American college football season
The 2020 UAB Blazers football team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Blazers played their final home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama , and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by fifth-year head coach Bill Clark .
After compiling a 6–3 record (3–1 in conference play), the team accepted a bid to the Gasparilla Bowl . However, on December 22, the Blazers' bowl opponent, South Carolina , had to withdraw from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues within their program.[ 1] As no replacement team was available, the bowl was subsequently canceled.[ 1]
Death of Jamari Smith [ edit ] On May 28, 2020, it was announced that incoming freshman Jamari Smith, from Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama , had drowned while swimming with friends.[ 2]
Listed in the order that they were released
Award Player Position Year TBD
The CUSA Media Days will be held virtually for the first time in conference history.[ 3]
Media poll (West Division) Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Louisiana Tech 2 North Texas 3 Rice 4 Southern Miss 5 UAB 6 UTEP 7 UTSA
Media poll (CUSA Championship) Rank Team Votes TBD
Preseason All-CUSA teams [ edit ] To be released
UAB announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020.[ 4] The 2020 schedule was originally planned to consist of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.
The Blazers had games scheduled against Alabama A&M , New Mexico State , Old Dominion , UTEP , and Middle Tennessee but were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance 7:00 p.m. Central Arkansas * ESPN3 W 45–35 12,716 8:00 p.m. at Miami (FL) * ACCN L 14–31 8,153 6:30 p.m. at South Alabama * ESPN W 42–10 5,766 October 3 11:30 a.m. UTSA Legion Field Birmingham, AL Stadium W 21–13 12,547 October 17 12:30 p.m. Western Kentucky Legion Field Birmingham, AL Stadium W 37–14 11,098 7:00 p.m. Louisiana * Legion Field Birmingham, AL CBSSN L 20–24 11,610 October 31 2:30 p.m. at Louisiana Tech Stadium L 34–37 2OT 7,140 December 12 11:00 a.m. at Rice ESPN3 W 21–16 2,000 December 18 6:00 p.m. at Marshall CBSSN W 22–13 8,324 December 26 11:00 a.m. vs. South Carolina* ABC CANCELLED
[ 8]
Ranking movementsLegend: — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP RV RV* RV Coaches — —* — CFP Not released Not released
Game One – Central Arkansas Bears (0-1) at No. 24 UAB Blazers (1-0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Bears 7 14 0 14 35 #24 Blazers 14 14 3 14 45
at Legion Field • Birmingham, Alabama
Date : Thursday, September 3, 2020Game time : 7:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : Clear • Temperature : 84 °F (29 °C) • Wind : SSW 5 mphTV announcers (ESPN3 ) : Curt Bloom (play-by-play), Chad Pilcher (analyst)Pregame line : UAB –21.5 • Odds to win : UAB 93.1% • Game summary : ESPN NCAA
Game information First quarter (7:03) UAB – Gerrit Prince 6 yard pass from Tyler Johnston III, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 12 plays, 73 yards, 5:15; UAB 7–0 ) (2:46) UAB – Spencer Brown 5 yard rush, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:24; UAB 14–0 ) (0:03) UCA – Cameron Myers 4 yard rush, Hayden Ray kick (Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards, 0:13; UAB 14–7 ) Second quarter (10:50) UAB – Myron Mitchell 18 yard pass from Bryson Lucero, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 2:03; UAB 21–7 ) (5:31) UAB – Gerrit Prince 10 yard pass from Tyler Johnson III, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 2:56; UAB 28–7 ) (2:33) UCA – Lujuan Winningham 15 yard pass from Breylin Smith, Chandler Caughron kick (Drive: 1 play, 15 yards, 0:05; UAB 28–14 ) (1:21) UCA – Robert Rochell 35 yard fumble return, Chandler Caughron kick (UAB 28–21 ) Third quarter (3:07) UAB – Matthew Quinn 23 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 48 yards, 6:51; UAB 31–21 ) Fourth quarter (12:41) UAB – Lucious Stanley 8 yard rush, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 4 plays, 30 yards, 2:10; UAB 38–21 ) (8:12) UAB – Jermaine Brown Jr. 30 yard rush, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 4 plays, 43 yards, 2:00; UAB 45–21 ) (5:43) UCA – LuJuan Winningham 8 yard pass from Breylin Smith, Chandler Caughron kick (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:29; UAB 45–28 ) (0:32) UCA – Sam Camargo 6 yard pass from Breylin Smith, Chandler Caughron kick (Drive: 10 plays, 83 yards, 2:40; UAB 45–35 )
Statistics UCA UAB First downs 20 29 Plays–yards 66–293 83–459 Rushes–yards 21–100 49–233 Passing yards 193 226 Passing: comp –att –int 25–46–1 24–34–1 Time of possession 22:55 37:05
