BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — In a stunning upset that defied both the oddsmakers and the analytics, the UAB Blazers derailed the Memphis Tigers’ perfect season with a 31-24 victory on Saturday at Protective Stadium before an announced crowd of 19,037.

The Blazers, entering the game as a heavy 21.5-point favorite according to oddsmakers but given only a 5.3 percent chance to win by Interstat’s ELO system, relied on a near-flawless performance from quarterback Ryder Burton and a game-breaking 81-yard touchdown run from Solomon Beebe to secure the win.

The victory improved UAB’s record to 2-4, while Memphis suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 6-0.

The game began as a back-and-forth affair. UAB struck first, capping an 11-play, 75-yard opening drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Burton to Iverson Hooks. The Blazers’ early momentum was immediately extinguished, however, as Memphis’ Sutton Smith fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 99 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.

The first half continued to be a tightly contested battle. After a UAB field goal by Jonah Delange from 21 yards gave the Blazers a 10-7 lead, Memphis responded with a methodical 14-play, 80-yard drive. The possession was kept alive by the steady play of quarterback Brendon Lewis and was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Greg Desrosiers Jr., putting the Tigers ahead 14-10.

Just as it seemed Memphis would take a lead into halftime, Burton engineered a masterful two-minute drill. Starting from their own 25-yard line with just 54 seconds remaining, Burton completed five passes to move the Blazers down the field, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown strike to Hooks with two seconds left on the clock. The score sent UAB into the locker room with a 17-14 lead and a surge of confidence.

The third quarter featured a dramatic shift in momentum. After a Memphis punt, UAB took over at its own 19-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Beebe took a handoff, found a seam on the right side, and exploded for an 81-yard touchdown run, extending the Blazers’ lead to 24-14.

Memphis answered with a drive deep into UAB territory, but the Blazers’ defense stiffened, forcing the Tigers to settle for a 25-yard Gianni Spetic field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-17.

The fourth quarter proved decisive. With just over four minutes remaining and the Blazers clinging to a one-score lead, Burton delivered the knockout blow. On a critical third down, he connected with Hooks for their third touchdown of the game, a 20-yard pass that gave UAB a 31-17 advantage.

Memphis, showing the resilience of an undefeated team, mounted a furious comeback attempt. Led by quarterback AJ Hill, who had taken over for Lewis, the Tigers needed just three plays to answer. Hill found Christian Ross for a 37-yard touchdown pass, bringing Memphis back within a score at 31-24 with 2:19 left.

The Tigers’ defense forced a quick UAB punt, giving Hill one final chance with 1:45 on the clock. Hill drove Memphis from its own 22-yard line to the UAB 1-yard line in a frantic series of completions and a 41-yard run by Desrosiers Jr. However, the drive unraveled in the final seconds. A series of penalties, including two false starts and a delay of game, pushed the Tigers back. From the UAB 6-yard line, Hill threw four consecutive incomplete passes into the end zone, the final one falling harmlessly to the turf as time expired, sealing the monumental victory for UAB.

Burton, a sophomore from Springville, Utah, was the catalyst for the Blazers’ offense, completing 20 of 27 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, all to Hooks. Hooks was spectacular, hauling in 11 receptions for 172 yards. Beebe provided the ground game’s highlight, finishing with 106 rushing yards on just five carries, including his long touchdown.

For Memphis, the quarterback duo of Lewis and Hill combined for 243 passing yards but could not match Burton’s efficiency. Hill threw for 175 yards, a touchdown, and a critical fourth-quarter interception. Desrosiers Jr. was a workhorse out of the backfield, while Cortez Braham Jr. led all Memphis receivers with five catches for 83 yards.

Defensively, UAB was led by Tylan McNichols with seven tackles, while Memphis’ Drue Watts posted a game-high 10 tackles. The Blazers’ defense came up with two key turnovers, an interception by Sam Brumfield in the first quarter and a game-sealing pick by Pierre Royster in the fourth.

The loss sends Memphis into a pivotal American Athletic Conference matchup next Saturday against South Florida, while UAB has a bye week before traveling to face Connecticut on Nov. 1.