2023-09-21 21:20:25
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team travels to Athens this Saturday night for a primetime contest at No. 1 Georgia. Kickoff from Sanford Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
This is the first time in school history that UAB has played the No. 1 team in the country, and the eighth time playing an AP Top 5 team. This is also just the second in the 10-year history of the American Athletic Conference that a league member has played once morest the nation’s top-ranked team (Cincinnati vs. Alabama in 2021 CFP Semifinals).
Who: UAB (1-2, 0-0 AAC) at No. 1 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Where: Sanford Stadium – Athens, Ga.
When: Saturday, Sept. 23 – 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN2
On The Call: Brian Custer (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), Lauren Sisler (sideline)
Listen: 94.5 WJOX
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: Georgia leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2021 – UGA 56-7
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
The Blazers head to Athens having lost back-to-back games once morest Georgia Southern and Louisiana. Georgia, the back-to-back defending National Champion, is playing its fourth-straight home game to open the season and is coming off a 24-14 victory over SEC opponent South Carolina.
UAB and Georgia both currently have top-15 ranked passing attacks nationally, with both teams being tied at 14th in the nation in passing yards per game (318.7).
Jacob Zeno leads UAB’s passing attack as he continues to rank top five nationally in a slue of categories. Zeno is currently tied for second in completions per game (32.7), is third in completion percentage (80.3%) and fifth in passing yards per game (318.7). He has thrown for no less than 280 in every game this season.
On the Georgia side, Carson Beck has taken the reins at quarterback and has thrown for 846 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while completing 74 percent (71-of-96). Beck is averaging 282.1 passing yards per game and faces a UAB defense that ranks 36th nationally in passing yards allowed (189.3).
The Blazer offense is converting on third down at a .528 rate, which is top-20 nationally, putting UAB at a tie for 17th with Oregon. UAB struggled on third down last week but looks to return to form at Georgia, which will be key to controlling time of possession.
Keondre Swoopes returned to the lineup at Georgia Southern and has been UAB’s leading tackler in each of their last two games. Despite missing the first game of the season with an injury, Swoopes shares a team-high 19 tackles with linebacker Jackson Bratton and these two need to have big games on Saturday for the UAB defense.
Outside linebacker Michael Moore has also emerged as one of UAB’s most consistent forces on defense, compiling 17 tackles through three games. He has also added two TFL and has shown his versatility by being able to play both edge rusher and linebacker.
Not only will UAB look to knock off the No. 1 team in the nation, but the Blazers also look for their third victory over an SEC opponent in school history. The other two wins came at LSU in 2000 (13-10) and at Mississippi State in 2004 (27-13).
Following the game at Georgia, the Blazers enter AAC play with a road contest at Tulane. Kickoff in New Orleans on Sept. 30 is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.
For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.
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