A dominant defensive effort and a career day for running back Lee Beebe Jr. led the UAB football team to a decisive 40-14 victory over Rice on Senior Day at Pro

The Blazers will honor a senior class of 19 players before kickoff, many of whom will leave holes in the starting lineup next season. Star center Brady Wilson, linebacker Michael Moore and the tight end trio of Bryce Damous, Dallas Payne and Terrell McDonald are notable players playing their final games at Protective Stadium.

Rice is four games under .500 on the season and has not won a football game away from Rice Stadium. Yet the Owls are favored on Saturday afternoon. That says a lot about where UAB is as a team, as well as its second-year embattled coach,