Georgia Southern football vs. UAB on Saturday: Kickoff, how to watch and more

Nathan Dominitz, Savannah Morning News

September 16, 2022 at 9:23 AM·7 min read

The Georgia Southern Eagles (2-0, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference) play the UAB Blazers (1-1, 0-0 Conference USA) on Saturday in a non-conference matchup two Group of 5 programs. Here's how to watch and listen to the game, the second on the road in the Clay Helton era after the 45-42 win on Sept. 10 over host and three-touchdown favorite Nebraska of the Power 5 Big Ten.

New deal for AD: Georgia Southern athletic director Jared Benko getting $90,000 raise for department's success

Welcome receptions: From acrobatic catches to clutch grabs, Burgess a big-play receiver for Georgia Southern

Eat up: Patience and a healthy appetite pay off for Georgia Southern defensive lineman Trevon Locke

Commentary: Upset at Nebraska helps build back Georgia Southern football, 1 win at a time

Get Eagles news in your inbox: Sign-up for our free, weekly newsletter on all things Georgia Southern sports

What time do the Georgia Southern Eagles play the UAB Blazers?

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022

Location: Protective Stadium (capacity 47,000), Birmingham, Alabama

Georgia Southern's Gerald Green (4) celebrates with Khaleb Hood (7) and Sam Kenerson (0) after rushing 47 yards for a touchdown against Nebraska during the first half on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

How to watch on TV

Chris Hassel (play-by-play) and Sed Bonner (analyst) will have the call on Stadium, a digital television and internet sports network operated as a multi-platform sports network. While not available on televisions in Georgia, Stadium includes a 24/7 linear feed distributed across both digital and broadcast platforms, as well as on-demand (VOD) digital content including additional live games and events. Go to watchstadium.com or https://watchstadium.com/ for more information.

Radio for Georgia Southern at UAB

Danny Reed (play-by-play), Terry Harvin (analyst), Russ Brown (analyst) and Frank Sulkowski (sidelines) have the call on the Georgia Southern Sports Network. The pregame, in-game and postgame shows can be heard in Savannah on WIXV 95.5 FM and on the network's flagship station WPMX 94.9 FM in Statesboro.

Betting: Over/under & point spread

As of Friday, UAB is an 11.5-point favorite, according to the Tipico Sportsbook. The over/under was 56.5 points and the money line was +350 on GS and -450 on UAB.

Series history

Georgia Southern and UAB have never met in football.

How Eagles won: Takeaways from Georgia Southern's upset of Nebraska on Saturday night

Recap: Georgia Southern stuns Nebraska Cornhuskers with victory in Lincoln

Annual visit: Kyle Vantrease returns to hostile territory at Nebraska, this time as QB for Georgia Southern

Kenerson's season-ending injury

Georgia Southern announced Wednesday night that wide receiver Sam Kenerson will undergo surgery on his right knee Thursday to repair torn ligaments sustained in the victory at Nebraska last Saturday.

Kenerson (5-9, 170 pounds), a redshirt sophomore, will miss the rest of the season. He had eight catches for 130 yards. He was recruited to GS as a quarterback and converted to receiver during the 2021 season.

Georgia Southern wide receiver Sam Kenerson before the game against Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Kenerson wore uniform No. 0 instead of his customary No. 14 as the team's choice that week for the player being accountable, disciplined, unselfish and hard-working

Game notes

The Eagles lead the Sun Belt in rushing touchdowns (nine) and passing yards per game (388). They are ranked near the top of the nation's FBS programs in total offense (second, 573 yards per game), passing offense (fourth, 388 average), pass attempts (second, 51 average) and scoring (fifth, 52 points a game) ...

GS is 13-6 all-time against current members of Conference USA, 23-14 against teams from Alabama and 11-10 in games playing in Alabama. ...

Eagles offensive line coach Richard Owens came from UAB this season after coaching the Blazers from 2019-21 and also 2012-14. Offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis was a QB at UAB (2007-11). In 2010. Ellis had nine starts for the Blazers with 2,940 passing yards and 25 TDs in 11 total games. He was a graduate assistant at UAB in 2012-13. Georgia Southern special teams coordinator Turner West was an intern for the Blazers in 2011.

UAB linebacker Reynard Ellis (6-foot, 240 pounds) made his collegiate debut at Furman in 2017, then transferred to GS and sat out the 2018 season. He played for Georgia Southern in 2019 and 2020, earning all-conference honors each season. He has seven total tackles in two games for UAB this season.

Georgia Southern linebacker Reynard Ellis makes an interception but the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns edged the Eagles 20-18 at Cajun Field on Sept. 26, 2020 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Bryant Vincent was named the UAB interim head football coach on June 27. He enters his sixth year at UAB and served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for five previous seasons (2014, 2018-21). ...

