The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
11/9/2026 4:29:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB football team returns to the road Saturday, Nov. 14, with an opportunity to secure bowl eligibility as the Blazers travel to Philadelphia to face Temple in an American Conference matchup at Lincoln Financial Field.
UAB (5-4, 3-2 American) enters the final three games of the regular season needing one victory to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2022. The Blazers are coming off a 23-12 victory over Charlotte that improved their home record to 5-0, and they now turn their attention toward earning their first road victory of the season.
Head coach Alex Mortensen met with the media Monday to discuss the Charlotte victory, the continued improvement of UAB's defense and the importance of building on the team's momentum heading into the final stretch.
Mortensen opened by reflecting on the 10th annual Children's Harbor Game, which saw UAB players honor 99 children and their families by wearing their names on specially designed jerseys.
"It's a really neat tradition, and I'm very grateful to be part of it," Mortensen said. "Our guys enjoyed it, too."
On the field, UAB overcame four turnovers and a slow offensive start to score 20 second-half points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, while the defense delivered another dominant performance.
"I thought we played very well defensively," Mortensen said. "A lot of guys had standout performances, and our defensive staff did an excellent job. We dominated most parts of the game defensively, and we were pretty good in the kicking game again, too."
The Blazers limited Charlotte to just 234 yards of total offense, including 59 rushing yards, while holding their ninth consecutive opponent below 200 passing yards.
UAB continues to lead the nation in passing defense (122.6 yards per game) and ranks first in the American Conference in total defense (298.6 yards per game).
Defensive back Darrell Sweeting emphasized the unit's approach when the offense struggles or the defense is placed in difficult field-position situations.
"On defense, we just need a blade of grass to defend," Sweeting said. "That's what Coach Grantham goes by. We don't blame one another. We just need a blade of grass to defend, and we go out there and play."
Sweeting also credited defensive coordinator Todd Grantham with establishing the mentality that has helped the Blazers become one of the nation's most improved defensive units.
"Coach Grantham plays a big role," Sweeting said. "He wants us to go out there and play free and fast."
A major part of UAB's defensive success has been the emergence of defensive lineman Marlin Dean, who earned his second American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor Monday.
Dean recorded a career-high three sacks, four tackles and a forced fumble against Charlotte, bringing his season total to 10.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. His sack total ranks fifth in UAB single-season history, while his five forced fumbles are tied for the national lead.
Mortensen praised both Dean's physical abilities and his willingness to embrace the coaching and development provided by Grantham and the defensive staff.
"He's explosive, fast-twitch and fast off the ball," Mortensen said. "The next thing is how he's embraced the teaching. Coach Grantham has done a tremendous job."
Despite Dean's individual success, Mortensen believes his most important quality is his desire to continue improving.
"Maybe the best part about him is his hunger," Mortensen said. "He's hungry to accomplish more, get better and keep pressing forward."
Defensive lineman Cam Cunningham echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that Dean's success has created opportunities throughout the defensive front.
"Marlin is the guy getting all the praise right now, but as he goes, we all go," Cunningham said. "Being the top-ranked defense in the conference and one of the best in the country means everything."
Cunningham said the defensive unit's confidence dates back to spring practice, when he first recognized the group's potential.
"The first day of full pads in spring ball," Cunningham said. "The first time we all put pads on, I thought, 'This defense is different. We really have something.'"
While the defense continued its impressive season, Mortensen acknowledged that the offense still has considerable room for improvement.
The Blazers struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities early against Charlotte before finding success in the second half behind a rushing attack led by Rod Robinson II, Bam McReynolds and Ja'Vin Simpkins. Robinson rushed for 101 yards, while Simpkins scored twice in the fourth quarter to help UAB pull away.
"My ego is not attached to total offense or scoring offense," Mortensen said. "We want to do whatever we can to win a game."
Mortensen explained that the offense adjusted its approach to limit risk while the defense controlled the game, but he stressed that the staff will continue working toward a more balanced and aggressive attack.
"We started to control the line of scrimmage, our runners ran well, and we got more efficient in the passing game," Mortensen said. "We're not just going to keep doing the same things. Everyone learns differently, and we're going to find the best teaching methods to help our guys improve."
