The UAB football team hits the road for the first away game of the Trent Dilfer era and is making the return trip of a home-and-home series to face Georgia Southern, Saturday, Sept. 9, at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro.

Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

Read more on UAB football:

UAB looks to avoid Week 2 slump at Georgia Southern

Rewinding Trent Dilfer’s weekly UAB press conference

Jacob Zeno sets program record in win over North Carolina A&T

So how do the teams match up? Here is AL.com’s position-by-position breakdown for UAB’s showdown with the Eagles:

Quarterback

UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno is looking to extend his season-opening performance into a season-long “revelation” and setting the program’s single-game record for completions is a solid start. The redshirt junior was 38-of-41 for 291 yards and three touchdowns against North Carolina A&T, along with 31 yards on the ground, and looked cool and collected while managing the new high-volume UAB offense.

Georgia Southern once again turned to the transfer portal to restock its quarterback needs and brought in David Brin (Tulsa) and JC French (Memphis) to compete for the starting job left vacant by former Buffalo transfer Kyle Vantrease, who threw for 204 yards with a touchdown and three picks last year against UAB.

Brin won the job outright during fall camp and started the Eagles’ season opener last week against The Citadel. He finished 27-of-36 for 244 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while French went 4-for-4 passing for 29 yards in mop-up work. Although the competition ramps up with the Blazers coming to town, Brin can reap the benefits of a productive and complimentary running game. Advantage: UAB

Running back

Jermaine Brown Jr. saw limited action last week but his contributions were not needed past the first half. The senior running back accounted for 80 total yards on 10 touches and scored twice on the ground. Isaiah Jacobs also kept his assistance to a minimum and added 42 yards on 10 rushing attempts.

With the passing game thriving and Brown and Jacobs shelved early, Lee Beebe provided 33 yards on four carries and Lee Witherspoon saw his first action of the season. West Alabama Demetrius Battle and redshirt freshman Taven Curry did not receive a carry but are capable of contributing when needed for a unit that runs six men deep.

The Eagles may heave the rock around the yard at will but its rushing attack keeps the offense balanced and opposing defenses humbled. Senior running back Jalen White returns after leading Georgia Southern last season with 914 yards and 10 touchdowns — rushing for 116 yards and two scores against UAB — and had a strong season-opening performance with 125 yards and a score while netting no negative plays.

OJ Arnold also returns to the fold as the first option behind White, rushing for 46 yards and a touchdown last week in the opener, and redshirt freshman Terrance Gibbs is the only other running back to receive an attempt last week. Advantage: UAB

Receiver/tight end

The Blazers provided ample opportunity for its receiving corps and nine of the players that caught a pass were either a receiver or tight end, accounting for 25 of Zeno’s completions and combining for 231 yards.

Tejhaun Palmer and Fred Farrier II led the effort with four receptions each, combining for 89 yards and Palmer pulling down a touchdown pass, and Iverson Hooks and true freshman Amare Thomas brought down three catches each for 29 yards with Hooks adding a late score.

TJ Jones had only two receptions but hauled in a 34-yard strike from Zeno for a touchdown. Samario Rudolph and Malachi Holt-Bennett were also targeted and caught passes and Brandon Buckhaulter had a rushing attempt. Dallas Payne and Bryce Damous were the only tight ends with a catch but Terrell McDonald and JC Sivley both made appearances.

There are plenty of opportunities for Georgia Southern’s receiving corps and redshirt senior Khaleb Hood and junior Derwin Burgess return after combining for 145 receptions, 1,642 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. In the opener, Burgess led the team with six catches for 76 yards and a score, while Hood had five receptions for 45 yards.

Returning sophomore Dalen Cobb steps into a more prominent role this season, alongside Syracuse transfer Anthony Queeley in four-wide sets, and there were four other receivers to catch a pass in the win over The Citadel. Pittsburgh transfer Jaylon Barden adds immediate depth, joining freshmen Josh Dallas, DeAndre Buchannon and KD Dorsey, and Jjay Mcafee is the top tight end for the Eagles. Advantage: Even

Offensive line

UAB’s offensive line may feature all five new starters but it got the job done in the opener by paving the way for more than 450 yards of offense and did not give up a sack in 41 pass attempts. Will Parker and Trey Bedosky are set at the tackle spots, along with Brady Wilson at center and Quez Yates at right guard. The left guard position saw Sioux Falls transfer Brennan Moran take the first start of the season but redshirt freshman Luke Jones and Auburn transfer Cort Bradley will continue to battle for reps with Moran.

Georgia Southern’s offense is predicated on Brin’s survival and the offensive line is an experienced unit that can not only pass protect but road grade if necessary. The Eagles racked up 473 yards with a balanced attack, 200 yards through the running game, and is led by senior left tackle Brian Miller, a four-year mainstay on the line with 44 starts under his belt. Senior right guard Khalil Crowder has started the last two seasons and sophomore Pichon Wimbley returns to right guard with a year of starting experience. Right tackle Rasheed Miller and center Chandler Strong won their respective position battle in fall camp. Advantage: Even

Defensive line

The Blazers allowed 147 yards on the ground last week but only three plays went for more than 10 yards, resulting in a 3.6 average per attempt. Outside of a few lapses, the defensive line performed well against an opponent that ran the ball 71.4 percent of its offensive plays.

Seniors Fish McWilliams and Kevin Penn maintain chaos on the interior and the latter racked up five tackles and a sack in the season opener. Joker Gill and Tyrique Howard are the first off the bench, each recording two tackles last week, and Michael Fairbanks II also had two tackles at defensive end. The true freshmen trio of Jonathan Allen, Miquon Merriweather and Emmanuel Waller did not see the field against North Carolina A&T but are still in the rotation on the depth chart.

