UAB Travels to Death Valley for Night Game at No. 6 LSU

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team is set for a night game in Death Valley against No. 6 LSU this Saturday, Nov. 19. Kickoff from Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

The Blazers and Tigers are meeting for the third time with the series tied at 1-1. UAB won the first contest back in 2000, while LSU won the most recent in 2012.

UAB is coming off a 41-21 victory over North Texas and looks to spring the upset against the Tigers, who have clinched a berth in the SEC title game.

Who: UAB (5-5, 3-4 C-USA) at LSU (8-2, 6-1 SEC)
Where: Tiger Stadium – Baton Rouge, La.
When: Saturday, Nov. 19 – 8 p.m.
Watch: ESPN2
On The Call: Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2013 – LSU, 56-17

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

With rain in the forecast, UAB's ground game will be a key factor as they face one of the top defensive fronts in the nation. The Blazers boast the nation's sixth-ranked rushing offense (247.1) and goes up against LSU's defense which is allowing 140 rushing yards per game.
The ground game is highlighted by DeWayne McBride, who leads the nation in rushing yards per (156.3) as he has rushed for over 100 yards in all nine games he has played this year. He also leads the nation in rushes of 20+ yards (17) and is second in total rushing yards (1,407) and rushing touchdowns (17). McBride is 180 yards away from the single season school rushing record.
McBride has been assisted in the running game by Jermaine Brown Jr. who is coming off a career-high 150 yards against North Texas and currently ranks fourth in Conference USA with 689 rushing yards. These two have combined for 2,096 of UAB's 2,471 rushing yards and 21 of the team's 26 rushing touchdowns.
Quarterback Dylan Hopkins returned last week after missing the last two and a half games and completed 15-of-23 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in UAB's 41-21 victory over North Texas.
Trea Shropshire (30 catches, 612 yards, 4 TD) and Tejhaun Palmer (27 catches, 461 yards, 2 TD) are UAB's top receiving targets. Shropshire has turned it on in the second half of the season with an average of 79.4 yards per game over his last seven games.
The UAB offense will have to contend with the reigning National Defensive Player of the Week Harold Perkins Jr. The true freshman was unstoppable in LSU's 13-10 victory at Arkansas, compiling eight tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Defensively, UAB faces dual threat quarterback Jayden Daniels. He has thrown for 2,080 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions, and is also the team's leading rusher with 629 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. His ability to extend plays has been on full display this season and keeping him in the pocket will be a key factor for the UAB defense.
The Blazers are coming off one of their best defensive performances of the season against North Texas. The Mean Green entered the game averaging 503 yards of total offense, and UAB held them to just 264 yards and outscored UNT 24-0 in the second half.
UAB's pass defense continues to play at an elite level and is coming off a game in which they held UNT to 15-of-32 for just 159 yards. The Blazers rank 11th nationally in pass efficiency defense (113.1) and 18th nationally in passing yards allowed (182.6). UAB has yet to allow a 300-yard passer this season.
The Blazers will have to win one of their final two games to achieve bowl eligibility for a seventh straight season.

Following the LSU contest, UAB remains on the road for a game at Louisiana Tech to conclude the regular season on Nov. 26 in Ruston.

UAB Travels to Death Valley for Night Game at No. 6 LSU

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Players Mentioned

Jermaine Brown Jr.

Dylan Hopkins

DeWayne McBride

Tejhaun Palmer

Trea Shropshire

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics