UAB Blazers 2026 College Football Preview
Posted June 28, 2026
2025 Recap
Record – 4-8
ATS – 4-8
The Blazers got off to a decent start at 2-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of Navy in a somewhat competitive game. Things quickly unraveled from there, as they were putrid the rest of the way — with the lone exception being an upset win over Memphis as three-TD underdogs. Yup, that happened.
That makes it three consecutive losing seasons for the Blazers. Can they turn things around in 2026?
UAB Blazers 2026 Outlook
OFFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (American):
- Scoring: 26.4 PPG (#10 American)
- Total Offense: 404.3 YPG (#9 American)
- Rushing: 138.7 YPG (#12 American)
- Passing: 265.6 YPG (#5 American)
- Sacks Allowed: 30 (#13 American)
The Blazers had their moments on offense last year, particularly through the air, but they were just too inconsistent. Their production of 26 PPG was unacceptable for a team with the quality they had at QB/RB/WR.
They need better than a mediocre 20-15 TD-to-INT mark from the QB room, and it’s the Ryder Burton show heading into fall camp after the departure of Jalen Kitna, who underwhelmed when given the chance. Burton needs some polish, but he led UAB to their YUUUGE upset win over Memphis last season (20-of-27, 251 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT), and we think he’ll play well in 2026.
There’s been some serious CARNAGE in the RB room as the Blazers lose their top-three from last year’s squad, who combined to rush for over 1,500 yards and 15 scores. But we’re pleased to report that UAB did yeoman’s work in the portal. The room has been replenished with additions including highly recruited specimen Roderick Robinson II from Georgia (!), who’s got impressive dimensions (6-1, 235) and appears ready to take on a starter’s workload. Transfers Ja’Vin Simpkins (Coastal Carolina) and Braylon McReynolds (ULM) make this RB room a serious problem for American Conference defenses. The offensive line should complement the rushing attack very well, as they bring back a pair of starters and plenty of GIRTH, including a pair of projected starters that each weigh in at 350+ pounds. Get those vending machines filled, yo.
At the risk of repeating ourselves, there’s also a chasm to be filled in the WR room after the departure of their — wait for it — top-three wideouts. The Blazers will particularly miss WR1 Iverson Hooks (927 yards, 7 TD), who just might end up starting at Oregon (!) this year. Talented holdover WR Kaleb Brown suffered a dislocated ankle during the spring but should be ready to go for the season opener. They brought in a few decent transfers, but it’s gonna be very difficult to replace Hooks. Time will tell.
DEFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (American):
- Scoring: 38.3 PPG (#14 American, dead last)
- Total Defense: 423.3 YPG (#12 American)
- Rushing Defense: 191.1 YPG (#10 American)
- Passing Defense: 232.2 YPG (#9 American)
- Sacks: 18 (#11 American)
It was an absolute TIRE FIRE on this side of the football last season, so you could argue that losing 16 of the top-17 tacklers is a good thing. Whatever they do, they’ve gotta find some PENETRATORS, as they’ve only booked 18 sacks in each of the last two years.
The vast majority of the DL two-deep needs to be replaced, but they retain DE Chris Burje (3.5 sacks, 7 QBH) and have added several big bodies on the interior that should help plug the run. Let’s hope another pass rusher or two can emerge from the depth chart. Everyone of consequence is gone from the LB corps, including leading tackler Devin Hightower, but the transfer haul at this position was pretty good and they’ve got a shot to be better in the middle layer this season. Keep your eye on MTSU transfer Muaaz Byard, who’s pegged to start at MLB and has a great shot to lead the team in stops in 2026.
UAB was a disgusting #136 (yup, dead last) in pass efficiency defense last season and yielded an impossible 27 touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions. They’ve added almost a dozen transfers on the back end, so it’s hard to tell at this point how much improvement to expect. That said, we do think there will be some.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Solid PK Jonah Delange is back in the mix (31/38 career FG), but they need to replace essentially everyone else including their dangerous KR Solomon Beebe (26.1, TD).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – It looks like the Blazers will win one or two non-conference games, depending on how the home date with ULM shakes out. They got a negative draw in American Conference action as they miss three of the bottom-end teams (Tulsa, FAU, Rice) and have to deal with almost all of the league’s big ’uns.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Illinois (Sept 5)
There are a lot of new faces on this team, and it’ll be tough sledding in the season opener on the HIGHWAY vs a Big Ten opponent. And don’t forget — this is a team that has won just two (!) games on the road since the beginning of the 2022 season.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – June 28
Over 3.5 -115
Under 3.5 -115
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
We think they’ll find a way to beat Samford, Charlotte, and ULM at home. Now, can they just bring one more home for daddy?
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
UAB didn’t become its own independent university until 1969. It started as a small medical extension of the University of Alabama in Birmingham and has since grown into the largest single employer in the GREAT STATE of Alabama.
Before Blaze the Dragon, UAB had some interesting mascot choices. In the late 1970s, the school briefly used a pink dragon, which would make perfect sense in the 2026 CLOWN WORLD we live in today, but that’s nuts for the 1970s. Even earlier, they had a rooster as a mascot because of the school’s agricultural ties.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Blazers are on a rotten run as we approach press time, and they’ve got access to way too much talent for this to continue much longer. Some sources believe that your boy Trent Dilfer might have set this program back a decade or so, but we don’t think the situation is anywhere near that dire.
The offense has the potential to be moderately dangerous, but the defense still needs a lot of work. The schedule is too demanding to expect a bowl appearance, but if they get something — heck, anything — from the defense, we think they’ll SHOCK the WORLD at least once before moving on to better things in 2027.
Go Blazers! Go Blazers! Win for UAB!