Georgia Southern operates out of a 4-2-5 alignment and returns only three starters — two of its top 10 tacklers — from last year’s unit. The Eagles went to the portal for reinforcements and nine of those either started or played in the season opener.

The defensive line has little experience returning and is possibly the weakest single position for the Eagles. Defensive tackle Latrell Bullard is one of the three starters returning and is flanked by Wingate transfer Justin Rhodes, both of whom combined for seven tackles against The Citadel. Kierron Smith and Elhadj Fall increase their role this season and are joined by Georgia transfer Weston Wallace.

Redshirt sophomores Isaac Walker and Davion Rhodes are first-year starters as bookends and combined for four tackles last week. Redshirt junior Jacob Ferguson and sophomore MJ Stroud round out the rotation at defensive end. Advantage: UAB

Linebackers

Jackson Bratton had a career outing for UAB in the season opener, racking up 12 tackles and two sacks, and is already comfortable in his role as the defensive leader and signal-caller. Charlie Goode and true freshman Everett Roussaw worked the other inside position, the latter earning the start and grabbing a sack in the opener, but Goode is now slotted behind Bratton with safety Damien Miller making the move to linebacker this week. Will Sorrells saw the first extensive action in his career, finishing with four tackles and half a sack, and experienced linebackers Tamarious Brown and Reise Collier will see more time as the season progresses.

Sam linebacker Michael Moore had the best game of his career in the opener, leading the rotation with five tackles (1 for loss), and Nikia Eason was just as effective with three tackles and a sack. On the Jack side, Desmond Little received the start, combining on a sack with Sorrels, and Kendall Johnson saw action but did not record a tackle. The entire linebacker unit combined for five of the Blazers’ six sacks.

The strength of the Georgia Southern defense is at linebacker where the Eagles return both starters from a season ago. Redshirt junior Marques Watson-Trent was the leading tackler for Georgia Southern, racking up 114 tackles (5.5 for loss), and is the primary playmaker for the unit, along with Khadry Jackson who finished third on the team with 84 tackles (4 for loss).

Wingate transfer Davon Gilmore and redshirt senior Jon Ferguson line up behind Watson-Trent and provide adequate depth for when the latter needs a breather. Texas A&M transfer Tarian Lee worked his way into the rotation for his final college season and true freshman Jamari Whitehead earned a spot on the field, both behind Jackson in the rotation. Advantage: Even

Secondary

UAB did not see much in the way of a passing game in the season opener, holding North Carolina A&T to 2-of-8 passing for 16 yards, but will face a much more challenging opponent in the Georgia Southern passing game.

Mac McWilliams had five tackles (1 for loss) last week and leads a talented cornerback rotation into Statesboro. Colby Dempsey and Incarnate Word transfer BJ Mayes lock down the opposite side of McWilliams, along with Auburn transfer AD Diamond, and true freshman Ricky Lee III enrolled early and is a vital part of the unit.

Safety Keondre Swoopes missed the opener but has practiced this week and should give it a go on Saturday. Damien Miller started at star in his place but has moved to linebacker for the time being. AJ Brown is set to work behind Swoopes with Miller’s move to the second level and former Clemson and South Florida transfer Ray Thornton III is on track for a second straight start at free safety, provided Damon Miller is unable to suit up. Ike Rowell has impressed throughout spring and fall and sees his first true test as strong safety this week, along with true freshman Chris Bracy.

The Eagles lost an immense amount of experience in the secondary and more than half of its current rotation was playing elsewhere last season. Sophomore nickleback Marc Stampley returns with the most experience and collected 25 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception last season as an every-game contributor. True freshman Ayden Jackson joins him at the position.

Redshirt junior Jalen Denton is slotted at one cornerback spot, ahead of senior Mari Wigard, while the opposite side of the field is manned by a duo of transfers in Damel Hickman (East Carolina) and Shemar Bartholomew (Northwestern State). All but Denton registered a tackle last week and Bartholomew had two pass breakups.

Kansas State transfer TJ Smith and Illinois transfer Prince Green are set up at one safety position, while redshirt sophomores Justin Meyers and Tyrell Davis return on the other side with Washington transfer Cam Williams. Advantage: UAB

Special Teams

UAB’s Matt Quinn missed a chip-shot attempt last week to open his season but there is no cause for worry for the senior. He had a similar start a year ago, missing two short field goals against Georgia Southern, but finished 14-of-19 with a long of 51 yards. Arkansas transfer Patrick Foley takes over punting duties, following the outstanding career of Kyle Greenwell, and had a 30-yard punt in the opener. Jermaine Brown and true freshman Kam Shanks are on kickoff and Mac McWilliams and Shanks are on punt return.

Georgia Southern lost both kickers from last year but Michael Lantz returns after going 0-for-2 on field-goal attempts. Despite the misses from a year ago, Lantz is currently 2-for-2 this season with a long of 48 yards and was a perfect 6-for-6 in touchbacks on kickoffs. True freshman Alex Smith takes over at punter and averaged 35.5 yards on two attempts in the opener. Cobb and Wingard are set at kickoff return and Hood is the punt returner. Advantage: UAB

Coaching

UAB’s Trent Dilfer won his first game as a college head coach and is now faced with the challenge of winning the first road game of his career. Georgia Southern coach Clay Helton may have failed at USC but swiftly transformed the Eagles’ traditional triple-option attack into an aerial barrage in only his first season in Statesboro. Advantage: Georgia Southern

Overall

The Blazers hit the road for the first time this season and look to buck a trend that has them 1-5 in Week 2 games since the 2017 season. Georgia Southern has revenge on its mind but the Blazers are a well-rounded team and have the advantage of returning plenty of experience from last year’s matchup. Advantage: UAB