Saturday in Tampa, both football and desperation with be in the air in a battle of struggling teams.

Both UAB and South Florida are in drastic need of a fresh start after disastrous first halves.

The 2024 season has been marred by injuries to starting quarterbacks, struggles with replacing NFL and graduate departures, and their defenses failing to improve.

The Blazers’ problems start up front on both sides of the ball, but most notably on the defense.

They allow 258.2 rushing yards per game, second worst in the entire country, and allowed a season-high 411 yards on the ground to newly ranked Army last week in a 44-10 loss.

After a streak of facing high-ranking rushing attacks, UAB should finally get a chance to catch a breath against a South Florida offense that has only produced 37.3 rushing yards a game over their last three.

USF may be without their star quarterback for a second straight game after Byrum Brown suffered a left leg injury late in the game against Tulane two weeks ago.

In his stead, USF started junior Bryce Archie, and without the threat of Brown’s legs, the team relied heavily on his arm, throwing the ball 41 times but only completing 22 of his passes for 234 yards.

It should create an opportunity for a UAB pass defense that ranks 3rdnationally in yards allowed (135.8 yards per game) to put some merit behind that ranking.

Should Jalen Kitna make the start for UAB at quarterback this week, he’ll face the lowest-ranking pass defense not just of the games he’s started but the worst UAB has faced all season. USF allows 275.8 passing yards per game, 11thmost in the country.

Where South Florida may have an advantage over Kitna in turnover creation.

Kitna has thrown five interceptions in his two starts for the Blazers and will face a Bulls defense that has picked off five passes this season and recovered five fumbles.

Since Kitna took over for UAB, not much has changed, but the Blazers’ best receivers have finally started to get going.

Kam Shanks caught nine passes for a total of 119 yards against Army and Amare Thomas now has reeled in a touchdown in the last two games. Both will be crucial to finding success through the air.

UAB’s backfield took a blow this week when it was confirmed that running back Isaiah Jacobs would miss the rest of the season following surgery on his foot.

This should put an even heavier load on Lee Beebe Jr., the Blazers’ leading rusher with 389 yards and three touchdowns to this point.

The game will be broadcast Saturday on ESPN+ starting at 2:30 p.m. CT.