 49ers earned their first victory of the season with a 38-31 win at Temple on Oct. 17 before taking Tulane to overtime in a 38-31 loss on Oct. 30. Charlotte has averaged 34.5 points and 452.0 yards of total offense over its last two games, compared to 16.0 points and 287.8 yards per game over its first six contests.
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A HOMECOMING FOR HARRELL — Charlotte quarterback Conner Harrell returns to the Birmingham area Saturday after a standout high school career at Thompson High School in Alabaster. Harrell helped lead Thompson to the 2021 Class 7A state championship at Protective Stadium, defeating Central-Phenix City 38-22. Harrell has thrown for 831 yards and five touchdowns this season and has helped spark Charlotte's offensive improvement over its last three games.
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OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UAB OFFENSE — Charlotte enters Saturday ranked 13th in the American and 135th nationally in total defense, allowing 465.4 yards per game. The 49ers rank last in the conference and 137th nationally in scoring defense (40.3 points per game) and have surrendered at least 30 points in seven of their eight games. Charlotte has been particularly vulnerable through the air, ranking last in the American and 133rd nationally in passing defense at 278.8 yards allowed per game.
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BURTON LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK — Quarterback Ryder Burton has thrown for 1,333 yards and six touchdowns through eight games this season. The junior surpassed 2,000 career passing yards against South Florida and enters Saturday with 2,041 career yards. Burton is coming off a difficult outing against the Bulls but has already demonstrated his ability to lead the Blazers in critical moments, including engineering a 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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GROUND GAME KEY FOR THE BLAZERS — UAB is averaging 149.1 rushing yards per game and is led by Roderick Robinson II and Braylon McReynolds. Robinson has rushed for a team-high 450 yards, while McReynolds has added 357 yards and four rushing touchdowns. The duo has combined for 807 rushing yards, accounting for nearly 68% of UAB's ground production this season. McReynolds leads the Blazers with five total offensive touchdowns, while Robinson has added three.
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SMITH STRETCHING THE FIELD — Wide receiver CJ Smith has emerged as UAB's most explosive receiving threat, leading the Blazers with 403 receiving yards on 21 catches. Smith averages 19.2 yards per reception, ranking first in the American Conference and 25th nationally. He has recorded 13 receptions for 265 yards over his last four games, including a career-high eight catches for 119 yards against East Carolina. Smith needs 97 additional receiving yards to reach 500 for the season.
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FINISHING DRIVES — UAB has scored on 18 of its 22 red-zone opportunities (81.8%) this season but has reached the end zone on just eight of those possessions (36.4%). Ten trips have resulted in field goals. Charlotte, meanwhile, has allowed opponents to score on 35 of 37 red-zone possessions (94.6%), including 29 touchdowns (78.4%). Turning scoring opportunities into touchdowns rather than field goals figures to be a critical factor for the Blazers on Saturday.
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DUH-LONG-UH RANGE — Kicker Jonah Delange continues to rank among the nation's most productive specialists, converting 18-of-22 field-goal attempts (81.8%) and all 15 PATs this season. Delange leads the American Conference and ranks second nationally with 2.25 made field goals per game. He set a UAB record with a 57-yard field goal at Memphis and enters Saturday with 49 career field goals, needing just one more to tie Swayze Waters (50) for third in program history. Delange has scored a team-high 69 points this season and remains perfect on all 75 career PAT attempts.
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SPECIAL TEAMS MAKING A DIFFERENCE — UAB punter Oliver Straw ranks ninth nationally and third in the American, averaging 46.5 yards per punt, with 13 of his 24 attempts traveling at least 50 yards. Straw has placed nine punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line without a touchback this season. Ty Mims ranks ninth nationally in punt-return average at 14.2 yards per return, while kickoff specialist Owen Simpson has produced touchbacks on 30 of his 38 kickoffs (78.9%). UAB has not allowed a blocked punt or kick through eight games.
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FOURTH-QUARTER FINISHERS — UAB has outscored opponents 59-41 in the fourth quarter this season, holding four consecutive opponents scoreless in the final period earlier in the year. The Blazers have limited opposing offenses to just 7-of-23 (30.4%) on fourth-quarter third-down attempts. UAB's plus-18 fourth-quarter scoring margin is its best of any quarter this season.
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SERIES HISTORY — UAB and Charlotte have split their four previous meetings, with the home team winning each contest. Charlotte claimed a 25-24 overtime victory in the inaugural meeting in 2017 before UAB earned consecutive home victories in 2018 (28-7) and 2022 (34-20). The 49ers won the most recent meeting, 29-27, in Charlotte on Nov. 30, 2024. Saturday will mark the fifth meeting between the programs and the third played in Birmingham.
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BLAZER FIT CHECK — UAB will wear green helmets, gray jerseys and gray pants for Saturday's Children's Harbor Game. The specially designed uniforms feature traditional UAB green and gold lettering on gray, with the names of children served by Children's Harbor replacing players' names on the backs of the jerseys. Fans are encouraged to wear gray to Protective Stadium in support of the children and families being honored.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY TICKETING: UAB Athletics is making it easier and more affordable for families to cheer on the Blazers with discounted youth tickets for children ages 4-12 at football and men's and women's basketball home games. Youth tickets start at just $15 for football, $10 for men's basketball and $8 for women's basketball, with children ages 3 and under admitted free with a required complimentary ticket. Additional purchase requirements and seating restrictions apply.
Click here for the Family Four Pack for the Nov. 7 Charlotte game. Click here to join the Blazer Buddies Kids Club. For complete ticket information, click here to visit the UAB Athletics Ticket Office or call (205) 975-8221.
COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE FUND
The Competitive Excellence Fund has become integral in our department mission to Win Champions, Graduate with Honors, and Impact the community. Through your generosity, our coaches will have the greatest opportunity to recruit and retain talented student athletes worthy of wearing a UAB uniform. Click here or connect with the Blazer Boosters team on how you can continue to fuel success.
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