Offensive lineman Donovan Lawrence pointed to the group's determination during the closing stages of the victory.
"It shows our level of grit, determination and desire to succeed," Lawrence said. "The last moments of a game are the hardest on your body and your mind. It's reassuring that we have that kind of grit, and we're going to take it into the next couple of games."
Lawrence also praised UAB's running back rotation, which has produced 1,165 rushing yards between Robinson, McReynolds and Simpkins this season.
"It's inspirational," Lawrence said. "Bam McReynolds, Rod Robinson II and Ja'Vin Simpkins have all been amazing. What they're able to do with the ball is insane. It gets the whole team motivated."
With their fifth victory secured, the Blazers now shift their focus to Temple (2-7, 1-4 American), a team Mortensen believes is more dangerous than its record indicates.
The Owls are coming off a narrow 42-35 loss at Navy in which they rallied from a 28-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Temple also defeated South Florida earlier this season and has played several competitive conference games under head coach K.C. Keeler.
"They're good. Put the film on and look at their players," Mortensen said. "As a competitor, don't even look at the record right now. Trust what you see on film."
Cunningham, who will help lead UAB's defensive front against Temple's rushing attack, emphasized the importance of maintaining the same approach that has fueled the Blazers throughout the season.
"They play together as a unit, especially the offensive line and the running game," Cunningham said. "It's going to be a fun challenge for us to show that we are who we think we are."
With a bowl berth and conference positioning still at stake, UAB's players remain focused on making the most of their opportunities over the final three weeks.
"Coach Mortensen tells us all the time that everything we want is still right in front of us," Sweeting said.
Cunningham echoed that perspective.
"Coach Grantham said before the game, 'This is why we all came here — to be playing for something,'" Cunningham said. "Knowing that every day, every practice and every rep means something is big in November."
Kickoff between UAB and Temple is scheduled for noon CT (1 p.m. ET) Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will stream on ESPN+, with radio coverage available on JOX 94.5 FM.
THREE QUESTIONS WITH COACH MORTENSEN
Q: In general, what makes winning on the road difficult, even when crowd noise isn't necessarily a major factor?
Mortensen: "I don't want to make light of going on the road. There are travel components, sleeping in another bed and things like that, but sometimes those things become a self-fulfilling prophecy if you get too worried about them.
"If you set aside crowd noise and other tangible things that can affect cadence, I think a lot of it is mental toughness and not making it more than it is.
"We're going to approach this one with the seriousness and aggressiveness we need. Last year, during the interim period, we won our last game of the year on the road, a conference game. We didn't make the narrative about needing a road win. It was about playing our best football — making good identifications in the run game, protecting and making good decisions. I think it's more about keeping the focus on execution."
Q: Marlin Dean has taken an interesting journey to UAB, with several stops along the way. How did the staff find him, and when did you realize he might be even better than you expected?
Mortensen: "I want to give our recruiting and personnel departments a lot of credit. Brendan Donovan did a tremendous job in the portal, particularly with the defensive side of the roster. Coach Grantham is a really good evaluator and has a great work ethic. Those guys worked really hard to get a good group.
"When we all saw Marlin's film, we were excited because we felt he had a high ceiling — that he had not even come close to playing his best. He accepted the challenge of recognizing how he'd played, what he was capable of and what it would take to get there.
"The first team pass period was revealing. Frankly, we knew in the offseason from Lyle Henley's reports about his performance in workouts. That confirmed his physical traits, but there was also work ethic and drive. When we got into team periods, he was very difficult to deal with pretty quickly. It didn't take long to recognize it."
Q: With the College Football Playoff expanding and some people believing bowl games have been devalued, how significant would a bowl appearance be for UAB?
Mortensen: "It would be very significant and a great accomplishment for the program. It hasn't been done in some time, and particularly in this new era of NIL and the portal, it would be really positive to accomplish that.
"At the same time, there's a fine line from a leadership standpoint in how much we talk about that versus chasing our best and trying to improve, regardless of what we're playing for.
"It would be a really big deal for our program and could help build momentum. Long term, our goals go well beyond that. It would be one step, but we want to accomplish far more over time."
