The UAB football team is no longer playing for bowl eligibility but has pride on the line as they welcome Temple for the regular-season home finale, Saturday, Nov. 18, at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

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

Quarterback

Jacob Zeno was not at his best last week at Navy, throwing for only 200 yards with a pair of interceptions, but did set the UAB single-season record for completions in the process. The junior has passed for 2,595 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, ranking fourth nationally in completions per game (27) and third in completion rate (74.8 percent), and is 585 yards away from sitting the UAB single-season record for passing yards.

Temple’s offense goes through E.J. Warren and UAB head coach Trent Dilfer is well aware of the talent after consulting with his former friend, Warren’s father and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner. The sophomore is passing at only a 58.1 percent clip but has amassed 2,423 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Backups Quincy Patterson and Forrest Brock have combined for 244 yards and four picks with Patterson adding 132 yards and four scores on the ground. Advantage: Even

Running back

Jermaine Brown Jr. can now count his name among UAB greats such as Spencer Brown and DeWayne McBride after setting the UAB career record for all-purpose yards (4,673). The senior running back has 534 rushing yards and nine touchdowns this season, along with 35 catches for 349 yards and a score, and can take third place on UAB’s career rushing list with nine yards and set the school record for receptions by a running back with four catches.

Lee Beebe has played well since ascending to the second option behind Brown, due to Isiah Jacobs’ season-ending injury, and has 189 yards and a touchdown, along with 12 catches for 59 yards. Lee Witherspoon and Demetrius Battle keep up the depth and receivers Brandon Buckhaulter, TJ Jones and Amare Thomas have contributed to the running game.

The Owls are one of the worst running teams in the nation, most likely due to their commitment to Warner’s arm, and rank 121st in rushing offense (95.8 ypg). True freshman Joquez Smith and redshirt sophomore Darvon Hubbard have received an equal amount of carries (67) this season and Edward Saydee and FIU transfer E.J. Wilson may play a larger role if Smith is unable to give it a go this week.

Smith leads the team with 311 yards and a touchdown, adding nine catches for 45 yards and a score, and Hubbard has 288 yards and two scores, along with 22 receptions for 216 yards. Saydee has contributed 161 rushing yards and is a valuable pass-catcher with 16 receptions for 153 yards and two scores. Advantage: UAB

Receiver/tight end

The Blazers are ranked 16th in the nation in passing offense (293.6 ypg) and the receiving corps has reaped the benefits with seven players amassing at least 150 yards or multiple touchdown catches. True freshman Amare Thomas has a team-high 48 receptions for 421 yards and three scores and senior Tejhaun Palmer has 37 catches for a team-high 635 yards and five touchdowns. Bryce Damous leads a strong tight end trio with 22 catches for 228 yards and three touchdowns, and Dallas Payne and Terrell McDonald have a combined 22 receptions for 226 yards.

Rounding out the receiver rotation is Samario Rudolph with 23 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown, followed by Fred Farrier II with 17 receptions for 234 yards and TJ Jones with 13 catches for 221 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Brandon Buckhaulter is one of the fastest players on the team, amassing 173 total yards and a touchdown on 11 touches, and Malachi Holt-Bennett has four receptions for 73 yards and caught his first touchdown pass two weeks ago against FAU.

The Temple receiving corps is also benefiting from a high-volume passing offense that ranks 36th in the nation (266.7 ypg) and six players have at least 300 receiving yards or multiple touchdown catches this season. Amad Anderson, Zac Baines and Colorado State form a prolific starting trio and both the tight end and running back groups are highly productive in the passing attack.

Anderson leads the receiver unit with 30 catches for a team-high 478 yards, followed by Baines with 29 catches for 385 yards — both with a single touchdown reception — and Wright with 27 receptions for 331 yards and three scores. John Adams rounds out the primary options with 14 receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and Ian Stewart and true freshman Xavier Irvin had a combined eight catches for 92 yards.

