UAB and NIU set for Tuesday’s Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Playing its third bowl game in program history, the UAB football team faces Northern Illinois on Tuesday night, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. CST on ESPN from FAU Stadium.

Tuesday's matchup pairs the Conference USA Champion Blazers (10-3) against the MAC Champion Huskies (8-5) in one of only three bowl games this year to feature two conference champions against each other.

Who: UAB (10-3) vs. NIU (8-5)
Where: Boca Raton, Fla. – FAU Stadium
When: Tuesday, Dec. 18 – 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN
On the Call: Dave Lamont (play-by-play), Desmond Howard (color), Jonathan Vilma (color), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Listen: WJOX2 100.5 FM
On the Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (color), Trey Ragland (sideline)
Series: First Meeting

STORYLINES:

In the midst of the best season in school history, the Blazers look to cap their historic season with the program's first bowl victory. UAB is 0-2 in its previous two appearances (2004 Hawaii Bowl, 2017 Bahamas Bowl).
The Blazers have reached the 10-win plateau for the first time ever and did so by capturing the C-USA title with a 27-25 victory at Middle Tennessee on December 1.
For his efforts in leading UAB to unprecedented milestones in 2018, head coach Bill Clark was named the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year and will receive his award on January 5 in San Jose, Calif., in conjunction with the College Football National Championship Game.
Clark was also recognized by CBS Sports and Sporting News as the National Coach of the Year, and is finalist for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year. The CBS Sports nod was his second-consecutive year winning, becoming the first coach ever to repeat that award.
Tuesday's game features two elite defenses who boast lofty national rankings. Led by this unit the entire year, UAB ranks 10th overall in total defense and is Top 10 nationally in six different categories, including fourth in sacks per game (3.35) and fifth in tackles for loss per game (8.1).
Led by First Team All-America selection Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois leads the nation in sacks with 50. Smith is responsible for 15 of them and has also tallied 24.5 TFL and 56 total tackles. He was an All-America honoree by the Associated Press, ESPN and SI.com.
Fellow NIU edge rusher Josh Corcoran has also reached double-digit sacks and despite missing two games, enters the bowl game with 10.0 sacks and 12.5 TFL.
Offensively, UAB running back Spencer Brown was named the Conference USA Championship Game MVP for posting a season-high 156 yards on 31 carries and one touchdown.
Brown has followed up last year's Freshman All-America campaign with another record-breaking campaign having 1,149 rushing yards and a school-record 16 rushing touchdowns. The First Team All-Conference USA selection has scored 26 career touchdowns in 26 career games and ranks third all-time in rushing yards (2,478) and touchdowns (26) at UAB. He needs 340 yards to become UAB's all-time leading rusher.
Quarterback Tyler Johnston III is 3-1 as a starter after taking over that role in November. In four starts, Johnston III has thrown for 902 yards and seven touchdowns along with three rushing touchdowns.
After missing five games with an injury, center Lee Dufour returned for the Conference USA Championship and helped UAB rush for 225 yards. His injury prevented him from All-Conference USA honors, which all four other starting linemen won.
Right tackle Justice Powers was a First Team All-Conference USA selection, while left tackle James Davis, left guard Rishard Cook and right guard Malique Johnson all earned Second Team All-Conference USA. This matchup in the trenches is going to be critical in who comes out victorious.

The Blazers and Huskies are the only bowl game to played on Tuesday and can be seen on ESPN. Along with watching the game, fans can also receive updates by following @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.

UAB and NIU set for Tuesday’s Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl

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Players Mentioned

Spencer Brown

Rishard Cook

James Davis

Lee Dufour

Malique Johnson

Tyler Johnston III

Justice Powers

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics