UAB claims Conference USA's West for 3rd straight season
Rice's defense cashes in with pick-six
Marshall QB Grant Wells' pass is picked off by Naeem Smith and returned 36 yards for a touchdown.
HOUSTON -- — Tyler Johnston III passed for 217 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and UAB beat Rice 21-16 on Saturday to claim the Conference USA West Division for the third consecutive season.
UAB (5-3) will face Marshall for the conference championship. The Thundering Herd had their game canceled this week against Charlotte.
UAB scored on its first two possessions of the second half —- in just seven plays. Myron Mitchell got behind the defense on UAB's first play after halftime for a 63-yard score. Samario Rudolph caught another long pass in traffic along the left side and he dove into the end zone for a 21-13 lead.
UAB punted it to the Rice 24 with 49 seconds left in the game — with no timeouts for the Owls. Rice got it past midfield, but Grayson Cash intercepted a pass on fourth-and-18 to seal it.
JoVoni Johnson passed for 161 yards and a touchdown for Rice (2-3). Jordan Myers made nine catches for 62 yards and a score.
Myers' score with 38 seconds left before halftime gave Rice a 13-6 lead. Collin Riccitelli had field goals of 36 and 40 yards, and he added a 40-yarder in the fourth quarter.
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Game Information
2023 American Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| SMU | 8-0 | 11-3 |
| Tulane | 8-0 | 11-3 |
| UTSA | 7-1 | 9-4 |
| Memphis | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| South Florida | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Rice | 4-4 | 6-7 |
| Navy | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| North Texas | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| UAB | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Florida Atlantic | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Charlotte | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Tulsa | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Temple | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| East Carolina | 1-7 | 2-10 |
2023 Sun Belt Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| James Madison | 7-1 | 11-2 |
| Appalachian State | 6-2 | 9-5 |
| Coastal Carolina | 5-3 | 8-5 |
| Old Dominion | 5-3 | 6-7 |
| Georgia State | 3-5 | 7-6 |
| Marshall | 3-5 | 6-7 |
| Georgia Southern | 3-5 | 6-7 |
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Troy | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| Texas State | 4-4 | 8-5 |
| South Alabama | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Arkansas State | 4-4 | 6-7 |
| Louisiana | 3-5 | 6-7 |
| Southern Miss | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| UL Monroe | 0-8 | 2-10 |
NCAAF News