The road has not been kind to the UAB football team this season and the Blazers are hoping to end their three-game losing streak on the road against Western Kentucky, Friday, Oct. 21, at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

RELATED: UAB hits the road for Friday night matchup against Western Kentucky

RELATED: Dylan Hopkins named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week

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

Quarterback

Since taking a few inopportune sacks and giving up a couple of crucial turnovers at Rice, Dylan Hopkins has manifested success by taking command of his surroundings. In UAB’s win over Charlotte, the junior quarterback passed for 231 yards and a touchdown and added 103 yards and a score on the ground in earning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors.

For the season, Hopkins is completing 66.7 percent of his passes, amassing 1,170 yards and 6 touchdowns against 2 interceptions. He had negative rushing yardage following the Rice loss but has yet to hesitate on tucking the ball and calling his own number in pushing his rushing total to 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jacob Zeno did not play last week against Charlotte but could see action at Western Kentucky if the situation dictates.

Record-setting quarterback Bailey Zappe had a season to remember in his only year with the Hilltoppers and Western Kentucky went back to the transfer portal in signing former West Florida signal-caller Austin Reed. The graduate transfer has taken almost every snap this season and is the trigger man for Western Kentucky’s sixth-ranked passing offense (344.7 ypg).

Reed has amassed 2,316 yards and 21 touchdowns, completing 70.7 percent of his passes and throwing only 5 interceptions, and can make things happen on the ground despite being not the most fleet of foot, rushing for 151 yards and 4 touchdowns. Freshmen Darius Oceans and Caden Veltkamp have played in a combined three games, passing for 97 yards and touchdown and interception on 10 pass attempts. Advantage: Even

Running back

DeWayne McBride is having an All-American season and UAB made it official by kicking off a Doak Walker Award campaign for the junior running back. The Blazers are brutalizing opponents with their eighth-ranked rushing offense (243.5 ypg) and McBride leads the team with 778 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has eclipsed the century mark in six straight games, scored a touchdown in 12 consecutive games and leads the nation in rushing yards per game (155.6) this season. McBride is also the NCAA career-active leader in yards per carry (7.1) and is on track to break virtually every UAB single-season rushing record.

Jermaine Brown Jr. continues to be an important cog in both the rushing and passing games, accounting for 411 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns and 80 yards on 9 receptions, and has 2 100-yard rushing performances this season. A.J. Gates has played in three straight games after missing the first three of the season, and Taven Curry has played in two games and may see action in only two more in order to preserve a redshirt. Lee Witherspoon has missed the last three games after sustaining an injury.

Even with an elite passing offense, the Hilltoppers keep defenses honest with a solid running game. Western Kentucky is ranked 77th in the nation in rushing offense (144.4 ypg) and led by the duo of sophomore Kye Robichaux and Indiana transfer Darion Ervin-Poindexter.

Robichaux is the primary option out of the backfield, producing 458 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground and adding 74 yards on 13 receptions, and Ervin-Poindexter is second on the team with 163 yards and 3 touchdowns. Junior Jakairi Moses has contributed 128 yards on 22 touches and former Gardendale standout L.T. Sanders has appeared in three games, rushing for 73 yards and a score on 5 rushing attempts. Advantage: UAB

Receiver/tight end

The Blazers have evolved beyond being a one-trick pony and the passing game is paying dividends. UAB has four receivers with more than 100 yards and a horde of tight ends contributing in both the passing and running games. Trea Shropshire is leading the team with 14 receptions for 362 yards and 2 touchdowns, and is flanked by Tejhaun Palmer, who has 16 catch4s for 263 yards and a score.

T.J. Jones is helping develop the underneath game, accruing 164 yards on 18 receptions, and Samario Rudolph has 5 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Dexter Boykin is an experienced player after a productive career at UNA and Fred Farrier II is starting to earn more targets from Hopkins. Terrell McDonald and Bryce Damous are the primary receiving tight ends, combining for 9 catches for 78 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Maleak Bryant and Brody Dalton provide quality run-blocking in jumbo packages.

The Hilltoppers have a lethal receiver corps for Austin Reed to play pitch-and-catch, including six different players with at least 100 yards receiving and eight players with at least a touchdown. Redshirt senior Daewood Davis is having an all-conference season in his final year with Western Kentucky, hauling in 44 receptions for a team-high 610 yards and 5 touchdowns, and sophomore Malachi Corley has emerged as a high-volume target, pulling down a team-high 45 catches for 529 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Akron transfer Michael Mathison and Western Michigan transfer Jaylen Hall have transitioned smoothly for the Hilltoppers — Mathison leading the duo with 33 receptions for 327 yards and 2 touchdowns and Hall adding 29 catches for 285 yards and a score. Dalvin Smith has 13 receptions for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns and freshmen KD Hutchinson and Easton Messer have combined for 6 catches for 92 yards and a score.

