The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Turns Page to Home Opener Against ULM
9/7/2026 5:31:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following a season-opening trip to Illinois, UAB football has turned its attention to Saturday's home opener against ULM at Protective Stadium.
Head coach Alex Mortensen and the Blazers came away from Champaign encouraged by several aspects of their performance, but also aware that missed opportunities ultimately proved costly in the 42-23 loss.
UAB produced 413 yards of total offense, converted better than 50 percent of its third downs and went 3-for-4 on fourth down. The Blazers also consistently moved into scoring position, but Mortensen pointed to turning red-zone field goals into touchdowns as one of the biggest areas for improvement.
"There are a number of plays in the game where we had a lot of guys play to our standard, and that is really good and positive," Mortensen said. "For me, and I think for our players and our staff, we're incredibly hungry and maybe even a little bit irritated that those things happened and chomping at the bit to get on the practice field and work."
That feeling carried into the locker room.
Wide receiver Ty Mims, who finished the opener with 52 receiving yards and a 19-yard punt return, said the Blazers left Champaign believing they were capable of much more.
"We just understood that we left a lot out there," Mims said. "We know that we blew our chance, but all we're going to do is just come back today, practice, get a feel for our next opponent and keep going."
Mims is also familiar with the Blazers' next opponent after spending three seasons at Southern Miss in the Sun Belt Conference.
On the defensive side, Muaaz Byard said Thursday's performance reinforced the belief the Blazers developed throughout the offseason.
"I feel like it really showed us that we can really play ball. We can win," Byard said. "We really feel like we can win the conference. So, I feel like this game just showed us that we can win, and that's what we got to do."
Byard said UAB fans can expect that mentality to show up Saturday at Protective Stadium.
"They're going to see a fast, physical, relentless team," Byard said. "A team that works hard, a team that wants to win."
The matchup with ULM carries an additional layer of familiarity for running back Bam McReynolds, who spent the 2025 season with the Warhawks before transferring to UAB.
McReynolds rushed 13 times for 56 yards against Illinois in his UAB debut and now gets an immediate reunion with his former teammates and coaches.
"I got love for ULM. I got love for all those guys, especially my coaches and former teammates," McReynolds said. "But it's business. I don't look at any game as more important than the next. I just feel like it's the next game. But it's going to be fun."
And yes, McReynolds expects there may be some talking between old friends.
"It might be on both ends of the football, but I talk regardless," McReynolds joked. "It might be a little bit of chatter."
For McReynolds, an Alabama native, Thursday also represented his first opportunity to wear the Green and Gold.
"It felt really good. I can't lie," McReynolds said. "There's nothing like UAB. There's nothing like being in Birmingham, and I'm an Alabama native myself. So, just being able to put on for the state of Alabama, it was very exciting."
Mortensen liked what he saw from McReynolds, Rod Robinson II and Ja'Vin Simpkins in the opener, crediting the offensive line and receivers for helping establish the ground game while praising the backs' "vision, patience and burst."
Now the focus shifts entirely to ULM and former UAB coach Bryant Vincent, whose Warhawks come to Protective Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday.
"I want to be totally clear: we played Thursday, and we've turned the page," Mortensen said. "We're focused on this game."
THREE QUESTIONS WITH COACH MORTENSEN
Q: On what he saw from the team following the Illinois game…
Mortensen: "I think we had a good response from the standpoint that there was disappointment. I think it hurt. But there was not negativity. There was not finger-pointing. There was not, 'So-and-so's fault, not mine.' I thought it was a healthy response … We were able to lay eyes on them over the weekend, and I felt like we have a fire in our eye that I like."
Q: On what he expects from ULM…
Mortensen: "I expect a well-rounded, good team. I think the last game is not indicative of anything. … Sometimes when you have little things like that, the game can get away from you fast when you're playing a really good team. I don't think it's necessarily indicative of what I would expect from them. I'm sure they'll be ready to go."
On the importance of the UAB crowd Saturday…
Mortensen: "We love it when our fans are there and supportive. We would encourage them to come out, cheer and support our guys. It's a 2:30 kick. We've got a great stadium and a great venue. We've got a lot of great, high-quality people on this team that I think are worthy of supporting and cheering for."