Graduate duo David Martin-Robinson and Jordan Smith present a real problem, along with freshmen Reese Clark and Peter Clarke, and the tight end unit accounts for 29.8 percent of the receiving production. Martin-Robinson has a team-high 35 receptions for 457 yards and three touchdowns and Smith has 17 catches for 202 yards and four scores, followed by Clark with 15 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown and Clarke with two catches for 18 yards and a score. Advantage: Even

Offensive line

UAB has succumbed to several injuries along the offensive line this season and the lack of experience has shown in surrounding 83 tackles for loss (8.3 per game) and 28 sacks (2.8 per game) to opponents. Left tackle Will Parker and center Brady Wilson are the only two linemen to start every game at their respective position and Luke Jones has locked down the left guard role for the last seven games. Quez Yates operated at guard for the first half of the season but moved to right tackle following a season-ending injury to Trey Bedosky, and backup center Adam Lepkowski has taken up right guard with Yates moving to accommodate injuries to not only Bedosky but Brennan Moran and Tater Reid.

The Owls have experienced plenty of turnover on the offensive line, giving up 49 tackles for loss and 14 sacks this season, and have started the same lineup only twice this season. Graduate duo Wisdom Quarshie and Victor Stoffel are the anchors in maintaining their respective positions at right guard and right tackle throughout the season and senior Richard Rodriguez has started all but two games at center. Junior Chris Smith is set to start at left tackle after assuming the mantle last week and Bryce Thoman is slotted at left guard after starting five total games this season at both guard and center. Advantage: Even

Defensive line

The Blazers have been porous at defending the run this season, ranking 126 out of 130 teams in rushing defense (206.9 ypg), but showed stark improvement against Navy’s running game before wearing out due to a lackluster offensive performance. Senior duo Kevin Penn and Fish McWilliams are mainstays on the interior defensive line with Penn having his best season with 33 tackles (4 for loss) and four sacks. McWilliams has 26 tackles (1.5 for loss), a sack and a forced fumble and recovery.

Filling out the interior behind Penn and McWilliams are Tyrique Howard and Joker Gill, who have combined for 11 tackles, and true freshmen Miquon Merriweather, Eamon Smalls and Emmanuel Waller have all earned time on the field this season. Michael Fairbanks II is a force at defensive end and has racked up 20 tackles (3.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Temple ranks 118th in total defense (435.1 ypg) and is just a tad bit better at stopping the run than in ranking 123rd in rushing defense (193.1 ypg). The Owls have forced only four turnovers this season (minus-18) and the defensive line has accounted for more than a quarter of the team’s tackles for loss and more than a third of its sack total.

Tra Thomas commands the unit at defensive end, racking up 27 tackles (5 for loss) and three sacks, and Jerquarion Mahone balances the opposite side with 24 tackles (1 for loss). ETSU transfer Davion Hood has contributed 15 tackles (2.5 for loss), and Lancine Turary and Zamar Grove round out the group. On the interior, true freshman Conlan Greene (17 tackles) has taken over at defensive tackle with Joseph Appiah Darkwa and Miami transfer Allan Haye missing time. Advantage: Even

Linebackers

The Blazers have endured injuries to the position throughout the year, most notably an early season-ending injury to Charlie Goode, and have seen contributions from under and upperclassmen alike. Michael Moore is having his best season on the Southside and leads the defense with a team-high 63 tackles (5.5 for loss) and a sack. Jackson Bratton has racked up 58 tackles (4 for loss) and two sacks while making the calls on the defensive front.

