The 2020 UAB Blazers football team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as a member of the West Division in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Bill Clark, the Blazers compiled an overall record of 6–3 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, winning C-USA's West Division title. UAB advanced to the C-USA Championship Game, where the Blazers defeated Marshall to capture the conference championship. They accepted a bid to the Gasparilla Bowl, but four days prior to the game, on December 22, the Blazers' opponent, South Carolina, withdrew from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues. As no replacement team was available, the bowl game was subsequently canceled. The team played home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Schedule UAB announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020. The 2020 schedule originally planned consisted of six home and six away games in the regular season. The Blazers had games scheduled against Alabama A&M, New Mexico State, Old Dominion, UTEP, and Middle Tennessee that were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rankings
Preseason Death of Jamari Smith 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.
CUSA media days The CUSA Media Days will be held virtually for the first time in conference history.
Game summaries Central Arkansas
At Miami
At South Alabama
Statistics UABSouth 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 StatisticsUAB 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 TDSouth 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
UTSA
Statistics UTSAUAB 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 StatisticsUTSA Passing Jordan Weeks 7/19, 57 yards, 1 INT Rushing Sincere McCormick 22 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joshua Cephus 3 receptions, 42 yardsUAB 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
Western Kentucky
Statistics Western KentuckyUAB 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 StatisticsWestern 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 TDUAB 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
Louisiana
Statistics LouisianaUAB 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 StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 12/20, 152 yards, 2 TDS Rushing Elijah Mitchell 21 carries, 67 yards Receiving Kyren Lacy 2 receptions, 43 yardsUAB 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
At Louisiana Tech
Statistics UABLouisiana 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 StatisticsUAB Passing Tyler Johnston III 4/9, 81 yards Rushing Spencer Brown 29 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Austin Watkins Jr. 6 receptions, 95 yardsLouisiana 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
At Rice
Statistics UABRice 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 StatisticsUAB 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 TDRice 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)
Players drafted into the NFL
4 121 Jordan Smith DE Jacksonville Jaguars
References