Week 6 | October 10, 2026 | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
By the RallyFuel Team
Some rivalry trophies are crystal footballs. Some are old brass bells. This one is a 100 pound bronze rack of ribs, and right now it lives in Birmingham.
On October 10, the Memphis Tigers and UAB Blazers renew one of the most flavorful rivalries in college football, and the Bones are up for grabs on Beale Street’s home turf.
Two Barbecue Towns, One Trophy
Memphis and UAB have been trading punches since 1997, when the Blazers first jumped to Division I football. In 2006, the schools made it official with a trophy worthy of the matchup: a bronze rack of ribs nodding to both cities’ legendary barbecue scenes. They even smoke it out with a fan barbecue competition alongside the game. It’s ribs, bragging rights, and interstate supremacy all rolled into one Saturday.
And here’s the part that surprises casual fans: UAB leads the all time football series 11 to 7. The Blazers ripped off seven straight wins from 2000 to 2006, and the last ten meetings are split dead even at five apiece. This is not a lopsided rivalry. It’s a coin flip with sauce on it.
Last Year Lit the Fire Again
October 18, 2025. Memphis rolled into Birmingham ranked No. 22, undefeated, and dreaming big. UAB was in turmoil, playing its first game under an interim head coach.
Final: UAB 31, Memphis 24, sealed by a goal line stand in the closing seconds.
The upset sent Protective Stadium into a frenzy, sent the Bones back to Birmingham for the first time since 2011, and sent Memphis’s season sideways. If you’re wondering why this year’s game already has juice in July, that’s why.
Everything Is New in 2026
Both programs enter this one transformed.
Memphis has a new head coach in Charles Huff, a Sun Belt champion at Marshall, and a roster rebuilt almost entirely through the portal, including former Ohio State and Colorado running back Dallan Hayden. The defense is run by Lance Guidry, fresh off a stint at LSU.
UAB rewarded Alex Mortensen, the man who beat Memphis in his very first game in charge, with the permanent job, and paired him with veteran defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, most recently of Oklahoma.
And in a twist you can’t script, there’s a Burton on each sideline. UAB quarterback Ryder Burton torched the Tigers for three touchdowns in last year’s upset, while Memphis senior defensive lineman Taylor Burton will be in the trenches trying to make sure history doesn’t repeat.
Cast Your Vote
Tigers or Blazers? Revenge at home, or the Bones staying in Birmingham for another year?
Cast your vote on the Memphis vs UAB prediction page, drop a comment backing your squad, and earn RallyFuel points for making your pick. And if you want the numbers behind your gut call, settle it with the School Rivalry tool, where you can compare Memphis and UAB side by side on NIL, fan engagement, rankings, and championships before you lock in.
Fuel Your Team
Votes are fun. Fuel is real. Back the athletes directly through verified NIL deals on the Memphis Tigers school page or the UAB Blazers school page. Rally your side, climb the Fan Power Rankings, and put your fandom where it counts.
The Bones are on the line. Where do you stand?