Will Sorrells and true freshman Everett Roussaw have split time behind Bratton this season, along with safeties Damon and Damien Miller. Sorrells has logged four starts, producing 26 tackles and 1/2 sack, and Roussaw developed rapidly in earning six starts and posting 35 tackles (1.5 for loss) and a sack. Desmond Little and Nikia Eason Jr. have both excelled off the edge, combining for 51 tackles (9.5 for loss) and 7.5 sacks with the latte recovering two fumbles, and Kendall Johnson

Temple’s linebackers are the most active of among its defense but the unit also took a hit with the loss of junior D.J. Woodbury. Jordan Magee leads the Owls with a team-high 78 tackles (14 for loss), 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups, and graduate duo Yvandy Rigby and Jacob Hollins fill out the middle. Rigby is third on the team with 57 tackles (1 for loss), followed directly by Hollins with 45 tackles (4 for loss) and two sacks. Redshirt freshman Corey Yeoman has contributed 25 tackles and 1/2 sack.

Florida transfer Diwan Black is excelling at Jack linebacker in his first season with the Owls and has 29 tackles (9.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles and a recovery. Layton Jordan provides no drop-off behind Black and has 22 tackles (2.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. Advantage: Temple

Secondary

UAB’s secondary has steadily improved throughout the season, ranking 45 in passing yards allowed (212.9 ypg), and Keondre Swoopes is the unquestioned leader in the backend, leading the unit with 58 tackles and two games with both an interception and fumble recovery. Ike Rowell has been sturdy in his first season starting, amassing 49 tackles and forcing two fumbles, and Ray Thornton III has contributed 20 tackles and three pass breakups

The Miller twins, Damian and Damon, have split time at both safety and linebacker, racking up a combined 36 tackles and Damien forcing two fumbles, and true freshman Chris Bracy has provided adequate support with 14 tackles and an interception. At cornerback, Mac McWilliams is on the verge of completing a full season, accruing 42 tackles (2 for loss) and seven pass breakups, and Colby Dempsey and BJ Mayes have combined for 63 tackles (2 for loss) with eight pass breakups each and Mayes adding two picks. True freshman Ricky Lee III and Auburn transfer A.D. Diamond round out the rotation.

The Owls are also weak in defending the pass, ranking 93rd in passing yards allowed (242 ypg), and Colorado State grad transfer safety Tywan Francis has the only two interceptions for the team, along with 70 tackles (4 for loss) and five pass breakups. Alex Odom works the opposite side, racking up 43 tackles, and Brenyen Scott and Sam Martin have a combined 40 tackles (2 for loss).

Temple utilizes a hybrid position conveniently named the “Owl” and Jalen McMurray has taken up the mantle after starting on the outside through the first nine games. McMurray has 28 tackles (1.5 for loss) and three pass breakups, and Elijah Daravil may also work the position after collecting 22 tackles (1.5 for loss) and a pass breakup on the boundary. Juniors Dominick Hill and Ben Osueke are slated as the starting corners and Daiyaan Hawkins and Elijah Clark round out the current rotation. Hill has amassed 43 tackles and four pass breakups, while the other three have combined for 35 tackles. Advantage: UAB

Special Teams

Matt Quinn was actually used in fourth-down situations last week, going 2-of-3 on field goals, and is now 9-of-15 for the season with five makes in his last seven attempts. Patrick Foley continues his strong debut season for UAB and is averaging 42.1 yards per punt with seven fair catches, five downed inside the 20-yard line and eight kicks of more than 50 yards.

The Owls have a few more problems themselves on special teams but safety Sam Martin is a bright spot in the return game — averaging 21.1 yards on 21 attempts and scoring on a 95-yard return. Camden Price is 6-for-11 on field goals and true freshman Dante Atton is averaging 39.3 yards per punt. Advantage: UAB

Coaching

The UAB coaching staff did itself no favors last week, opting for a ball-control strategy rather than forcing Navy into a track meet, but have two more opportunities to prove their ability to adjust and put the team in the best position for success. Meanwhile, Temple’s Stanley Drayton is in his second season leading the Owls after spending the majority of his career as a running backs coach with Florida, Tennessee, Ohio State and the Chicago Bears. Advantage: Even

Overall

The Blazers are free of the stress of fighting for bowl eligibility and will play for only pride as they honor 11 seniors in the final home game of the season. UAB is 3-2 at Protective this season and should close out the home schedule with a win. Advantage: UAB