Chris Mortensen's Son Alex Upsets No. 22 Memphis as UAB Interim HC After Dilfer Exit

UAB interim head coach Alex Mortensen, the son of late legendary ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen, took over the Blazer sideline on Sunday after the school parted ways with head coach (and ex-NFL quarterback) Trent Dilfer following two-plus years at the helm (2-4 in 2025, 9-21 overall).

Mortensen, who had been UAB's offensive coordinator for two-plus seasons before getting the interim head coach gig, wasted no time making a tremendous impact. He guided the Blazers to a dramatic 31-24 upset win at home over undefeated No. 22 Memphis, which was averaging 40.5 points per game entering the day. UAB was also a 23.5-point underdog.

Wide receiver Iverson Hooks caught 11 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns. He caught a 15-yarder in the first quarter, a 16-yarder in the second quarter and 20-yarder in the fourth quarter. The last score helped give UAB a 31-17 lead.

Solomon Beebe also rushed for an 81-yard score to give UAB a 23-14 lead early in the third quarter.

The unsung hero was quarterback Ryder Burton, who was making his first collegiate start in place of injured Jalen Kitna. Burton was exceptional, completing 20-of-27 passes for 251 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Burton started his career at BYU before transferring to West Virginia in 2024. He finally got his shot with UAB in 2025 and made the most of it.

Burton's third touchdown to Hooks capped a 99-yard drive. After the PAT, Memphis led 31-17 with 4:06 left.

However, Memphis then went on a furious comeback. Quarterback AJ Hill, who replaced injured starter Brendon Lewis in the third quarter, found Christian Ross for a 37-yard touchdown with 2:19 left. The PAT made it 31-24.

UAB then went three-and-out and punted the ball back to Memphis just after the two-minute warning. The Tigers marched down the field in response, and a Greg Desrosiers Jr. 41-yard run put the ball at the UAB one-yard line.

However, that's as far as the Tigers would get. Memphis committed an immediate false start to move back to the six-yard line, but Desrosiers got the penalty yardage back with a five-yard run.

Another false start moved the ball back to the six-yard line again. A pair of incomplete passes set up a 4th-and-goal from the six-yard line, but a delay-of-game penalty pushed the ball back to the 11-yard line.

Hill then looked to Cortez Braham Jr. in the end zone, and Braham made a great catch. He was just out-of-bounds, though, and UAB emerged victorious.

Analysts and fans praised Mortensen for a great effort.

UAB will look to move to .500 overall on Nov. 1 when the team visits UConn.