Goal Line Stand Lifts UAB to 31-24 Upset Win over No. 22 Memphis

Saturday, October 18

Birmingham, AL

3 p.m. CT

UAB

3-4 , 1-3

Memphis

6-1 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

UAB

Photo by: Ken Shepherd

Goal Line Stand Lifts UAB to 31-24 Upset Win over No. 22 Memphis

10/18/2025 9:00:00 PM | Football

Box Score UAB 31, No. 22 Memphis 24 2025 UAB Football Stats Postgame Notes

BIRMINGHAM – A goal-line stand in the final seconds of the game lifted the UAB football team to a 31-24 upset victory over No. 22 Memphis on Saturday afternoon at Protective Stadium.

UAB (3-4, 1-3 American) celebrated its fifth win over a nationally ranked opponent in program history and its first ranked win since 2021 when the Blazers defeated No. 13 BYU 31-28. UAB also snapped the nation's longest active winning streak today, ending Memphis' 10-game unbeaten streak. Additionally, UAB is now 8-1 in Children's Harbor games.

The defense held the nation's 26th ranked offense to just 362 yards of offense, and Tariq Watson made the play of the game by tackling Greg Desrosiers Jr. at the 1-yard line as Memphis was running in to tie the game, which allowed UAB's defense to close out the contest by making four-consecutive stops to win the game.

Iverson Hooks turned in a career performance, catching 11 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns. His 172 receiving yards were the most by a UAB player since Tejhaun Palmer recorded 179 in 2023. Hooks opened the scoring on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ryder Burton, who made his first career collegiate start at quarterback. Burton finished 20-of-27 for 251 yards and three touchdowns, marking the most passing yards by a UAB quarterback in his first career start since Bryson Lucero threw for 319 yards against South Alabama in 2020.

Memphis (6-1, 2-1 American) answered quickly with a 99-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Sutton Smith. UAB then went up 10-7 after a Jonah Delange 21-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.

The Tigers marched 75 yards on a 12-play drive to take their first lead of the game on a Greg Desrosiers Jr. rushing touchdown with 1:12 left in the half. Hooks responded with his second score of the night, a spectacular 16-yard touchdown grab with two seconds left to send UAB into halftime ahead 17-14.

Solomon Beebe extended the Blazers' lead early in the third quarter with the longest rushing touchdown in school history of 81 yards. It was also the longest run Memphis has allowed this season. Beebe finished with 106 yards on five carries, becoming the first 100-yard rusher the Tigers have given up in 2025. UAB led 24-17 at the end of the third quarter.

With Memphis threatening to tie the game, Pierre Royster came up with his second interception of the season by catching the ball at the 1-yard line and then downing it in the end zone, giving UAB possession at the 1-yard line. The Blazers then put together an 11-play, 99-yard drive capped by Hooks' third touchdown catch of the night from 20 yards out with 4:06 left on the clock.

A 37-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Hill got Memphis within a touchdown at 31-24 with 2:19 left, and Memphis then forced a punt to get the ball back with 1:50 left.

It looked as though Memphis was going to tie the game with Desrosiers running free towards the end zone, but Watson's hustle play saved the game and after review he was ruled his knee hit the ground at the 1-yard line. With four chances to tie the game, Memphis had two false starts and UAB's defense forced four straight incomplete passes to win the game.

The Blazers outgained Memphis 470-362 and dominated the time of possession 35:05-24:55 which allowed Memphis to only have seven possessions for the entire game.

UAB now leads the all-times series over the Memphis, 11-7.

The Blazers are off next week and then return to action on Nov. 1 at UConn. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.