C-USA West Division Title on the Line as UAB Travels to Rice

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team looks to win its third-consecutive Conference USA West Division title this Saturday as the Blazers conclude the regular season at Rice. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CST on ESPN3.

Despite not having played since Halloween, UAB (4-3, 2-1 C-USA) still controls its own destiny, and a win at Rice (2-2, 2-2 C-USA) would put the Blazers in their third straight C-USA title game. No team in Conference USA history has ever appeared in three straight championship games.

Who: UAB (4-3, 2-1) at Rice (2-2, 2-2)
Where: Rice Stadium – Houston, Texas
When: Saturday, Dec. 12 – 12 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN3
On the Call: Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (color)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On the Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (color), Trey Ragland (sideline)
Series: UAB leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2019 – UAB, 35-20
Streak: UAB – W3

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

When UAB takes the field this Saturday, it will have been 42 days since the Blazers last played a game. The Blazers have had each of their last four games canceled.
Conversely, Rice is coming off the program's biggest win in recent memory with last Saturday's 20-0 shutout victory over then undefeated and No. 21 ranked Marshall on the road in Huntington. The Owls intercepted Marshall quarterback Grant Wells five times, and for their efforts Rice was named the FWAA Co-National Team of the Week.
The last time these two teams met, it ended up being the longest game in UAB history. After two lightning delays that each span over an hour and a half, the Blazers defeated Rice 35-20 in a game that lasted six hours and 15 minutes.
UAB has defeated Rice every year since returning to action in 2017 and has outscored the Owls 129-41 in those three games, including a 42-0 shutout last time the Blazers played in Houston.
UAB will continue to lean heavily on its run game which averages 206.7 yards per contest. However, the Owls will present a challenge with the league's fourth ranked rush defense (141.8) and fifth ranked total defense (338.5).
As has been the trend over the last three seasons, UAB continues to boast a stout defense and enters this game ranked 18th nationally in total defense and 12th nationally in pass defense.
UAB's pass defense will be put to the test against Rice quarterback Mike Collins who leads Conference USA with an average of 267.3 passing yards per game, and wide receiver Austin Trammell who is averaging 111.7 receiving yards per game and has six touchdown receptions in just three games.
If the Blazers defeat Rice, they will face Marshall in the Conference USA Championship game which will be played in Huntington, W.Va. on Friday, Dec. 18. If the Blazers don't win, UTSA will represent the West Division in the title game.

Saturday's game at Rice will be live streamed on ESPN3, and fans can also receive in-game updates by following @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

C-USA West Division Title on the Line as UAB Travels to Rice

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