The UAB Blazers will host the Liberty Flames in their home opener this weekend, but this time home has a different meaning for the Green and Gold.

After a long stint at the historic Legion Field, Blazer Nation finally sets foot in their new home, Protective Stadium, on Saturday, Oct. 2.

Protective Stadium is a $200 million-dollar facility with a capacity of 47,100 located in downtown Birmingham.

After the resurgence of the UAB football program in 2017, the recent success prompted officials to move forward with plans of the new stadium in 2019. On Sept. 18, 2021, the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Authority approved the final designs for the stadium.

To ensure that the new stadium would be fully equipped and ready, UAB opened the season with a neutral site game in Montgomery, followed by three road games.

The Blazers (3-1) have wins over Jacksonville State, North Texas, and Tulane, with their only setback coming against the second ranked team in the nation, Georgia.

UAB currently is the only FBS team in the country that has not played a home game yet.

Liberty comes in as the first opponent to enter Protective Stadium and Hugh Freeze's team is no easy opponent. A year ago, this team finished the season with a 10-1 record which included wins over two ACC opponents and a Cure Bowl championship.

The Flames are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Syracuse and look to rebound this weekend in Birmingham. Liberty (3-1) has wins over Campbell, Troy, and Old Dominion.

The Blazers are currently two-point favorites over the Flames.

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