Tight ends Josh Simon and Joey Beljan are capable of creating mismatches for the offense, the former leading the pair with 13 catches for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns and Beljan adding 84 yards and two scores on 5 receptions. Advantage: Western Kentucky

Offensive line

The Blazers are bullying opposing defense fronts and the offensive line is receiving its due attention — added to the Joe Moore Award committee watch list for the nation’s best offensive line. Aside from left tackle Kadeem Telfort, the offensive line has remained unchanged this season: Matt Trehern at left guard, Will Rykard at center, Quincy McGee at right guard and Sidney Wells at right tackle.

Telfort missed the season opener and played only a few snaps at Rice but has started the last two games after returning from a minor injury. Trey Bedosky played well in relief of Telfort and, along with backup center Brady Wilson, has helped to dominate short-yardage situations in UAB’s rhino packages.

Western Kentucky’s offensive line is an experienced and talented unit, providing plenty of time for Reed and his receivers to inflict damage on opposing defenses. The offensive line has not seen a change in the starting lineup this season, allowing only 8 sacks in seven games, and stabilizes the Hilltoppers’ 16th-ranked offense (489.1 ypg).

Redshirt junior center Rusty Staats is the glue of the unit, starting 20 straight games, and South Carolina transfer Vincent Murphy is excelling at right guard after playing in 11 games for the Gamecocks the last two seasons. Right tackle Gunner Britton and left guard Quantavious Leslie met expectations and earned valuable reps last season and sophomore Mark Goode is performing well as a first-year starter at left tackle. Advantage: Even

Defensive line

UAB’s defensive line has proven its worth through the first half of the season and Drew Tuazama has stepped up in the last few outings. The former transfer has 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks and forms a devastating duo with SAM end Michael Fairbanks II, who has 16 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1/2 sack.

Fish McWilliams and Isaiah Forte are the leaders of the defensive line and are plugging holes with ferocity. McWilliams leads the interior linemen with 14 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks and the latter has 13 tackles (1 for loss) this season. Kevin Penn has seen action in three games while battling an injury and Tyrique Howard has contributed in five games.

The Hilltoppers are only the 53-ranked defense (362.9 ypg) in the nation but its defensive line is the focal point of a unit ranked 36th in stopping the run (120.4 ypg). Operating out of a 3-4 base, Juwuan Jones is a durable player at defensive end and plays almost every snap on defense, registering 29 tackles (3 for loss), 1.5 sacks and a 38-yard interception return for a score.

The strength of the unit’s run-stuffing ability lies in the interior, where the Hilltoppers rotate at least six players to keep the line fresh. Monmouth transfer Lorenzo Hernandez has come on strong lately, starting the last two games and leading the interior linemen with 17 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1/2 sack. Brodric Martin and Darius Shipp are a load in the middle, combining for 21 tackles (1.5 for loss) and Martin adding 1/2 sack and a pass breakup, and sophomore Terrion Thompson has 12 tackles (3 for loss) and a sack. Mike Allen and Dareon Goodrum round out the rotation for the Hilltoppers, combining for 15 tackles. Advantage: Western Kentucky

Linebackers

Noah Wilder continues to climb UAB’s all-time tackles list, currently in seventh place (284) and can break into the top 5 with at least 7 tackles against the Hilltoppers. The senior leads the team with 56 tackles (1.5 for loss), adding 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble and recovery, and fellow linebacker Tyler Taylor is right behind him with 38 tackles (4.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and an interception.

Kelle Sanders is excelling at JACK this season, amassing 25 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks and a fumble recovery, and Nikia Eason Jr. and Kyle Harrell provide excellent depth when healthy, both combining for 11 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. Alabama transfer Jackson Bratton and Georgia Southern transfer Reynard Ellis fill out a well-round linebacker unit behind Wilder and Taylor, the former leading the duo with 18 tackles and Ellis adding 16 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1/2 sack.

Similar to UAB, the Hilltoppers regularly use three linebackers on the field despite playing out of a 3-4 scheme. Western Kentucky has 15 sacks on the season and more than half come from the linebacker corps. Jaques Evans is a devastating player at the JACK position, leading the team with 53 tackles (5.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks and 2 pass breakups, and gets relief from redshirt freshman Aaron Key, adding 6 tackles (2.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.

