Samford at UAB - 2026 Matchup Preview
Samford logo   Samford Bulldogs at UAB Blazers  UAB logo
Saturday, October 3rd 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
Protective Stadium - Birmingham, AL

 
Bulldogs (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach ( - )
Avg Score : 4 - 45 (4 - 45 on Road)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
UAB 2nd straight Home Game
UAB is playing their 5th straight game
Our Line: -13  (SP+ UAB -16)
SAM Win prob: 80% | Cover: 46%
Blazers (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Alex Mortensen (2 - 4)
Avg Score : 26 - 38 (28 - 38 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 3.2 - 8.8 (#86)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 2) (Avg: 3) (Bad: 6)
 
Samford's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/3 Samford at UAB-13
BYE WEEK
Sat 11/21 Samford at Auburn+18

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Samford's Schedule
UAB's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5 UAB at Illinois+31
Sat 9/12 UAB vs UL Monroe-5
Sat 9/19 UAB at Louisiana+11.5
Fri 9/25 UAB vs Navy+13.5
Sat 10/3 UAB vs Samford-8
Sat 10/10 UAB at Memphis+24
Thu 10/15 UAB vs East Carolina+16
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/31 UAB at South Florida+25.5
Sat 11/7 UAB vs Charlotte-7.5
Sat 11/14 UAB at Temple+13
Sat 11/21 UAB vs UTSA+13.5
Sat 11/28 UAB at North Texas+22

Total: Elite: 0, Good: 2, Avg 3, Bad 2, Poor 4
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 2, Avg 3, Bad 2, Poor 4
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for UAB's Schedule
Important Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
SAM0%3.50%000%000%450%0%0000
UAB#52 (.19)42% (65)26.444% (61)3.12 (36)13942% (61)2663.63 (76)#135 (.34)49% (132)38.350% (131)48% (125)4.71 (135)61.21.80.8
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
SAM0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
UAB0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
SAM Offense23.53.50%00000000%0%0%0%0%
UAB Defense1238.337.748.9%4.710.8 - - - - - 61%38%50%48%12%.34
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
SAM Defense245450%00 - - - - - 0%0%0%0%0%
UAB Offense1226.428.242.4%3.631.8224041392664.245%53%44%42%15%.19

Additional Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Samford20:000NAN%0%0000000100
UAB1231:182246%47%7.461.21.80.84.11.4128.9
Run Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
SAM Offense20%0%000000%0%0
UAB Defense1261% (136)50% (131) - - - - .22 (127)3.35 (131)83% (129)8% (115)0.91 (42)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
SAM Defense20%0% - - - - 00%0%0
UAB Offense1245% (109)44% (61)32.9138.84.220 (49).17 (42)3.12 (36)71% (79)9% (67)1.09 (24)

Pass Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
SAM Offense20%0%000000000%0%0%0
UAB Defense1238% (1)48% (125) - - - - - - 4 (100).52 (136)1.9 (135)27% (131)32% (93).41 (115)4% (130)2.1 (106)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
SAM Defense20%0% - - - - - - 000%0%0%0
UAB Offense1253% (32)42% (61)23.936.5265.67.311.120 (42)16 (88).27 (59)1.5 (72)31% (66)33% (30).36 (48)6% (65)2.1 (39)

Samford's Power Ratings
Samford's Power Rating: NR
Samford's Offense Rating: NR
Samford's Defense Rating: NR
2026 Talent Rating: NR
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Samford's 2026 Expected Record: -
Samford's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: NR
Samford's Offense SP+ Rating: NR
Samford's Defense SP+ Rating: NR

Average Talent
Average Southern Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 912.93
Average FBS Talent: 728.81

Power Ratings Matchup
Samford:    UAB: -13.1

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Samford:    UAB: -15.8




UAB's Power Ratings
UAB's Power Rating: -13.1  #126
UAB's Offense Rating: 6.71  #102
UAB's Defense Rating: 27.11  #135
2026 Talent Rating: 530.00  #113
Blue Chip Ratio: 3  #64
UAB's 2026 Expected Record: 3.2 - 8.8
UAB's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: -15.8  #125
UAB's Offense SP+ Rating: 25.5  #80
UAB's Defense SP+ Rating: 39.8  #132

