COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - There are wins and then there are small victories. Garrick McGee has to settle for the latter.

In his first season as the coach at UAB, he's trying to upgrade a program that has struggled in the transition from sneaky-good basketball power to big-time football contender. He knows he doesn't have as much talent as No. 16 Ohio State does coming into Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium.

But he's hoping his team can just make a decent showing before 105,000 hostile fans.

The Blazers are six-touchdown underdogs against the Buckeyes, who will use the game as their final tune-up before Big Ten play. Although there's very little chance UAB could shock the world, McGee just wants to see improvement as his team attempts to take another step toward respectability.