2018 UAB Blazers football team
The 2018 UAB Blazers football team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by third-year head coach Bill Clark and played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season 11–3, 7–1 in C-USA play to be champions of the West Division. They represented the West Division in the C-USA Championship Game where they defeated Middle Tennessee to win their first ever C-USA championship. They were invited to the Boca Raton Bowl where they defeated Northern Illinois to claim their first bowl win in program history.
2018 UAB Blazers football | |
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C-USA Champion C-USA West Division champion Boca Raton Bowl champion | |
C-USA Championship Game, W 27–25 vs. Middle Tennessee | |
Boca Raton Bowl, W 37–13 vs. Northern Illinois | |
Conference | Conference USA |
West Division | |
2018 record | 11–3 (7–1 C-USA) |
Head coach | Bill Clark (3rd season) |
Offensive coordinator | Bryant Vincent (2nd season) |
Defensive coordinator | David Reeves (2nd season) |
Home stadium | Legion Field (Capacity: 71,594) |
2018 Conference USA football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Middle Tennessee x | 7 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marshall | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIU | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charlotte | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida Atlantic | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old Dominion | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Kentucky | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UAB x$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Texas | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana Tech | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Miss | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTSA | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTEP | 1 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On November 11, 2018, the Blazers made their first appearance in the Coaches' Poll at No. 25, marking the first time since 2004 they had been ranked in any of the major three polls.
Previous season
The Blazers finished the 2017 season 8–5, 6–2 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division. They received an invitation to the Bahamas Bowl, where they lost to Ohio.
The 2017 season marked the return of UAB football after a two-year hiatus following the elimination of the program in December 2014 and its subsequent reinstatement in July 2015.[1]
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
Award | Player | Position | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Rimington Trophy[2] | Lee Dufour | C | JR |
Maxwell Award[3] | Spencer Brown | RB | SO |
Doak Walker Award[4] | Spencer Brown | RB | SO |
John Mackey Award[5] | Logan Scott | TE | SR |
Wuerffel Trophy[6] | Craig Kanyangarara | LB | SR |
Walter Camp Award[7] | Spencer Brown | RB | SO |
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[8] | A.J. Erdely | QB | SR |
Manning Award[9] | A.J. Erdely | QB | SR |
Preseason All-CUSA team
Conference USA released their preseason all-CUSA team on July 16, 2018, with the Blazers having one player selected.[10]
Offense Spencer Brown – RB |
Preseason media poll
Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 17, 2018, with the Blazers predicted to finish in third place in the West Division.[11]
West Division | |
Predicted finish | Team |
---|---|
1 | North Texas |
2 | Louisiana Tech |
3 | UAB |
4 | Southern Miss |
5 | UTSA |
T–6 | Rice |
T–6 | UTEP |
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 30 | 7:00 p.m. | Savannah State* | ESPN+ | W 52–0 | 27,124 | |
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | at Coastal Carolina* | ESPN+ | L 24–47 | 9,776 | |
September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | Tulane* |
| Stadium | W 31–24 | 21,991 |
September 29 | 6:00 p.m. | Charlotte |
| ESPN3 | W 28–7 | 25,395 |
October 6 | 6:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | Stadium | W 28–7 | 18,983 | |
October 13 | 12:00 p.m. | at Rice | ESPN+ | W 42–0 | 18,916 | |
October 20 | 6:30 p.m. | North Texas |
| beIN | W 29–21 | 28,014 |
October 27 | 6:30 p.m. | at UTEP | ESPN+ | W 19–0 | 10,787 | |
November 3 | 6:30 p.m. | UTSA |
| beIN | W 52–3 | 17,605 |
November 10 | 6:30 p.m. | Southern Miss |
| beIN | W 26–23 OT | 25,618 |
November 17 | 6:00 p.m. | at Texas A&M* | ESPN2 | L 20–41 | 97,584 | |
November 24 | 2:00 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | ESPN3 | L 3–27 | 14,411 | |
December 1 | 1:30 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee |
| CBSSN | W 27–25 | 15,806 |
December 18 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. Northern Illinois* | ESPN | W 37–13 | 22,614 | |
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Rankings
Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
AP | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | NR | RV | |||||||||||||||||||||
Coaches | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | RV | RV | RV | |||||||||||||||||||||
CFP | Not released | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | Not released |
Game summaries
Savannah State
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Blazers | 7 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 52 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
First meeting |
at Coastal Carolina
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Chanticleers | 7 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 47 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
1–0 | 2017 | UAB, 30–23 |
Tulane
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green Wave | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
Blazers | 7 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
3–5 | 2012 | TUL, 55–45 |
Charlotte
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Blazers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
0–1 | 2017 | CHAR, 25–24 OT |
at Louisiana Tech
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
Bulldogs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
1–5 | 2017 | UAB, 23–22 |
at Rice
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
Owls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
3–3 | 2017 | UAB, 52–21 |
North Texas
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean Green | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Blazers | 3 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 29 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
2–1 | 2017 | UNT, 46–43 |
at UTEP
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 10 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 19 |
Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
4–1 | 2017 | UAB, 28–7 |
UTSA
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadrunners | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Blazers | 21 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 52 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
1–1 | 2017 | UAB, 24–19 |
Southern Miss
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Golden Eagles | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
Blazers | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 26 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
6–10 | 2017 | UAB, 30–12 |
at Texas A&M
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
Aggies | 14 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
0–1 | 2009 | A&M, 56–19 |
at Middle Tennessee
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Blue Raiders | 0 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
3–3 | 2017 | UAB, 25–23 |
at Middle Tennessee (C-USA Championship Game)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 3 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
Blue Raiders | 13 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 25 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
3–4 | 11/24/18 | MTSU, 27–3 |
vs. Northern Illinois (Boca Raton Bowl)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Blazers | 10 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 37 |
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
First Meeting |
References
- "UAB to reinstate football for 2017 season". ESPN.com. July 21, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- "Rimington Trophy Press Release". May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- http://conferenceusa.com/news/2018/7/16/football-fb-2018-preseason-awards.aspx
- http://conferenceusa.com/news/2018/7/17/football-fb-preseason-media-poll.aspx
- "2018 UAB Football Schedule | Blazers | FBSchedules.com". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 6, 2018.