The UAB football team opens its inaugural American Athletic Conference slate this week as the Blazers hit the road to face Tulane, Saturday, Sept. 30, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.

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

Quarterback

Jacob Zeno is on pace for a historic season on the Southside and currently ranks second in the nation in completions per game (32.5), sixth in completion percentage (75 percent) and ninth in passing yards (301.5 ypg). The redshirt junior is the “quarterback revelation” that head coach Trent Dilfer spoke of during spring and fall camps and leads UAB’s 17th-ranked passing attack with 1,206 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 116 yards and three scores on the ground. No other quarterback has taken a snap outside of third-string Harrison Barker, who is 1-for-2 on two-point conversions.

Michael Pratt is in his fourth season leading the Green Wave offense and has improved dramatically each year. The senior has missed two games this season and returned last week to set the program’s career passing touchdown record. Pratt has thrown for 484 yards, six touchdowns and an interception in two games, adding 72 yards and two scores on the ground, and has a career total of 7,689 yards, 74 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Kai Horton took over for the former in both games, going 1-1 in the intermediary, and gives the Green Wave valuable experience behind its starter. Advantage: Even

Running back

UAB’s running game is still stuck in the mud a third of the way through the season, ranking 108th in the nation in rushing offense (115.2 ypg), but the talent is there in the running back stable. Both Jermaine Brown Jr. and Isaiah Jacobs have found little room between the tackles but have contributed in the passing game as well.

Jacobs leads the unit with 37 rushing attempts for 154 yards and a lone touchdown, adding 14 catches for 52 yards, and Brown has 187 total yards and three rushing scores on 38 touches. Lee Beebe has contributed 38 yards and a touchdown on the ground and recovered two fumbles on special teams last week at Georgia. Lee Witherspoon and Demetrius Battle are the only other two backs to receive a carry this season.

The Green Wave operates four-deep at the running back position and ranks 91st overall in rushing offense (132.8 ypg). Redshirt sophomore Shaadie Clayton-Johnson is the every-game starter but has ceded twice as many carries to redshirt freshman Makhi Hughes, who has 50 rushing attempts for 245 yards and a touchdown. Senior Shedro Louis has 43 yards on 17 carries and true freshman Arnold Barnes has appeared in two games and rushed for 75 yards on six attempts. Advantage: UAB

Receiver/tight end

The Blazers have a plethora of pass catchers at their disposal and more than enough opportunity in an offensive attack that is not shy about slinging the ball around the field. Senior receiver Tejhaun Palmer and tight end Bryce Damous are tied with a team-high 16 catches and combined for 317 yards and three scores.

Samario Rudolph is a threat in the slot, accruing 15 catches for 134 yards and a score, and true freshman Amare Thomas has showcased his versatility with 15 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. Fred Farrier II is developing into a downfield threat, leading the team with 22.5 ypc, and Iverson Hooks is currently on the mend and unlikely to suit up Saturday.

TJ Jones and Brandon Buckhaulter are also versatile athletes who have contributed in both the passing and rushing games, and Malachi Holt-Bennett is starting to receive a few extra looks. Dallas Payne, Terrell McDonald and J.C. Sivley round out the tight end rotation and are capable blockers and receivers.

Tulane is not as deep at receiver as UAB but has three players with at least 200 yards or multiple touchdowns this season. Lawrence Keys III can work the intermediate routes and the long game, leading the team with 17 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns, and Chris Brazzell II is second on the team with 11 catches for 130 yards and two scores. Jha’Quan Jackson is the deep threat with 230 yards and four touchdowns off nine receptions, ranking fourth nationally in yards per catch (25.56), and Yulkeith Brown, Donte Fleming and Bryce Bohanon have combined for 11 catches and 155 yards. Tulane’s tight ends are often used for run blocking and pass protection and Alex Bauman leads the three-man unit that also features Reggie Brown and Chris Carter. Advantage: Even

Offensive line

UAB saw a couple of changes to its offensive line last week and they did not disappoint in giving up only a single sack to Georgia’s fearful defensive front. However, it does not get any easier facing a Tulane team that lives in the backfield. Will Parker and Trey Bedosky are still set at the tackle positions, although the former did not receive all the first-team reps last week, and center Brady Wilson is the lynchpin that holds the current grouping together. Luke Jones earned his first start at left guard against the Bulldogs and Brennan Moran moved to right guard in place of Quez Yates.

