No. 18 Marshall (10-0, 6-0 C-USA) at UAB (5-5, 3-3)

Line: Marshall by 20.

Series Record: Marshall leads 7-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Unbeaten Marshall is trying to strengthen its case for the College Football Playoff committee, which has one guaranteed prominent bowl berth for the Group of Five conferences. UAB, which hasn’t been to a bowl game since its first trip in 2004, is seeking win No. 6 to become eligible for another one.

KEY MATCHUP

Marshall’s running game against UAB’s defense. Marshall is averaging a league-best 294 rushing yards and has scored 35 rushing touchdowns. UAB is ninth in defending the run, allowing an average of 177 yards on the ground.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marshall: RB Devon Johnson has run for 471 yards in the last two games and is fourth in the Bowl Subdivision with 1,402 rushing yards. Johnson has 16 rushing touchdowns.

UAB: WR/RS J.J. Nelson leads Conference USA in both kick returns and punt returns, ranking second nationally in the former category. Nelson is the only FBS player to have returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season, and he has 18 career scores of 40-plus yards.

FACTS & FIGURES

Marshall’s last four victories in the series have come by an average of 30 points, though UAB won in 2012. The Thundering Herd won 56-14 last season. … Marshall QB Rakeem Cato is looking to push his FBS-record streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 43. … UAB RB Jordan Howard has six 100-yard rushing games.