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Samford vs UAB: 3 big things to know in a crosstown clash

Dustin Judge
Protective Stadium in Birmingham, where Samford vs UAB will be played

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.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.