Tulane’s offensive line has considerable experience but has not yet produced on the level of last season and has given up 10 sacks in four games. Sincere Haynesworth anchors the unit at center and is a three-year starter for the Green Wave with 47 starts in 53 appearances. Haynesworth, along with senior left guard Prince Pines, were All-AAC first-team selections last season. Rashad Green is in his second season at right tackle and Cameron Wire is on the other side after transferring from LSU. Right guard Josh Remetich has worked full-time after contributing on a part-time basis for the last two seasons. Advantage: Tulane

Defensive line

The Blazers showed marked improvement on defense last week against Georgia but the numbers are still dismal for a unit that dominated its CUSA opposition the past few years. The defensive line has been lacking at the point of attack this season, ranking 114th in rushing defense (189.5 ypg), but could be turning a corner with young talent bolstering its experienced linemen.

Kevin Penn is having his best season at UAB, leading the defensive line with 14 tackles (2 for loss) and two sacks, and defensive tackle Fish McWilliams has eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Joker Gill and Tyrique Howard contribute in the middle behind Penn and McWilliams, and true freshman Jonathan Allen, Emmanuel Waller and Miquon Merriweather are starting to contribute on a more routine level. Defensive end Michael Fairbanks II has continued his strong play from last season with 10 tackles (1.5 for loss), 1/2 sack and two forced fumbles.

Tulane’s defensive front is a ferocious bunch that lives in the backfield, collecting 33 tackles for loss and 15 sacks, and ranks fourth in the nation in rushing defense (62.8 ypg). The defensive line is capable of causing many a problem for opposing offenses and is also responsible for two-thirds of the Green Wave’s sack total.

Most of the production for the Green Wave comes from the defensive tackle position, where Patrick Jenkins and Kameron Hamilton have combined for 20 tackles (8 for loss) and 6.5 sacks, along with a forced fumble each. At nose tackle, Eric Hicks has contributed 12 tackles (2 for loss) and a sack, and Adonis Friloux provides depth. Keith Cooper has racked up seven tackles (3 for loss) and two sacks at defensive end, followed by Angelo Anderson with six tackles (1.5 for loss). Advantage: Tulane

Linebackers

The Blazers suffered a big loss with Charlie Goode going down for the season but there are others with opportunities to step up in an improving defensive unit, despite ranking 117th in total defense (430 ypg) and 120th in scoring defense (36.2 ppg). Jackson Bratton leads the linebacker corps with 24 tackles (2.5 for loss) and two sacks and edge rusher Michael Moore is having a breakout campaign with 21 tackles (2 for loss).

Due to the injury to Goode, true freshman Everett Roussaw has seen the most action beside Bratton, adding 10 tackles (1 for loss) and a sack, and safety Damien Miller has worked at the position while producing 11 tackles and three forced fumbles. Will Sorrells earned a start against Louisiana and Tamarious Brown and James Smyre provide depth in the middle.

Along with Moore on the edge, Desmond Little has made an impact with 10 tackles (2.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks, followed by Nikia Eason and Kendall Johnson with a combined 13 tackles (2 for loss) and a sack each.

Operating out of a 3-4 alignment, Tulane’s linebackers are free to roam with a defensive line taking up space and making plays in and around the line of scrimmage. Along with its two middle linebackers, the Green Wave employs senior Kam Pedescleaux at the hybrid ‘Anchor’ position and the duo of Devean Deal and Darius Hodges at the edge rusher (DOG) position. Pedescleaux has 12 tackles (2 for loss) and four pass breakups, while Deal and Hodges have a combined 20 tackles (5.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks.

