Battle for the bones. Four words that bring two cities and two states together for one of the Southeast’s most underrated rivalries. Former Memphis basketball coach, who ended his career in Birmingham as Head Basketball coach and later became athletic director, helped jump-start the rivalry between the two schools. When you think of Memphis and UAB, you might think of basketball, but what some don’t realize is that the winner of the annual football game takes home the 100-pound bronze rack of ribs, a tradition dating back to the 2006 season. UAB leads the football series with Memphis 11 games to seven, with the latest going to the Blazers, who sent Memphis home last year with a stunning 31-24 loss.
For many people outside these two programs, they see the names and immediately think that because it’s football, it’s not worth paying attention to; yet these two always deliver classic games. It’s one of those rivalries where, no matter what the win/loss margin looks like, you can throw it all out the window when the Tigers and Blazers meet on the gridiron. Two programs long counted out by the powers-that-be in college football continue to deliver for their fan bases, and Saturday night’s matchup between the Blazers will add another chapter to the legendary book of the Battle For The Bones.
As for the matchup itself, Memphis and UAB enter Saturday night tied for second in the American Conference standings with identical conference records of 1-0, and Saturday will be the first true test in conference play. Memphis has the better overall record at 4-1, but the Blazers have a lot of momentum as they’re a drastically better team from last season, as Coach Alex Mortensen has his guys believing in the bigger mission and eager to return UAB football back to the postseason for the first time since winning the 2022 Bahamas Bowl. This will also be Coach Mortensen’s second time facing the Tigers, as last season he won over the UAB fan base as the interim head coach with his 31-24 victory over the 22nd-ranked Memphis Tigers at Protective Stadium.
Starting with the Blazers of UAB. UAB comes into the Memphis game not only looking to carry the fight on the road, but to pick up a signature win, further adding to the evidence that UAB football is back in the conversation of the upper tier in the American Conference. UAB is led at quarterback by Ryder Burton, who comes into the matchup against Memphis with 791 yards and four touchdowns on the season. Bam McReynolds leads the Blazers in rushing touchdowns with four this season.
As good as UAB’s offense has been, the defense has been the anchor holding this Blazers team together. UAB comes into the matchup with Memphis on Saturday ranked as the best defensive unit in the conference, and Saturday will be the day something has to give, as it’s the best defense in the country facing the top-ranked offenses in the country. Three guys in particular to watch in the Blazers’ defense are Muaaz Bya,rd, who leads the team in tackles with 8, Marlin De,an, who leads the way in tackles for loss with eight and five sacks. Ike Esonwune leads the team in interceptions with two.
On the Memphis side, starting with the offense, Marcus Stokes, Jaylin Carter, and Hunter Tipton have shaped the Tigers into the best offensive unit in the American Conference and in the country. Starting things off with Marcus Stokes, who took his play at West Florida and has developed into a beast at quarterback for the Tigers, he has 1,371 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, plus dual-threat tendencies, where he can beat you on the ground as well. Then, if Marcus Stokes can’t beat you, the Tigers have Jaylin Carter at running back, who has 513 yards on the ground and six touchdowns. Then there’s Hunter Tipton, a tight end who has become one of the country’s most lethal receiving threats. Tipton comes into the matchup with UAB with 367 yards and five touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, like UAB, the Tigers have three guys who have excelled through the first five games of the season for the Tigers. Starting with Zach Ruffin, who leads the team in tackles with 27. Then there’s Elijah Kinsler, who leads the team in both tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (3).5. Then there’s Dylan Smith, who has been a menace in the secondary with his two interceptions this season.
Overall, these two teams are about even: UAB has the best defense in the conference, and Memphis has the best offense, so something has to give on Saturday night. With heavy rain in the forecast, this game might come down to which team can out-ugly the other. Memphis is the only team of the two that has experience playing in a monsoon this season, as they dominated Charlotte last weekend. That said, the Tigers have the advantage on paper, but this is also a rivalry game, and anything can happen.
Memphis and UAB will kick off at 6:00PM with a national television audience on ESPN2.
Photo credits- UAB and Memphis football on X