Team Category Player Statistics Central Arkansas Passing Breylin Smith 25/46, 193 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kierre Crossley 10 carries, 59 yards Receiving Lujuan Winningham 6 receptions, 53 yards, 2 TD UAB Passing Tyler Johnston III 17/25, 143 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Spencer Brown 24 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD Receiving Austin Watkins 7 receptions, 72 yards
Game information First quarter (2:40) UAB – Austin Watkins 16 yard pass from Tyler Johnston III, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 2 plays, 17 yards, 0:44; UAB 7–0 ) (1:04) MIA – Cam'Ron Harris 66 yard rush, José Borregales kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:36; Tied 7–7 ) Second quarter (10:04) MIA – D'Eriq King 12 yard rush, José Borregales kick (Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 2:16; Miami 14–7 ) Third quarter (10:15) MIA – José Borregales 25 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:45; Miami 17–7 ) (6:19) UAB – Spencer Brown 6 yard rush, Matthew Quinn kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:56; Miami 17–14 ) (4:02) MIA – Cam'Ron Harris 4 yard rush, José Borregales kick (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 2:17; Miami 24–14 ) (0:00) MIA – Brevin Jordan 4 yard pass from D'Eriq King, José Borregales kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:42; Miami 31–14 ) Fourth quarter No scoring
Statistics UAB MIA First downs 14 25 Plays–yards 61–285 78–495 Rushes–yards 26–80 52–337 Passing yards 205 158 Passing: comp –att –int 19–35–0 18–27–0 Time of possession 29:04 30:56
Team Category Player Statistics UAB Passing Tyler Johnston III 15/23, 150 yards, 1 TD Rushing Spencer Brown 16 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Myron Mitchell 8 receptions, 117 yards Miami Passing D'Eriq King 16/24, 144 yards, 1 TD Rushing Cam'Ron Harris 17 carries, 134 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brevin Jordan 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Blazers 14 14 0 14 42 Jaguars 0 10 0 0 10
Pregame line Over/under UAB −6.5 47.5[ 9]
Statistics UAB South Alabama First downs 22 18 Total yards 509 315 Rushing yards 190 147 Passing yards 319 168 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 35:00 25:00
Team Category Player Statistics UAB Passing Bryson Lucero 18/28, 319 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Spencer Brown 20 carries, 105 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Austin Watkins 7 receptions, 183 yards, 1 TD South Alabama Passing Chance Lovertich 14/29, 168 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carlos Davis 17 carries, 105 yards Receiving Jalen Tolbert 3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Roadrunners 3 3 0 7 13 Blazers 7 7 7 0 21
Pregame line Over/under UAB –21.5 55[ 10]
Statistics UTSA UAB First downs 17 21 Total yards 280 409 Rushing yards 190 214 Passing yards 90 195 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 26:53 33:07
Team Category Player Statistics UTSA Passing Jordan Weeks 7/19, 57 yards, 1 INT Rushing Sincere McCormick 22 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joshua Cephus 3 receptions, 42 yards UAB Passing Bryson Lucero 18/29, 195 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Spencer Brown 26 carries, 144 yards Receiving Myron Mitchell 6 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Hilltoppers 7 7 0 0 14 Blazers 10 14 10 3 37
Pregame line Over/under UAB –11.5 44[ 11]
Statistics Western Kentucky UAB First downs 15 17 Total yards 250 358 Rushing yards 88 217 Passing yards 162 141 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 28:33 31:27
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Kevaris Thomas 16/35, 162 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Jakairi Moses 6 carries, 41 yards Receiving Joshua Simon 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD UAB Passing Bryson Lucero 15/31, 141 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing DeWayne McBride 10 carries, 131 yards, 1 TD Receiving Austin Watkins 7 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Ragin' Cajuns 0 10 7 7 24 Blazers 3 10 7 0 20
Pregame line Over/under LA −2.5 50.5[ 12]
Statistics Louisiana UAB First downs 17 17 Total yards 286 285 Rushing yards 134 175 Passing yards 152 110 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 30:37 29:23
Team Category Player Statistics Louisiana Passing Levi Lewis 12/20, 152 yards, 2 TDS Rushing Elijah Mitchell 21 carries, 67 yards Receiving Kyren Lacy 2 receptions, 43 yards UAB Passing Bryson Lucero 10/23, 110 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Spencer Brown 28 carries, 128 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ryan Davis 2 receptions, 34 yards
1 2 3 4 OT 2OT Total Blazers 0 14 17 0 3 0 34 Bulldogs 3 14 0 14 3 3 37
Pregame line Over/under UAB –13 47.5[ 13]
Statistics UAB Louisiana Tech First downs 20 20 Total yards 485 381 Rushing yards 338 49 Passing yards 147 332 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 32:44 27:16
