UAB Travels to Fayetteville for Clash with Arkansas

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team looks for its first win over an SEC opponent since 2004 this Saturday when the Blazers travel to Fayetteville to face Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.

Both teams enter the contest at 1-1 after road losses in Week 2. UAB fell at ULM 32-6, while Arkansas saw an upset bid slip away against No. 16 Oklahoma State 39-31 in double overtime.

Who: UAB (1-1) at Arkansas (1-1)
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville, Ark.
When: Saturday, Sept. 14 – 3:15 p.m.
Watch: SEC Network
On The Call: Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: Arkansas leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 25, 2014 – Arkansas 45-17

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Through two games, UAB boasts lofty numbers on defense and enters the game ranked third nationally in passing yards allowed (73.5) and 26th overall in total defense (236.5).
Those numbers will be put to the test on Saturday against an Arkansas offense which ranks 2nd nationally in total offense (667.5) and put up 648 yards of offense in the loss at OSU.
Led by Boise State transfer Taylen Green, Arkansas has the nation's 2nd ranked passing offense (412.0) and Green is coming off a performance in which he became just the fifth Arkansas quarterback in program history to throw for 400+ yards in a game with 416.
Additionally, the Razorbacks rushing offense averages 255.5 yards per game, led by Ja'Quinden Jackson who had 149 yards and three rushing touchdowns last week.
UAB's pass defense is holding opposing quarterbacks' completion percentage to just 48.6 through two games (18-of-37). UAB has yet to allow a 100-yard passer and will need to once again play at a high level for the Blazers this Saturday.
Georgia Tech transfer Sirad Bryant is coming off a career-high 13-tackle performance against ULM and he currently ranks 2nd in the AAC in tackles per game (9.0), while he also blocked a punt in the first game of the season. The strong safety is the team's leading tackler with 18 total.
UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno is completing 70.3 percent of his passes and continues to be the most accurate passer in school history. He is coming off a season in 2023 in which he finished 2nd nationally in completion percentage and he is currently one of 26 quarterbacks this season completing more than 70 percent of his passes.
Zeno has completed no less than 22 passes in each game this season and currently ranks fourth at UAB in career completions (382). In just 15 career starts, Zeno also ranks top 10 at UAB in career passing yards (7th – 4,229) and touchdowns (T6 – 27).
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kam Shanks has potential for a big game on Saturday as he continues to lead the Blazers in catches (10) and receiving yards (116), while adding 98 yards in punt returns for a team-best 214 all-purpose yards.
Lee Beebe Jr. and Isaiah Jacobs will headline the backfield as Beebe Jr. leads the team in carries (29), rushing yards (144) and rushing touchdowns (2), while Jacobs has 19 carries for 88 yards in two games.
In special teams, sophomore place kicker Jonah Delange looks to keep the strong start to his season going as he is a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts with a long of 46 and has made all five of his PAT.
Junior punter Patrick Foley, who is a former Razorback, is averaging 48.3 yards per punt on three attempts with a long of 64.

The Blazers enter their first of two bye weeks following the Arkansas game and will then return to Protective Stadium on Sept. 28 to open AAC play against Navy. Tickets are available by clicking here.

For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.

UAB Travels to Fayetteville for Clash with Arkansas

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lee Beebe Jr.

Sirad Bryant

Jonah Delange

Patrick Foley

Isaiah Jacobs

Kam Shanks

Jacob Zeno

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics