The Blazers and Bulldogs will play both games at UAB’s Protective Stadium for just the second and third matchups ever between the two teams. Samford defeated UAB in the only ever matchup between the two teams 49-3 in 1992 when UAB was still a DIII program.

UAB is opening next season in Big Ten country. The football program announced Thursday afternoon that it will kick off next year’s campaign with a trip to Illinois on Sept. 5. UAB also announced it will be hosting Samford inside Protective Stadium in both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

UAB has played eight games this season, and five of them have hit the over. Rice's record against the spread in 2025 is 4-5-0. As 1.5-point underdogs or greater, Rice is 3-3 against the spread. This year, six of Rice's nine games have hit the over.

Memphis football, which seemingly had the upper hand for the Group of Five spot in the College Football Playoff, finds itself at a crossroads.

For a third straight year, UAB’s season will end in November. The Blazers’ chances of reaching a bowl were officially buried Saturday in a blowout loss to North Texas inside Protective Stadium.

Spread favorite: Rice (-2.5) Rice's record against the spread is 4-5-0. Rice is winless ATS (0-2) as a 2.5-point favorite or greater this season. Out of nine Rice games so far this season, six have gone over the total.