UAB lost to Memphis: and it wasn't even competitive

November 14, 2024 – the UAB football team went on the road and lost 18 to 53. No they were not playing a top tier SEC or Big 10 team. They were blown out by Memphis – an American Athletic Conference opponent. Memphis improved to 9 and 2 overall and 5-2 in the AAC; while UAB fell to a woeful 2 and 8 overall and 1 and 5 in AAC play.

UAB head Coach Trent Dilfer has taken heavy fire from the fans and the sports media alike.

The decision to move from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference from Conference USA where they were a charter member is looking like a truly dreadful decision. They can replace Dilfer at the end of this season, at the end of next season, or the year after that; but the sad truth is that UAB does not have the roster to be competitive at this level of college football and in an era of NIL and the transfer portal it is hard to imagine a world where UAB will ever have the money to compete for talent at this level.

UAB gave up 11 points in the first quarter; but then appeared to claw their way back in the second half. Memphis tacked on a touchdown in the second quarter to take an 18 to nothing lead over the Blazers. UAB appeared to get back in the game with a touchdown drive at the end of the first half to only be down 8 to 18 at the half.

UAB's defense had no answers for Memphis in the second half. The Tigers couldn't have scored more points in the second half if they were the Green Bay Packers. Memphis scored touchdowns on all five of their second half possessions; while the Blazers managed to score just ten points in the second half.

Memphis had 526 yards of total offense and 53 points -totally outclassing the Blazers on the field at the historic Liberty Bowl.

"We made the decision before the season that I was going to be hyperaggressive with this team," said Dilfer explaining why he passed up an easy field goal attempt early in the game to go for it on fourth down. The fourth down conversion failed.

Dilfer did not play UAB Quarterback Jacob Zeno even though he cleared concussion protocol.

"I just don't want to expose a young person to possible injury," said Dilfer explaining the decision not to play Zeno who has been out for weeks.

Dilfer is 6 and 16 in his two years at UAB.

UAB plays Rice at Protective Life Stadium on Saturday with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. CST. The game, UAB's senior day, will be televised on ESPN+.

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