Illinois transfer Derrick Smith makes the calls in middle, a rotation that includes three redshirt seniors, and is the second-leading tackler on the team, amassing 48 tackles (4 for loss) along with 2 sacks, a pass breakup, an interception and a forced fumble and recovery. Jaden Hunter has 22 tackles (1 for loss) this season and Will Ignont started the last two games in place of the former, collecting 30 tackles and 2 pass breakups on the year. Advantage: UAB

Secondary

The Blazers are dominating opposing passing offenses this season, ranking third in pass efficiency defense (97.42) and 15th in passing yards allowed (176.2 ypg), collecting 9 interceptions while allowing only 4 passing scores.

UAB faces the sixth-ranked passing offense of Western Kentucky but has experience in deflating high-powered passing attacks. The Blazers held Georgia Southern’s third-ranked passing offense to 204 yards, Middle Tennessee State’s 55th-ranked attack to 196 yards and Charlotte’s 38th-ranked passing offense to 214 yards. In all, UAB held the best passing offenses it’s faced to 614 yards and 3 touchdowns against 6 interceptions.

Jaylen Key has turned an impressive fall camp into a productive season, leading the safety crew with 30 tackles (1 for loss) and 2 interceptions, and Keondre Swoopes is expected back following a minor injury and has collected 25 tackles, 3 pass breakups and a pick in five games this year. Grayson Cash has a team-high 3 interceptions, adding 22 tackles (2 for loss), a sack and 2 pass breakups, and Will Boler has produced 20 tackles, 2 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Mac McWilliams and Starling Thomas V have started every game at cornerback and are playing at an all-conference level through six games this season. McWilliams leads the pack with 14 tackles and 8 pass breakups, including a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown, and Thomas has 12 tackles and 6 pass breakups while coming close to a few interceptions. Devodric Bynum is contributing at a high level in his final season, tallying 13 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 4 pass breakups, and CD Daniels and Colby Dempsey complete the rotation.

Western Kentucky is an opportunistic defense in the backend, collecting 17 turnovers (10 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries) for a plus-5 turnover margin, but checks in as the 82nd-ranked passing defense (242.2 ypg) in the nation. Kahlef Hailassie is a lockdown defender for the Hilltoppers and leads the secondary at the corner position. The redshirt junior not only plays the pass well but provides additional run support, collecting 43 tackles (7.5 for loss), 3 sacks, 8 pass breakups and an interception.

North Texas transfer Upton Stout is familiar with the Blazers and has manned the opposite side of Hailassie this season, amassing 22 tackles and 2 interceptions, including a 34-yard touchdown return. Dom Bradshaw and Davion Williams round out the corner rotation and provide plenty of experience, combining this season for 24 tackles (1.5 for loss), 4 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Redshirt freshman Talique Allen is having a breakout season at the star position, producing 22 tackles and a forced fumble and recovery, and safety Kaleb Oliver leads the backend of the secondary, logging 31 tackles and 2 interceptions. Kendrick Simpkins and C.J. Jones have both split time at the other safety spot, combining for 28 tackles and 3 pass breakups, and Wyoming transfer Rome Webster has contributed 12 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Advantage: UAB

Special Teams

The Blazers employ a solid special teams unit, despite a few setbacks in the kicking game. Matt Quinn is 6-for-10 on field-goal attempts this season, with a long 51 yards, and has overcome a 0-for-2 performance from inside 30 yards against Georgia Southern. Reese Burkhardt is a touchback machine on kickoff and Kyle Greenwell is one of the best punters in the league, averaging 45.6 yards per punt and forcing 5 touchbacks and 3 fair catches and downing three kicks inside the 20-yard line.

Western Kentucky is just as adept on special teams and can turn the field in the unlikely event of a failed offensive possession. True freshman Tom Ellard has 23 punts for a 44.1 average and has down eight kicks inside the 20-yard line, including 7 fair catches. Brayden Narveson is 7-for-10 this season on field goals, converting a long of 47 yards. Advantage: Even

Coaching

Bryant Vincent continues to take ownership of the UAB program and could very well have the Blazers undefeated if not for unforced turnovers and penalties that either extended opponent drives or stalled UAB possessions. Despite the losses, UAB is on track to break several offensive records and the defense has returned to form as a top-20 unit nationally. Tyson Helton led the Hilltoppers to an east division title last year and returned the program to a high standard of success in a short amount of time. Advantage: Even

Overall

The obvious matchup is UAB’s pass defense going up against the Hilltoppers’ passing attack but the battle in the trenches is likely to decide the outcome of this conference showdown. The Blazers have the best rushing offense in the league, led by one of the best running backs in the nation, and Western Kentucky is ranked 36th against the run (120.4 ypg) and ranks atop the conference in that category. Both teams enter the contest following convincing victories and McBride and company hold the key earning its first road win of the season. Advantage: UAB