Despite four turnovers on offense in the 21-14 loss last Saturday at Liberty, UAB's defense allowed zero points off those turnovers. The Blazers, who opened with a 59-0 win over Alabama A&M, are allowing 312.5 yards per game and 169.0 passing yards per game. Additionally, UAB ranks 12th nationally in third-down defense, holding opponents to 6 of 27 (22.2%) through two games. ...

Georgia Southern quarterback Kyle Vantrease earned the Sun Belt's Offensive Player of the Week honor for his performance in the win at Nebraska. The sixth-year QB completed 37 of 56 passes for 409 yards and a touchdown, before running 8 yards into the end zone for the winning touchdown with 36 seconds to play. Vantrease’s 56 attempts tied the program record, while his 37 completions and 409 passing yards were the second-most in program history. Vantrease, a transfer this season from the University of Buffalo, became the first Georgia Southern QB to post back-to-back 300-yard passing games. ...

Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson (99) reaches to block a pass from Georgia Southern quarterback Kyle Vantrease (6) during the first half on Sept. 10, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

After missing the first game due to illness, UAB's DeWayne McBride returned to rush for 177 yards and a TD against Liberty. McBride is sixth nationally among active players with a career average of 99.4 rushing yards per game and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry for his career. Teammate Jermaine Brown Jr. added 91 rushing yards and is 10th on UAB's career rushing list. Both McBride (seventh, 1,987 yards) and Brown Jr. (10th, 1,532) rank top 10 in rushing all time at UAB.

They said it

Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton on his 2-0 team's confidence:

"We saw that confidence in the second half of our first game, and it really carried over to the second game. I saw a lot of poise. It was about making the most of the opportunity; whether it was that game or that last drive, they just wanted the opportunity. For the offense to go out there when the lights were the brightest and it was the most important part of the game, they made huge plays down the stretch. That's who they are and that's what they're developing into is a confident football team that knows they can accomplish some great things together."

UAB interim head coach Bryant Vincent on connections between UAB and Georgia Southern:

"(GS offensive line) coach (Richard) Owens and I worked together for six years. We have a strong relationship. (GS offensive coordinator and former UAB QB) Bryan Ellis — I have known Bryan for 10 years and have a strong relationship with him. I have a lot of respect for Bryan, I have a lot of respect for Richard. They are good friends of mine. They do a great job. Obviously, Richard Owens coaching here and Bryan Ellis playing quarterback here, it adds a little twist to the story. At the end of the day, we have to prepare."

UAB center Will Rykard, a graduate of Colquitt County (Georgia) High, on playing GS:

"I am from South Georgia. I know a lot of people from Southern, so it means a lot playing a Georgia team. I am proud South Georgia boy, but I am definitely an Alabama native this week, I can promise you that."

Twitter follows

Follow Georgia Southern beat writer Nathan Dominitz of the Savannah Morning News/savannahnow.com @NathanDominitz for GS updates. You can follow the teams' official Twitter accounts at @GSAthletics_FB and @UAB_FB

Podcast

Listen to the new and previous episodes of the "Georgia Southern Extra" podcast at https://omny.fm/shows/georgia-southern-extra/playlists/podcast

Nathan Dominitz is the Sports Content Editor of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Email him at ndominitz@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @NathanDominitz

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia Southern Eagles football team to play UAB: When is it on TV?