Average Talent
Average American Athletic Talent Rating is 576.71
Average Power Five Talent: 912.93
Average FBS Talent: 728.81


Samford Scoring
Offense: 3.5 PPG
Offense on Road: 3.5
Defense: 45 PPG
Defense on Road: 45

Samford's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
UAB 36
Samford 21

Projected Total Points: 57
UAB Scoring
Offense: 26.4 PPG
Offense at Home: 28.2
Defense: 38.3 PPG
Defense at Home: 37.7

UAB's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreSpreadCoverTotalO/U
TeamWinsCoversO/U
UAB000 Overs
Samford000 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0

(#) SAM at (#126) UAB
Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCatSAMUAB
Net PPPPPPNRNR
Power RatePwrNR #126
SP+SP+NR #125
Perf GradeGradeNRNR
OffenseOffNRNR
DefenseDefNRNR
Spec TeamsSTNRNR
TalentTalNR #113
Blue ChipsBC%NR #64
UAB Notes
(2/24) New HC Mortensen a bad hire from LY bad staff
UAB Injury Report
Samford on Offense
CategoryCat
SAM OffUAB Def
PPPOffPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSucNR #132
ExplosiveExpNR #91
PPAPPANR #135
PowerPwrNR #135
SP+SP+NR #132
Pts POPPONR #135
HavocHavNR #130
Samford Run Game
CategoryCat
SAM OffUAB Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSucNR #131
Run ExplRExpNR #42
PPAExpNR #127
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLYNR #131
Stuff RateStuffNR #130
TackleTak - NR
Samford Pass Game
CategoryCat
SAM OffUAB Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSucNR #125
Pass ExplPExlNR #135
PPAExpNR #136
Pass Rush/BlockP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7NR #115
DB HavocDBNR #130
UAB on Offense
Balanced offense, Pass: 53%, Run: 45%
CategoryCatUAB OffSAM Def
PPPDefPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSuc #65NR
ExplosiveExp #29NR
PPAPPA #52NR
PowerPwr #102NR
SP+SP+ #80NR
Pts POPPO #76NR
HavocHav #64NR
UAB Run Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 53%, Run: 45%
CategoryCat
UAB OffSAM Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSuc #61NR
Run ExplRExp #24NR
PPAExp #42NR
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLY #36NR
Stuff RateStuff #54NR
TackleTak - NR
UAB Pass Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 53%, Run: 45%
CategoryCatUAB OffSAM Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSuc #61NR
Pass ExplPExl #72NR
PPAExp #59NR
Pass Block/RushP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7 #67NR
DB HavocDB #65NR
Program Comparison
UAB 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg G5
'26 Profile: Up to Poor G5

SAM 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'26 Profile: Remains Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Protective Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°
No Matchups Past 4 Years
  
SAM's OC ()
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Charlie Gilliam254161%258156.3
Jaden Gibson2367%23007.7
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Charlie Gilliam11-10-0.16
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Jaden Gibson4440509.247

View Samford's Full Roster

SAM's DC ()
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jackson Bussey10000
Hank Weber00010
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jackson Bussey10000
Hank Weber00010
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jackson Bussey10000
Hank Weber00010

UAB's OC Alex Mortensen (been OC for 3 years)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Ryder Burton629863%708757.2
Nate Rogers1250%0000.0
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Braylon McReynolds (Tr)12461435.074
Ja'Vin Simpkins (Tr)12559024.746
Nate Rogers138426.515
Roderick Robinson II (Tr)62203.710
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Kaleb Brown17255215.061
Antonio Ferguson10115011.521
Braylon McReynolds (Tr)158015.314
Ja'Vin Simpkins (Tr)177404.421

View UAB's Full Roster

UAB's DC Todd Grantham (in his first season)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Muaaz Byard (Tr)374112
Shaun Myers (Tr)375101
Darrell Sweeting (Tr)371100
Chris Burge325470
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Eli Hall (Tr)115413
Chris Burge325470
J'Quan Mason91100
Kyle Mosley101110
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jeremiah Jordan (Tr)192106
Delvon Gulley191013
Eli Hall (Tr)115413