UAB Football Travels to Rice for Conference USA Opener

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team opens Conference USA action this Saturday, Oct. 1, at Rice. Kickoff from Rice Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

Playing their final Conference USA schedule before entering the American Athletic Conference, the Blazers begin their quest for a third C-USA Championship in the last six years. UAB is 30-9 against C-USA opponents since returning to action in 2017.

Who: UAB (2-1, 0-0 C-USA) at Rice (2-2, 0-0 C-USA)
Where: Rice Stadium – Houston Texas
When: Saturday, Oct. 1 – 6:30 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
On The Call: David Saltzman (play-by-play), Chris Mycoskie (analyst)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: UAB leads, 6-4
Last Meeting: Oct. 23, 2021 – Rice, 30-24

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The Blazers enter the contest at Rice fully healthy and well rested following their one and only bye week of the season. UAB is 2-1 overall, while Rice is 2-2 and is coming off a 34-27 loss at Houston.
UAB, who ranks sixth nationally in rushing yards per game (253.3), will have to rely on the ground game to control the clock against a Rice team who ranks third nationally in time of possession and likes to hold the ball on offense.
The 1-2 punch of DeWayne McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr. are running at an elite level with McBride averaging 200.0 yards per game and Brown Jr. 82.3. They have accounted for 647 of UAB's 760 total rushing yards and seven of the team's 10 rushing touchdowns.
McBride is the national leader in career yards per carry, averaging 7.4 yards every time he touches the ball. His career average of 105.2 rushing yards per game also ranks him fourth nationally amongst active players.
Rice quarterback TJ McMahon is completing 64 percent of his passes and has thrown for 976 yards (244.0/game) and eight touchdowns but has seven interceptions.
UAB has done a tremendous job in pass defense this season and enters the game with the nation's second ranked pass efficiency defense. The Blazers are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 49 percent of their passes for an average of 181.1 yards per game. Additionally, UAB has six interceptions with five different players tallying at least one so far.
Linebacker Noah Wilder had a career high 18 tackles last time on the field and earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors for his performance against Georgia Southern. Wilder now ranks 10th all-time in career tackles at UAB (262) and his four away from moving into ninth place.
UAB has not allowed a single point in the first quarter this season and is outscoring its opponents 42-0 through its first three games.
This is the first of nine straight games for the Blazers, eight of which are C-USA contests, along with a Nov. 19 game at LSU.

Following Rice, UAB returns to Protective Stadium for a two-game home stand, beginning on Oct. 8 vs. Middle Tennessee at 2:30 p.m.

The Middle Tennessee game marks the sixth annual Children's Harbor Homecoming game. Tickets are available by clicking here.

UAB Football Travels to Rice for Conference USA Opener

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Players Mentioned

Jermaine Brown Jr.

DeWayne McBride

Noah Wilder

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics