The 2-8 UAB Blazers take on the 3-7 Rice Owls this weekend with a chance to get a win that would be particularly special for their seniors amidst a disaster season.

The Blazers will honor a senior class of 19 players before kickoff, many of whom will leave holes in the starting lineup next season. Star center Brady Wilson, linebacker Michael Moore and the tight end trio of Bryce Damous, Dallas Payne and Terrell McDonald are notable players playing their final games at Protective Stadium.

The Blazers are coming off a historic loss to Memphis in the Battle for the Bones game, where the Tigers’ 53 points was the most scored by either team in the history of the rivalry.

A blowout loss was nothing new for a UAB team with its’ worst record through 10 games since 2013. The new wrinkle in the ongoing struggle is the defense was dominated by Memphis’ passing game.

It was the worst game of the season for a secondary that hadn’t been tested often but had held its’ own when it was. Memphis’ Seth Henigan threw for 299 yards with four touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Testing them this weekend will be EJ Warner, son of NFL legend Kurt Warner. He, like UAB’s Kitna, has struggled with turnovers this season, throwing 10 interceptions to combat 13 touchdown passes.

Since the firing of former head coach Mike Bloomgren on Oct. 29, Warner has only thrown one pick and led the Owls to an upset of Navy and a one-score loss to Memphis.

Perhaps the largest threat to UAB’s defense comes in the form of their running game led by Dean Connors, who leads the team in carries, rushing yards, receptions and is third on the team in receiving yards.

UAB’s offense will once again be tested by a high-powered secondary, with the Owls’ passing defense ranking fourth in the country in yards allowed.

It’ll be the greatest test yet for Jalen Kitna, who will be making his seventh start for the Blazers this weekend.

Kitna continues to show glimpses of why Dilfer has put so much belief into him, with athleticism and arm strength that had him on an SEC roster to start his college career, but he still can’t seem to shake the turnover bug.

He’s thrown 10 interceptions and fumbled the football three times in six starts, propelling UAB to the third-most turnovers lost in the country with 23.

Likely needing to carry the load on defense this weekend will be running back Lee Beebe Jr., who will be running against a defensive line that allows 162 rushing yards per game.

The Blazers’ last two contests present them with an opportunity to break even with last season and finish 4-8 again under Trent Dilfer. Should they lose one or both games, it would be their worst record since either 2012 (3-9) or 2013 (2-10).

The game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.