UAB Blazers vs Florida Gators

When: Saturday, 4:00pm

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium,157 Gale Lemerand Dr, Gainesville, FL 32611

TV: SEC Network

Coaches: UAB - Bill Clark, 3^rd season – 2^nd with UAB (7-3, 24-13 overall); Florida – Randy Shannon, 5^th Season – 1^st with Gators, Interim Coach (0-2, 28-24 overall)

About the matchup:

With thoughts of even becoming bowl eligible out the window for the Gators, Florida needs to still beat UAB to keep their pride intact in a 3-6 season.

But they will have their hands full. UAB is already bowl eligible themselves with a 7-3 record, which is tied for best in school history. Their first season back since being disbanded in 2014, the Cinderella quality to the year has the Blazers believing. They also are home to one of the best freshman running backs in the nation, as UAB RB Spencer Brown is ranked second in the nation in rushing yards by a freshman with 1,177 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Gators will once again start QB Feleipe Franks, his 8^th start of the season. Franks takes back the starting role after QB Malik Zaire started and lost the last two games.

There are only two games left in the 2017 season for Florida, UAB this weekend followed by the traditional UF-FSU rivalry game. That matchup has lost it’s luster this season as the two teams have currently combined for a paltry six wins.

Three and out:

1. The Gators have only 51 available/healthy players this week.

2. It’s the first home game for the Gators since Florida parted ways with Jim McElwain, who went 22-12 in 2 and a half seasons as Head Coach.

3. Five losses in a row for the Gators is the second worst such streak in school history, beat only by seven straight losses to end the 2013 season.