UAB Returns Home to Host Akron on Saturday Night

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team returns to Protective Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 13 to host Akron in a non-conference contest. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

Saturday marks the third annual Smile-A-Mile childhood cancer awareness game in which UAB will wear alternate black and gold jerseys with the last names of 100 patients from Smile-A-Mile on their backs.

Located two blocks away from UAB's campus, Smile-A-Mile's mission is to provide hope, healing of the spirit and love for the whole family during the childhood cancer journey. Through year-round meaningful and educational programming, Smile-A-Mile helps those in Alabama who are affected by childhood cancer thrive during treatment and the years beyond.

It is also Kids Takeover Night at Protective Stadium which features an exclusive $10 ticket deal in the Family Zone, free face painting and inflatables at Blazer Village and in the North end zone of the Family Fun Zone.

Who: UAB (1-1, 0-1 American) vs. Akron (0-2, 0-0 MAC)
Where: Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
When: Saturday, Sept. 13 – 7:30 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
On The Call: Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM | Sirius XM Channel 389
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: UAB leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2019 – UAB, 31-20

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The Blazers are coming off a hard-fought contest at Navy in which they suffered a 38-24 defeat. Despite stalling on offense in the second half, the Blazers still had 416 yards of total offense and have put up huge numbers in the first two weeks of the season.
UAB is averaging 466.5 total yards of offense per game, which ranks 31st nationally. The Blazers have scored on 12 of their 19 possessions this season and have converted on 7-of-10 redzone opportunities.
Quarterback Jalen Kitna ranks 18th nationally with an average of 275.5 passing yards per game, and as a result, Corri Milliner is the American Conference leading receiver through two weeks of action.
Milliner is leading the league in receiving yards per game (99.0) and total receiving yards (198). The redshirt sophomore opened the season with 5-98-1 against Alabama State, then followed that up with 6-100-1 at Navy for his second career 100-yard receiving game. In his last four games which dates back to last season, Milliner is averaging 103.5 receiving yards per game and has caught a touchdown pass in each contest.
Senior running back Jevon Jackson is 13th nationally with an average of 116.0 rushing yards per game, which is third best in the American. Jackson has 232 total rushing yards and three touchdowns and has paced a UAB rushing attack that averages 182.5 yards per game.
Fellow running back Solomon Beebe is averaging a team-best 153.0 all-purpose yards per game. Beebe is the team's main kickoff returner, and along with running the ball, Beebe was a weapon in the passing game last week at Navy by compiling career highs in receptions (6) and yards (77).
Akron struggled defensively last week on the road in a 68-0 loss at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers piled up 728 yards of total offense and Akron enters this week's game with the 133rd ranked defense by allowing 577.0 yards of offense per game.
On the offensive side of the ball, Akron is the only team in the FBS yet to score a point through two weeks. The Zips have struggled, averaging just 201.5 yards of offense per game with shutout losses to Wyoming (10-0) and Nebraska (68-0).
Despite allowing 463 yards of offense to Navy, UAB's defense played well in the second half in Annapolis, only yielding 169 yards and forcing three punts. The Blazers will look to keep that momentum going against the Zips.

Following the Akron game, UAB travels to Tennessee for a non-conference game on Rocky Top. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network.

Tickets to Saturday's game against Akron can be purchased by clicking here. For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on X and Instagram, and like UAB Athletics on Facebook.

UAB Returns Home to Host Akron on Saturday Night

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Players Mentioned

Solomon Beebe

Jevon Jackson

Jalen Kitna

Corri Milliner

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics