Samford vs UAB is a crosstown matchup of an FCS team and an FBS team on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Bulldogs (1-3) visit the Blazers (2-2) at 2:30 p.m. CT at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, with streaming on ESPN+.
Samford vs UAB: a rare series
The teams have met only once, on Oct. 31, 1992, when Samford won 49-3 with UAB at the Division III level, according to Samford. The campuses are about 3 miles apart. UAB will also honor its 2000 team on Saturday as part of Family Weekend.
How UAB got to 2-2
UAB opened with a 42-23 loss at Illinois, beat Louisiana-Monroe 26-20 and lost 21-14 at Louisiana. It then edged Navy 24-20 on Sept. 25 for the program’s first win over the Midshipmen and a 1-0 start in American Conference play.
Running back Bam McReynolds scored twice, including a 48-yard go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter after linebacker Marlin Dean forced a fumble. Dean finished with 12 tackles and three forced fumbles. Quarterback Ryder Burton went 13 of 20 for 174 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown pass to Ty Mims, UAB reported.
What Samford brings to Birmingham
Samford lost its first two games, 22-10 to North Alabama and 22-18 to Southern Illinois, before beating VMI 45-7 on Sept. 26 for the program’s 500th win. Gabarri Johnson completed 22 of 26 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in that game. Safety LaShon Young returned an interception 45 yards for a score.
Receiver Marquise Henderson caught a touchdown pass against VMI, and running back Emerson Russell ran for 61 yards and a score. First-year coach John Grass has the Bulldogs at 1-1 in the Southern Conference.
What to watch in Samford vs UAB
The Blazers’ defense forced two fourth-quarter fumbles against Navy, so ball security is the key for Samford in Samford vs UAB. Samford’s four games so far were against FCS opponents. Its last FBS game was a loss to Texas A&M last November, as we reported. For more college football news, see our look at the 24-team CFP format.
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