Team Category Player Statistics UAB Passing Tyler Johnston III 4/9, 81 yards Rushing Spencer Brown 29 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Austin Watkins Jr. 6 receptions, 95 yards Louisiana Tech Passing Aaron Allen 18/26, 191 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Israel Tucker 17 carries, 54 yards Receiving Adrian Hardy 7 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TDs
1 2 3 4 Total Blazers 0 7 14 0 21 Owls 3 10 0 3 16
Pregame line Over/under UAB –7 42.5[ 14]
Statistics UAB Rice First downs 13 20 Total yards 354 232 Rushing yards 137 66 Passing yards 217 166 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 22:42 37:18
Team Category Player Statistics UAB Passing Tyler Johnson III 9/18, 217 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tyler Johnson III 7 carries, 41 yards Receiving Myron Mitchell 1 reception, 63 yards, 1 TD Rice Passing JoVoni Johnson 17/23, 139 yards, 1 TD Rushing Khalan Griffin 14 carries, 34 yards Receiving Jake Bailey 7 receptions, 72 yards
at Marshall (Conference USA Championship)[ edit ] Game Nine – UAB Blazers at Marshall Thundering Herd (Conference USA Championship)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Blazers 3 6 0 13 22 Thundering Herd 0 0 7 6 13
at Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia
Date : Saturday, December 18, 2020Game time : 7:00 p.m. EST Game weather : Cloudy • Temperature : 34 °F (1 °C) • Wind : W 3 MPH Game attendance : 8,324Referee : Jon NoliTV announcers (CBSSN ) : Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) and Jenny Dell (sideline)
Game information First quarter (1:45) UAB – Matt Quinn 30-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 6:10; UAB 3–0 ) Second quarter (11:55) UAB – Hayden Pittman 19-yard pass from Tyler Johnston III, Matt Quinn kick failed (Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 2:54; UAB 9–0 ) Third quarter (6:17) MRSH – Artie Henry 7-yard pass from Grant Wells, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 6 plays, 49 yards, 2:06; UAB 9–7 ) Fourth quarter (14:55) UAB – Matt Quinn 42-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 50 yards, 6:22; UAB 12–7 ) (5:55) UAB – Matt Quinn 48-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 40 yards, 6:47; UAB 15–7 ) (5:38) MRSH – Xavier Gaines 70-yard pass from Grant Wells, Grant Wells pass failed (Drive: 1 play, 70 yards, 0:17; UAB 15–13 ) (4:02) UAB – Trea Shropshire 71-yard pass from T Johnston III, Matt Quinn kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:36; UAB 22–13 )
Statistics UAB MRSH First downs 21 10 Plays–yards 74–468 51–268 Rushes–yards 52–216 27–130 Passing yards 252 138 Passing: comp –att –int 12–22–0 8–24–1 Time of possession 41:26 18:34
Team Category Player Statistics UAB Passing Tyler Johnston III 12/22, 252 yards, 2 TD Rushing Spencer Brown 30 carries, 149 yards Receiving Trea Shropshire 5 receptions, 180 yards, TD Marshall Passing Grant Wells 8/23, 138 yards, 2 TD Rushing Brenden Knox 17 carries, 67 yards Receiving Xavier Gaines 1 reception, 70 yards, TD
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ] ^ a b "Tampa's Gasparilla Bowl canceled after South Carolina bails" . Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved December 22, 2020 . ^ Scarborough, Alex (May 28, 2020). "UAB incoming freshman Smith drowns at age 18" . ESPN.com . Retrieved May 28, 2020 . ^ "Conference USA to hold virtual football media days due to COVID-19" . ktsm.com . May 5, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020 . ^ "UAB Football Releases Complete 2020 Schedule" . University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Athletics. January 8, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020 . ^ Visser, David (July 21, 2020). "SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season" . FBSchedules.com . Retrieved July 20, 2020 . ^ "ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports" . TheACC.com . July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020 . ^ "Old Dominion postponing football and fall sports" . The Virginian Pilot . August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020 . ^ "2020 UAB Football Schedule" . FBSchedules.com . Retrieved March 12, 2020 . ^ "UAB Blazers vs South Alabama Jaguars" . Odds Shark . Retrieved September 23, 2020 . ^ "UTSA Roadrunners vs UAB Blazers" . Odds Shark . Retrieved October 8, 2020 . ^ "WKU Hilltoppers vs UAB Blazers" . Odds Shark . Retrieved October 19, 2020 . ^ "Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns vs UAB Blazers" . Odds Shark . Retrieved October 24, 2020 . ^ "UAB Blazers vs LA Tech Bulldogs" . Odds Shark . Retrieved December 30, 2020 . ^ "UAB Blazers vs Rice Owls" . Odds Shark . Retrieved January 2, 2021 .
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