Jeremiah Bryson added 64 yards and two TDs on nine carries for Middle Tennessee (5-3, 4-1 Conference USA). Austin Grammer completed only 6-of-19 passes for 141 yards but threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a 30-yard strike to Marcus Henry to seal the win.

Jordan Howard rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries for Alabama-Birmingham (4-3, 2-2). Cody Clements was 19-of-29 for 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception and Jamari Staples grabbed four passes for 83 yards and a TD for the Blazers.

Bryson's 1-yard TD run and Grammer's 65-yard strike to Chris Perkins gave Middle Tennessee a 14-6 lead after one quarter, and Bryson scored from 2 yards to put the Blue Raiders on top 21-15 at halftime. Clements hooked up with Staples for a 43-yard TD with 1:31 left in the third quarter to put UAB back on top, but the Blazers' next four possessions ended with two punts and two interceptions.

Whatley busted a career-long 67-yard TD run to make it 27-22 with 11 minutes left, and Middle Tennessee's defense took over from there. Kevin Byard's 14th career interception set up Grammer's TD pass to Henry, and the Blazers were unable to mount a comeback.