UAB had some impressive moments during the 2023 season. But the Blazers ultimately went 4-8 and fell out of contention for a bowl after losing two of its last three games.
That’s not how they want to perform in the future, especially now they’re in the AAC. But competing with the rest of the conference, arguably the best in the Group of Five, is going to remain difficult in 2024.
UAB will need to win some key games down the stretch to return to a bowl game, let alone have a chance of winning an AAC Championship.
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UAB Football’s AAC Title Odds
UAB’s odds to win the AAC are +3000, via BetMGM.
UAB Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
UAB’s win total Over/Under is 6.5, with Under 6.5 at -150 and Over 6.5 at +125.
UAB Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/29 vs. Alcorn State
9/7 @ ULM
9/14 @ Arkansas
9/28 vs. Navy
10/5 vs. Tulane
10/12 @ Army
10/19 @ USF
11/2 vs. Tulsa
11/9 vs. UConn
11/16 @ Memphis
11/23 vs. Rice
11/30 @ Charlotte
Bold indicates AAC contests
Key UAB Football Returners
QB Jacob Zeno
WR Amare Thomas
LB Michael Moore
EDGE Desmond Little
UAB Football Seeking To Take Steps Forward
The Blazers lost some star offensive players from a 2023 team which was fifth in the AAC with 450 yards per game and sixth with 29.9 points per game.
Running back Jermaine Brown Jr., who is UAB’s all-time leader with 5,026 career all-purpose yards, and wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer, who was picked in the NFL Draft this offseason, are now gone.
But UAB does have some experience at the most important position. Quarterback
Jacob Zeno returns after a stellar season. He set UAB’s single-season records with 279 completions and a completion percentage of 73.6 and was second in the school’s record books with 3,126 yards. He threw for 20 touchdowns and rushed for four more.
Wide receiver Amare Thomas, who led the team with 53 catches which led to 437 yards and three touchdowns, is also back for UAB.
UAB didn’t have any all-conference defenders last year and lost players like Keondre Swoopes, who led the team with 72 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. The Blazers ranked outside of the top 10 in the AAC in scoring defense (36.9 points per game allowed) and total defense (435 yards per game allowed).
The Blazers will certainly want to improve on that side of the ball. They do bring back linebacker Michael Moore, who is their leading returning tackler with 63 to go with 5.5 tackles for loss last year, and EDGE Desmond Little, who paced the team with 5.5 sacks and 7.5 TFLs to go with 29 tackles.
While they did add some former Power Four players, their transfer class was ranked ninth in the conference by 247Sports.
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2024 UAB Football Season Prediction
I predict UAB will go Under 6.5 wins and won’t win the AAC Championship. That being said, I do believe UAB could be eligible for a bowl game by the end of the 2024 season.
But UAB’s schedule isn’t going to be easy, and I just don’t see seven clear wins. The Blazers could pull off two non-conference victories against Alcorn State and UConn, but I don’t see them winning at Arkansas, and even a trip to ULM won’t be easy as many believe that program could bounce back this season.
And four or five wins in AAC play isn’t going to be all that easy either. I could see UAB winning at home over Navy, Tulsa, and even Rice but I don’t believe the Blazers will be better than Tulane. They also have difficult road trips to USF and Memphis, which are two teams considered to be among the favorites to win the AAC.
The key games will be at Army and at Charlotte. The fact that those are on the road doesn’t help UAB. But those matchups could end up being the difference for whether the Blazers make a bowl game in 2024.
