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How much Tennessee is paying UAB for Saturday's game at Neyland Stadium

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey09/19/25GrantRamey
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | University of Tennessee cheerleaders warms up the crowd ahead of the Vole Walk for NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Georgie on September 13, 2025, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | University of Tennessee cheerleaders warms up the crowd ahead of the Vole Walk for NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Georgie on September 13, 2025, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tennessee Football will pay UAB $1.65 million for Saturday afternoon’s game at Neyland Stadium. The game was scheduled and the game contract was signed by Tennessee athletic director Danny White in May 2021. 

No. 15 Tennessee (2-1) and UAB (2-1) are scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. Eastern Time start on SEC Network.

According to the game contract, Tennessee provided UAB 1,300 complimentary tickets and 700 more consigned tickets. Visiting teams also get one suite at Neyland Stadium, 60 sideline passes (used by coaches, trainers and working personnel), 15 all-access credentials and parking for equipment trucks, team and staff buses and 10 vehicles. 

Tennessee paid East Tennessee State $575,000 for the 72-17 win in Knoxville two weeks ago. New Mexico State will get paid $1.6 million for the November 15 game against the Vols on Homecoming weekend. 

Tennessee is paying Kennesaw State $1.05 million for its game in Knoxville next September. Tennessee State gets $600,000 from the Vols in 2027 and Western Michigan gets $1.2 million for its 2027 game in Knoxville. 

UAB lost 38-24 at Navy two weeks ago

UAB beat Akron 31-28 Saturday night in Birmingham, bouncing back for the 38-24 loss at Navy last week. The Blazers opened the season with a 52-42 home win over Alabama State on August 28. 

Tennessee is 5-0 all time against UAB, dating back to 1998.

The Vols beat the Blazers 37-13 in November 1998, 17-10 in September 2005, 35-3 in 2008 and 32-29 in 2010. The most recent meeting was a 30-7 win in November 2019.

In 2014 the UAB football program was shut down due budgeting issues. It was reinstated in June 2015, though, and the Blazers won seven games in 2017, tying a program record as an FBS team while making its return after being shut down for two years. 

UAB won 11 games in 2018, including the program’s first Conference USA championship and its first bowl win, beating Northern Illinois 37-13 in the Boca Raton Bowl. 

Trent Dilfer is 9-18 overall in third season at UAB

Jalen Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, threw for 341 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against Akron. On the season he’s for 70-for-90 (77.7%) for 892 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. 

Former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer is in his third season as UAB’s head coach, with a 9-18 overall record and a 6-12 record in the American Conference. 

Dilfer was head coach at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville for four seasons before behind hired at UAB, going 44-10 as a high school coach, including a 26-1 record over his final two seasons.