On Oct. 23, 2021, the unexpected transpired. Rice stormed into Protective Stadium as decisive underdogs and handed UAB a rare home loss, defeating the Blazers 30-24. The win was one of the most remarkable moments in recent Rice football history while also one of the more shocking outcomes for UAB since the football program returned in 2017.
Since that return, UAB has been the gold standard of the C-USA, stringing together five consecutive winning seasons, appearing in three consecutive C-USA title games from 2018-20, and claiming two bowl victories. The Blazers look to sustain that role as the conference kingpin as C-USA play commences, but the Rice team they’ll pay a trip to looks the part of the most dangerous Owls squad in quite some time.