Honestly, if you just glance at the final standings, the UAB football schedule 2024 looks like a rough ride. A 3-9 overall record and a 2-6 mark in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) isn't exactly what fans in Birmingham were dreaming of when Trent Dilfer took the reins. But football is rarely just about the final score. It’s about the context of those losses, the brutal stretches of the schedule, and the flashes of absolute brilliance that suggest the Blazers are closer to turning the corner than the "L" column suggests.
The 2024 season was a rollercoaster of high-octane offense and a defense that, frankly, struggled to find its footing against some of the most disciplined rushing attacks in the country. From the humid nights at Protective Stadium to the historic grounds of West Point, the Blazers' journey through 2024 was a test of grit.
Breaking Down the 2024 UAB Football Schedule
The season kicked off with a "Party at Protective," and for one night, everything felt perfect. UAB dismantled Alcorn State 41-3 on August 29. Jacob Zeno looked like a surgeon, throwing for two touchdowns, and Lee Beebe Jr. showed everyone why he was the heir apparent in the backfield with two scores of his own.
But then, the road got rocky. A disappointing 32-6 loss at Louisiana-Monroe was followed by a trip to Fayetteville to face Arkansas. Most people expected a blowout. Instead, UAB went toe-to-toe with the Razorbacks, leading in the first half before eventually falling 37-27. It was the kind of "quality loss" that gave fans hope, showing that when the Blazers are on, they can compete with the SEC.
The Mid-Season AAC Gauntlet
The meat of the uab football schedule 2024 was always going to be the AAC play, and this year, the conference was top-heavy. Navy, Tulane, and Army—three teams that ended up being absolute powerhouses—hit the Blazers in consecutive weeks.
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- Navy (Sept 28): A 41-18 loss where the Midshipmen's triple-option simply wore down the clock.
- Tulane (Oct 5): The low point. A 71-20 loss at home that felt like a gut punch.
- Army (Oct 12): Another discipline-heavy team. Army controlled the game from start to finish in a 44-10 victory for the Black Knights.
The common denominator in this stretch? UAB's rush defense. They were ranked eighth-worst in the FBS for rushing yards allowed per game. When you face the service academies and a high-powered Tulane squad back-to-back, that weakness gets exposed under a microscope.
Bright Spots Amidst the Struggle
It wasn't all gloom. If you stuck around for the November stretch, you saw what this offense is actually capable of when it clicks. On Homecoming against Tulsa (Nov 2), the Blazers put up a staggering 59 points. Jalen Kitna, who took over under center, threw for 404 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 59-21 rout.
That game was a glimpse into the future. Kitna finished the season with 2,209 passing yards and 17 touchdowns despite not starting every game. He found a real rhythm with receivers like Amare Thomas and Kam Shanks. Thomas ended the year with 62 catches, proving to be a reliable chain-mover.
Then came the Senior Day win against Rice on November 23. A 40-14 victory showed that the team hadn't quit on Dilfer. The Blazers played clean, physical football, which is exactly what the coaching staff has been preaching.
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The 2024 Results at a Glance
Instead of a dry chart, let's look at how the wins and losses stacked up across the year. The Blazers played six home games at Protective Stadium and six on the road.
The non-conference slate was a mixed bag: a blowout win against Alcorn State, a puzzling loss to ULM, a gritty showing against Arkansas, and a late-season 31-23 loss to UConn. In conference play, the wins over Tulsa and Rice were the highlights, but narrow losses—like the 29-27 season finale at Charlotte—left a bitter taste. They finished tied for 11th in the AAC, but the point differential in their wins (+102 across three games) shows that when they win, they win big.
Why the Defense Struggled
You can't talk about the uab football schedule 2024 without addressing the elephant in the room: the scoring defense. Giving up 34.2 points per game (120th in the nation) makes it nearly impossible to win consistently.
Sione Ta’ufo’ou’s multiple 3-4 scheme struggled to get off the field on third downs. Opponents converted nearly 49% of their third-down attempts against the Blazers. That leads to tired defenders and long drives that keep the UAB offense on the sideline. While the offense ranked 18th-best in passing yards (largely thanks to Kitna and Zeno), the defense was often the Achilles' heel.
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Key Players Who Defined the Season
- Jalen Kitna (QB): Stepped in and showed elite arm talent. His 6-TD performance against Tulsa is now part of UAB lore.
- Lee Beebe Jr. (RB): The workhorse. 884 yards and a 5.3 average per carry. He was the heart of the ground game.
- Amare Thomas (WR): 670 yards and 62 receptions. He’s the type of reliable target every young QB needs.
- Jonah Delange (K): Honestly, don't overlook the kicker. He was incredibly consistent, often being the only source of points in those tough early-season road games.
Looking Ahead: What Now?
The 2024 season is in the books, and the focus shifts to the transfer portal and recruiting. Trent Dilfer has been vocal about "building the right way," but in the era of NIL and instant transfers, Blazer Nation is getting restless for a winning season.
The schedule in 2024 was one of the tougher ones UAB has faced since joining the AAC, especially with both Army and Navy on the slate in the same month. Moving forward, the Blazers need to find a way to stop the run if they want those offensive fireworks to actually result in wins.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Review the Tape: If you missed the Tulsa or Rice games, go back and watch the condensed replays. That is the blueprint for UAB's success in 2025.
- Track the Portal: With the season over, keep an eye on how the coaching staff addresses the defensive line. They need size and experience to stop the AAC's rushing attacks.
- Support the Program: UAB's home field advantage at Protective Stadium is real (they are 12-5 there since it opened), but it only works if the stands are full.
The 3-9 record hurts, sure. But between Jalen Kitna’s arm and a young receiving corps, the foundation of a high-scoring powerhouse is clearly there. The 2024 schedule was a trial by fire; now it's time to see what the Blazers have learned from the flames.
Expert Insight: UAB’s -97 point differential for the season is skewed heavily by the Tulane and Army games. If you remove those two outliers, the Blazers played much more competitive football than the national media gives them credit for. The focus for 2025 must be depth on the defensive side of the ball to prevent those types of blowouts from happening again.