Associated Press
South Africa closes its border again with Mozambique, where post-election violence worsens
South Africa closed its border with Mozambique shortly after opening it on Thursday as post-election violence in the neighboring country escalated, leading to clashes between protesters and the police. Authorities also warned South Africans to postpone non-essential visits to Mozambique. Amnesty International said on Wednesday that at least 20 people have died and hundreds more have been injured and arrested since the beginning of the protests in late October.
Reuters
Hezbollah calls for US action, not words, as Trump reclaims White House
Hezbollah welcomes any effort to stop the war in Lebanon but does not pin its hopes for a ceasefire on a particular U.S. administration, Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi said on Thursday when asked about Donald Trump's election victory. "It might be a change in the party who is in power, but when it comes to Israel, they have more or less the same policy," Moussawi told Reuters. Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have exchanged fire for more than a year, in parallel with the Gaza war, but fighting has escalated since late September, with Israeli troops intensifying bombing of Lebanon's south and east and making ground incursions into border villages.
USA TODAY
Hurricane Rafael tracker: Storm heading toward Gulf of Mexico after making landfall in Cuba
Hurricane Rafael made landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday and has now moved on to the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Reuters
Thousands under evacuation orders in California as wildfires destroy homes
Thousands of people were under evacuation orders in Southern California as fast moving wildfires engulfed homes, authorities said, with the National Weather Service issuing a red flag alert that described the situation as "particularly dangerous." The Mountain Fire was spread over 14,000 acres with at least 800 firefighters assigned to handling it, the fire department in Ventura County, located northwest of Los Angeles, said. At least two people were injured and several structures were damaged or destroyed by the fire in Ventura County, the fire department said on Wednesday.
USA TODAY
Jewish students attacked at DePaul University in Chicago while showing support for Israel
Masked attackers punched two Jewish students at DePaul University in Chicago who were showing their support for Israel, the university's president said.
Reuters
EU lawmakers in talks to further weaken deforestation law, document shows
Centre-right lawmakers in the European Parliament have made proposals to further weaken the European Union's beleaguered law to ban commodity imports linked to deforestation, a document seen by Reuters showed. In its current form, the landmark law would from Dec. 30 require companies importing soy, beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, timber, rubber and related products to prove their supply chains did not contribute to the destruction of the world's forests, or face hefty fines. EU lawmakers - who, alongside EU member countries, are in the process of approving the delay - now also want to weaken parts of the law.
AFP
India's Hindus bathe in holy river defiled by pollution
Sweeping aside thick toxic scum, thousands of Hindu devotees ignored court warnings Thursday against bathing in the sacred but sewage-filled Yamuna river, a grim display of environmental degradation in India's capital.In places, it was so thick it looked like the river had frozen.
Yahoo Finance
Warner Bros. Discovery earnings: Stock rises amid streaming strength as studios, linear TV pressure revenue
Warner Bros. Discovery will report third quarter earnings before the bell on Thursday. Here's what to expect.
AFP
2024 'virtually certain' to be hottest year on record: EU monitor
This year is "virtually certain" to be the hottest in recorded history with warming above 1.5C, EU climate monitor Copernicus said Thursday, days before nations are due to gather for crunch UN climate talks."It is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels," said Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Deputy Director Samantha Burgess.
Associated Press
The Latest: Biden to deliver remarks following Trump’s win, House control hangs in the balance
President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks to the nation in what will be his first appearance on camera in the aftermath of Donald Trump ’s decisive victory over Kamala Harris. Control over the U.S. House of Representatives hangs in the balance, teetering between a Republican or Democratic majority with dozens of races left to be called. The Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate early Wednesday.
NBC News
Police hunt 40 monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility
A police search is underway after 40 monkeys escaped from an Alpha Genesis research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina on Wednesday night.
USA TODAY
What to expect when you're expecting a GOP trifecta
Republicans have won the Senate and are poised to maintain power in the House. That's good news for President-elect Trump and his agenda.
CNN
Los Angeles County district attorney election results add pall of uncertainty over possible release of Lyle and Erik Menendez
The prosecutor who has unseated progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a closely watched election said Wednesday that he may seek a delay in the move to have Erik and Lyle Menendez resentenced nearly 30 years after their convictions for murdering their parents.
Yahoo Finance
Elon Musk bet big on Trump — and won. Will it pay off for Tesla?
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s embrace of President-elect Donald Trump is paying dividends for Tesla shareholders today.
Reuters
Developing world faces multi-billion climate adaptation cash gap, U.N. report says
The amount of finance provided to developing countries to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change is far short of the $359 billion a year needed even after the biggest annual increase yet, a U.N. report on Thursday showed. Funding from the developed world hit $28 billion in 2022 after a $6 billion rise, the most in any one year since the U.N. Paris deal in 2015 to try and limit the impacts of global warming, the annual U.N. Environment Programme report said. Countries are preparing to meet in Azerbaijan at COP29 from Nov. 11-22 for the next round of climate talks in a year marked by extreme weather aggravated by climate change, including floods in Bangladesh and drought in Brazil.
AFP
French parliament approves bill to rein in tourist rentals
The French parliament on Thursday approved a bill aimed at tightening the regulation of tourist accommodation such as Airbnb to combat the shortage of affordable housing.The bill -- the result of a compromise between the two houses of French parliament -- had been unanimously approved by the upper house Senate on Tuesday.
CNN
Workers found human bones by Hoover Dam in 2009. 15 years later, officials identified the John Doe
With the help of forensic genetic genealogy, Arizona authorities recently identified the remnants of a man whose case went unsolved for 15 years
CNN
Not all chaplains are religious. They just want to tend to the human spirit
Even as people move away from religion, the desire for spirituality and connectedness remains. That’s where atheist, or humanist, chaplains come in.
NBC News
What Trump's victory could mean for the future of abortion rights
President-elect Donald Trump has said he would not sign a federal abortion ban. But there are ways a new Trump administration could restrict abortion nationwide.
NBC News
Fed policy expected to collide with the reality of a second Trump term
The Federal Reserve is set to announce its latest rate decision Thursday — and while it is widely expected to lower its key rate for the second time since September, Donald Trump’s electoral victory brings a new set of uncertainties — and, most likely, conflicts — for central bank policymakers.