East Carolina will look to extend a three-game winning streak on Thursday night at UAB, facing a familiar rival from its days in Conference USA. The Pirates and Blazers will kick off at 7:30 p.m. from Protective Stadium, getting the national stage on ESPN.
ECU has won seven in a row over UAB, though the teams haven’t played since 2013, the Pirates’ last year before joining the American Conference.
Both East Carolina (3-2, 1-0) and UAB (3-3, 1-1) carry solid defenses that rank at the top of the league in yards allowed. The Blazers led all of FBS in passing defense. Points could be at a premium in this Thursday night showcase.
Here is everything to know about ECU-UAB football, including more game details, TV, odds, stat comparisons, series history and more.
🔄 Last Updated: October 13, 2026 5:13 pm
🏟️ How to Watch East Carolina Football at UAB
Matchup: East Carolina (3-2, 1-0 American) at UAB (3-3, 1-1 American)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Protective Stadium (Birmingham, AL)
TV Station: ESPN
📊 East Carolina at UAB Betting Odds
Spread: East Carolina -4.5
Over/Under Total: 47.5 points
Moneyline: East Carolina -182 | UAB + 150
Lines courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds will be refreshed periodically during the week. All lines are subject to change.
🩹 Injury Updates
The American Conference is expected to release an availability report for ECU-UAB on Thursday afternoon around 5:30 p.m. ET. The conference does not release official injury or availability information at any other time.
⏪ 2026 Season Rewind
East Carolina Pirates (3-2, 1-0)
Alabama 48, ECU 10
App State 27, ECU 24
ECU 20, Old Dominion 17
ECU 42, North Carolina Central 9
ECU 28, Rice 12
UAB Blazers (3-3, 1-1)
Illinois 42, UAB 23
UAB 26, Louisiana-Monroe 20
Louisiana 21, UAB 14
UAB 24, Navy 20
UAB 33, Samford 14
Memphis 38, UAB 13
🔍 What to Know About ECU at UAB
ECU looking for fourth straight win
The Pirates were a bit sluggish out of the gates, losing to Alabama and Appalachian State in their first two games. ECU has since responded with three victories in a row, including last Saturday’s 28-12 homecoming triumph over Rice in its American Conference opener.
This week marks the first of back-to-back Thursday night conference road games. Memphis awaits next week on Oct. 22.
If ECU can navigate this stretch well, it will be in prime position to be in the American Conference title conversation during the final month of the season. The follow two games will come against Temple and USF will be at home, followed by a short road trip to Charlotte.
Pirates appear to have found their QB1, lead RB
Mitch Griffis started the first three games at quarterback for ECU, with mostly underwhelming results. Coach Blake Harrell and new offensive coordinator Jordan Davis gave the keys to Miami transfer Emory Williams for the North Carolina Central contest, and things started to unlock for the offense.
Williams threw for 341 yards and three scores against the Eagles, then completed 19-of-31 passes for 143 yards and two scores in the Rice win. Williams, who also rushed for a touchdown against Rice, has just one interception on the season. He has completed 64.9 percent of his passes.
East Carolina also has been able to establish a better running game in recent weeks, led by TJ Engleman Jr., who has scored four touchdowns in the past two games.
This game has the makings of a defensive struggle
UAB and East Carolina have the two stingiest defenses in the American Conference thus far. UAB allows just 316.8 total yards per game, while ECU isn’t that far behind, surrendering only 319.6. ECU has the fourth-best scoring defense in the league, allowing 22.6 points per game.
With both offenses closer to the bottom of the American in yards (ECU 9th, UAB 10th) and points (ECU 10th, UAB 11th), scoring chances could be at a premium.
UAB has been better against the pass (allowing just 126.0 yards per game) but has been more porous against the run (190.8), so that could put the focus on ECU running backs and what Williams can do with his legs.
UAB has kept kicker Jonah Delange busy – and he’s excelled
At least when UAB drives stall in opposing territory, the Blazers have a dependable kicker. Jonah Delange, the conference Special Teams Player of the Year in 2024, has already booted 14 field goals this season. The senior has missed just twice. Only one other American team has made more than nine field goals.
Delange is 7-of-8 from 40-49 yards and 1-of-2 from 50+. His longest was a 57-yarder against Memphis. He went 4-for-4 against both ULM and Samford. Delange has actually kicked more field goals than extra points (13-of-13).
📊 East Carolina Football vs. UAB Stat Comparison
East Carolina Team Highlights
- Points For: 24.8 points per game
- Points Against: 22.6 points per game
- Passing Offense: 195.2 yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 148.8 yards per game
- Passing Defense: 172.6 yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 146.8 yards per game
East Carolina Individual Leaders
- Passing: Emory Williams – 50-of-77, 529 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: TJ Engleman Jr. – 45 carries, 386 yards, 3 TDs
- Receiving: Ray Ray Joseph – 25 catches, 267 yards, 2 TDs
- Tackles: DJ Johnson Jr. – 37 tackles (14 solo)
- Interceptions: Ayden Duncanson – 2 interceptions, 87 return yards
- Scoring: Noah Perez – 28 points (4-of-6 FGs, 16-of-16 PATs)
UAB Team Highlights
- Points For: 22.2 points per game
- Points Against: 25.8 points per game
- Passing Offense: 155.8 passing yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 179.5 rushing yards per game
- Passing Defense: 126.0 passing yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 190.8 rushing yards per game
UAB Individual Leaders
- Passing: Ryder Burton – 72-of-130, 922 yards,s 4 TDs, 5 INTs
- Rushing: Rod Robinson II – 93 carries, 403 yards, 0 TDs
- Receiving: Ty Mims – 17 catches, 302 yards, 1 TD
- Tackles: Muaaz Byard – 54 tackles (40 solo)
- Interceptions: Ike Esonwune – 2 interceptions, 8 return yards
- Scoring: Jonah Delange – 55 points (14-of-16 FGs, 13-of-13 PATs)
Notable
- ECU’s Ayden Duncanson has returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns, including a 67-yarder against Old Dominion that garnered him American Defensive Player of the Week honors. His other pick-six covered 20 yards against NCCU.
- UAB edge rusher Marlin Dean has 8.0 tackles-for-loss, 5.0 sacks and 25 total tackles thus far.
- East Carolina punter Tomas O’Halloran is averaging 46.9 yards per punt – 8th best in FBS football.
- Bam McReynolds has been a solid counterpunch alongside Robinson at running back for the Blazers. The redshirt senior has rushed for 316 yards and has found the end zone four times.
- UAB kicker Jonah Delange is fifth in the American Conference in scoring with 55 points.
- Muaaz Byard leads FBS football in solo tackles (40).
- UAB has allowed 16 sacks, most in the conference.
📚 Series History
- East Carolina leads the all-time series 9-4
- Last meeting: East Carolina 63, UAB 14 (Nov. 16, 2013)
- First meeting: East Carolina 26, UAB 7 (Oct. 10, 1998)
- ECU and UAB were partners in Conference Carolinas from the late 1990s until the Pirates left to join the American in 2014.
- East Carolina went 7-0 against the Blazers from 2007-13. The last UAB win in the series came in 2006 when the Blazers won 17-12 at home.
- The Pirates are 3-2 playing UAB in Birmingham.
🔗 More North Carolina College Football Coverage
- East Carolina Football Schedule
- American Conference Standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