Juniors Jesus Machado and Tyler Grubbs are first and second in tackles, respectively, and the latter took up a starting position following a season-ending Achilles injury to Corey Platt, who is tied for fourth in tackles (15) despite appearing in less than one game. Grubbs has 22 tackles (1 for loss), while Machado leads the team with 33 tackles (1.5 for loss) and an interception. Jared Small provides quality depth and has contributed 12 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack. Advantage: Tulane

Secondary

UAB’s famed secondary has taken a hit in the last three weeks and ranks 88th in passing defense (240.5) after allowing only 16 yards to run-heavy North Carolina A&T in the opener. Despite the numbers, the Blazers still harbor experience in the backend and young talent is starting to step up to make plays.

Keondre Swoopes missed the opener but currently leads the team with 25 tackles at the Star position, and Ike Rowell has 18 tackles and two pass breakups at strong safety, followed by true freshman Chris Bracy. Ray Thornton III works opposite Rowell, along with AJ Brown, and Damon Miller continues to acclimate after missing time with an injury.

Mac McWilliams is having a solid season as UAB’s top cornerback, collecting 22 tackles and a pass breakup, and transfer BJ Mayes has ascended the depth chart while posting13 tackles, a team-high 5 pass breakups and an interception. Colby Dempsey and true freshman Ricky Lee III round out the primary rotation, combining for 13 tackles with Dempsey adding two pass breakups and Lee coming down with his first career pick against Georgia, and T’sai McDaniel and A.D. Diamond have seen limited action.

The Green Wave are middle of the pack when it comes to passing yards allowed, ranking 71st in the nation (228.5 ypg), but are a stingy bunch with seven picks on the season. Jarius Monroe leads the cornerback rotation, posting 15 tackles (1.5 for loss), two pass breakups and an interception, and fellow starter Lance Robinson has a team-high three picks while also recovering a fumble. AJ Hampton is the third option on obvious passing downs and Kiland Harrison rounds out the depth.

Redshirt sophomore Bailey Despanie is a playmaker at safety, as well as in run support, and is tied for second on the team with 22 tackles (3.5 for loss) and two pass breakups. DJ Douglas has started every game at the other safety position, putting up eight tackles, a pass breakup and a pick, but also shares the position with Darius Swanson. Advantage: Even

Special Teams

The Blazers seem to have cleaned up kick return coverage the last couple of weeks but place kicker Matt Quinn has not had many opportunities to improve on his 1-for-4 showing on field-goal attempts this season. Patrick Foley has settled in nicely at punter, averaging 43.8 yards on 13 kicks, the return game is capable of producing with Mac McWilliams at punt returner and Jermaine Brown Jr. and true freshman Kameran Shanks on kickoffs.

Tulane is as solid as they come on special teams and placekicker Valentino Ambrosio is having a great season, going 8-for-9 on field goals with a long of 45 yards. Punting duties are split between Will Karoll and Casey Glover, who have combined for an average of 42 yards per kick. Shi’Keem Laister has a 27-yard punt return touchdown. Advantage: Tulane

Coaching

Trent Dilfer has the Blazers at 1-3 in his first four games leading the program but the team showed measurable improvement and development in their loss at No. 1 Georgia. UAB could be on the cusp of a turnaround but Tulane’s Willie Fritz quickly rebuilt his own program into a conference champion following a disastrous 2021 season, which included a 28-21 home loss to the Blazers. Advantage: Tulane

Overall

The Blazers should be feeling confident after an inspired performance against the top team in the land and it could not have come at a better time than entering league play for the first time as a member of the AAC. UAB has an opportunity at an early-season league upset but must not commit silly mistakes against a Tulane team that is easily one of the more talented teams in the conference. Advantage: UAB