UAB Prepares for Dual-Threat Challenge in Lunch Winfield
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - September 17, 2026
Louisiana quarterback Lunch Winfield played on a big stage this past Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound redshirt junior certainly showed he belonged in that setting.
“Lunch [Winfield] is a gamer and a competitor,” Louisiana head coach Michael Desormeaux said in his postgame press conference. “I think tonight he showed that no stage is too big for him to go out there and compete and perform. He's tough as nails, and he made some good plays in the pass game, run game, everything. That's what he is for us. When you have a quarterback that's like that, your whole team believes they've always got a chance. I think part of the job of the quarterback is to breathe life into your team and he certainly did that. Got us some good plays, handled some things really well, and I know the guy has elite toughness. That's something that you can't replace."
For the record, Winfield was 16-of-22 for 212 yards with no interceptions and a 14-yard touchdown pass to Russell Babineaux. He rushed for a team-high 91 yards on 14 carries with just one sack and touchdown runs of 1 and 32 yards.
“Their quarterback is a hell of a player,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said in his postgame press conference. “We said that all week. He makes a lot of plays and covers up a lot, and I thought those guys competed hard and were a good football team.”
USC no longer has the difficult task of defending Winfield. On Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lourdes Stadium in Lafayette, Winfield become UAB’s problem. The Blazers are in a stretch where they’re facing accomplished running quarterbacks in ULM’s Austin Carlisle, Winfield and Navy’s Braxton Woodson, provided he’s recovered from last week’s ankle injury. Before getting back to Winfield, the UAB defense did a much better job on Carlisle as the game progressed last Saturday at Protective Stadium. Carlisle gained 93 yards on 17 carries but only 19 of those yards came after the first drive of the second half.
“Going into that game, like game planning that game, we knew the threat of the quarterback, his speed,” said safety Jeremiah Jordan, who was one tackle short of being the fourth UAB player in double digits for tackles in the 26-20 win. “But I feel like you don't really know until you’re out there. We were able to adjust throughout the game.”
This week offers another adjustment. This week they face a runner with similar – or better – ability as well as a high level passer. Winfield was 16-of-22 in each of the first two games. His 72.7 completion percentage is tied for 21st in the country. Last season, Winfield was 127-of-216 for 1,555 yards with 11 touchdowns in 12 games with eight starts. He also rushed for 667 yards and nine touchdowns.
“I think when you’re facing a quarterback that’s got the ability to pass and run, it's about your angles, playing with leverage and being a great tackler,” Jordan said. “Since he’s got the ability to run, they're going to try to open it up a little more. So just being great tacklers, that's the main thing.”
One adjustment that you can’t judge fully on tape is the competitive nature Winfield plays with and how much it permeates throughout the team.
“I tell these guys every game day at practice that I'm willing to go out there and lay it all out for you guys and I hope you do the same for me,” Winfield said after the USC game. “Football is a game I love, and if it ends on the field I'll be okay with that."