In its first game after firing head coach Trent Dilfer, UAB upset No. 22 and undefeated Memphis 31-24 in a wild finish Saturday at Protective Stadium.
The Blazers were led by interim head coach Alex Mortensen, the son of the late Chris Mortensen, the former ESPN NFL analyst. The younger Mort had been UAB’s offensive coordinator since 2023.
UAB quarterback Ryder Burton completed 20 of 27 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, including one TD to take a 31-17 lead late. But Memphis (6-1, 2-1 American Athletic) scored a touchdown and got the ball back with a chance to tie, setting up a nail-biting finish.
A 41-yard tying touchdown run by Memphis in the final minute was ruled down at the 1-yard line on replay. While letting the clock run down for the next play, Memphis committed a false start penalty. The Tigers’ next play went out of bounds at the 1, but Memphis then committed another false start.
Facing fourth-and-goal for the ballgame at the 6, Memphis was penalized for delay of game as the play clock ran out. The final pass of the game from the 11 sailed out of bounds and incomplete.
The loss significantly damages Memphis’ American Athletic Conference and College Football Playoff hopes. Entering the day, the Tigers had a 13 percent chance to reach the CFP in Austin Mock’s model. They host No. 19 South Florida next week.
Mortensen spent 2014-22 on the Alabama staff as an analyst, before Dilfer hired him to lead the UAB offense in 2023. Despite the 2-4 record, the Blazers’ offense ranked 60th nationally in points per game entering Saturday, while the defense was dead last at No. 136.
Dilfer was fired Sunday after posting a 9-21 record in three seasons, including 0-15 in road games. Saturday’s win under Mortensen came at home, and it was UAB’s first conference victory of the year.
After the game, Mortensen was asked what his late father would’ve thought of the win and the finish.
“He would be excited for our team and program,” Alex told ESPN. “He covered football for a long time. He’s always sensitive to coaches losing their jobs. I know he would understand how hard it was what these guys went through this week.”