UAB Blazers 2025 College Football Preview
Posted June 26, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 3-9
ATS – 5-6-1
It was another tough season for the FIGHTING TRENT DILFERS as they whooped something referred to as Alcorn St in the home opener (W 41-3) and then proceeded to lose the next six games in a row. The Blazers managed to scrape together a few more wins along the way (Tulsa, Rice) but they were unable to sniff a bowl bid for the 2nd consecutive year.
UAB Blazers 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Blazers were very disappointing on offense LY as they couldn’t get the ground attack rolling (131 YPG, #95 FBS) and they made too many mistakes with the THROW GAME (team 24-16 TD to INT). QB Jalen Kitna is back to lead the attack (17-11 TD to INT) and he’s definitely got the physical attributes required to sling the ball around, but can he cut down on the errors? Leading rusher Lee Beebe is off to Indiana (!) and the Blazers will be looking at UTEP transfer Jevon Jackson (754, 4 TD LY) to help fill the void. We’re not crazy about the depth at RB but it’s possible that Isaiah Jacobs could end up being a productive option. UAB loses their top-two WRs but retain Corri Milliner (416, 17.3, 3 TD), and they’ve added a few promising transfers including former Iowa Hawkeye Kaleb Brown who should appreciate the drop in class to the AAC. The offensive line could be a major problem area given the lack of starting experience and the Blazers OL performance was poor in 2024 (4.0 YPC, 32 sacks). Even if Kitna has a solid season at QB it’s hard to imagine the offense performing much better than it did last season.
DEFENSE
“Feed ’em to the pigs, Errol.” <Brick Top> <Snatch>
The Blazers allowed 34 PPG last year (#120) which was a slight improvement over the DEBACLE of 2023 (37 PPG, #130). New DC Steve Russ is going to have his hands full this year as the defense needs to be rebuilt from scratch with bodies from the transfer portal and a light dusting of holdovers from the 2024 squad. The situation doesn’t look promising at DL but it’s possible that the Blazers hit on a couple of transfers, and they do have some decent size. LB Eli Ennis did some fine work at Nicholls and UAB will need him to be a consistent force in the middle of the defense. The secondary performed well LY (54.7%, #8 FBS) but they lost almost all the starters from that unit. DB Perry Fisher (Maryland) and safety Sirad Bryant are nice building blocks and we expect that the secondary will be the best unit on defense this year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Yes, guy.
The Blazers have some of the best special teams weapons in the conference in punter Patrick Foley, KR Solomon Beebe (28.7), and deadly PK Jonah Delange (21/24 FG, 7-8 from 40+ LY).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – There’s some good news to report. UAB faces Alabama St (H) and Akron (H) in the first three weeks, and if they can find a way to upset Navy, that would mean a 3-0 start. The AAC docket is challenging in the early going as they have to deal with Navy (A), Army (H), and Memphis (H) before the schedule lightens up in November.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nov 1 (at UConn)
That’s a long trip out to the communist stronghold of Connecticut, even though they have the benefit of a bye week preceding the game. The Blazers have an AAC matchup on deck (at Rice) and recall that the Huskies upset the Blazers in Birmingham last year.
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 26
Over 4.5 +105
Under 4.5 -135
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
This is another tough AAC call. On the one hand, the schedule lends itself to finding a small handful of wins, but it’s also true that UAB can’t be trusted on the road (see Tidbits below). We’ll take a pass for now.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Blazers are an impossibly impossible 0-12 (!) on the road over two seasons under the guidance of HC Trent Dilfer.
UAB is 22-8-2 ATS (73%) (!) as home favorite over the L10Y (Dilfer 4-1 ATS L2Y).
Birmingham is located in the GREAT STATE of ALABAMA and is known as America’s bass capital. There’s plenty of largemouth bass action in the area for all you fishermen out there. The BIG BASS Capital is Lake Eufaula, Alabama which is about a three-hour drive from Birmingham. You wanna talk ‘big bass’? Those suckers are massive and capable of swallowing a toddler or an annoying relative in one bite. Be safe out there!
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Trent Dilfer’s BITS AND PIECES are roasting on the HOT SEAT right now. The last two seasons have been a disappointment and mostly because there was no improvement made in year two of the regime. It wouldn’t surprise us if the Blazers had a lot of success throwing the football but the defense doesn’t inspire much confidence. And don’t get us started again about that road record over the L2Y. We’ll call for four or five wins but hope that we’re wrong and they find a way to make a bowl game. Good luck, Blazers!