UTSA ended its time as a Conference USA team by winning the league title over North Texas last season.
Now the Roadrunners turn their attention to the American Athletic Conference. Though they’re new to the league, they are regarded as one of the favorites to win it.
In fact, UTSA is second in the HERO Sports G5 Preseason Top 25 Rankings, behind only reigning AAC champion Tulane.
How UTSA adjusts to the AAC will be fascinating to watch.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
UTSA Football’s AAC Title Odds
UTSA’s odds to win the AAC are +400, via BetMGM.
UTSA Football’s Over/Under Win Total
UTSA’s win total Over/Under is 8.5, with Under 8.5 at -130 and Over 8.5 at +110.
UTSA Football’s Schedule
9/2 at Houston
9/9 vs Texas State
9/16 vs Army
9/23 at Tennessee
10/7 at Temple
10/14 vs UAB
10/21 at FAU
10/28 vs East Carolina
11/4 at North Texas
11/11 vs Rice
11/17 vs USF
11/25 at Tulane
Bold indicates AAC contests.
Key UTSA Football Returners
2022 All-Conference USA 1st Team
QB Frank Harris
DT Brandon Brown
2nd Team
WR De’Corian Clark
WR Joshua Cephus
LB Jamal Ligon
P Lucas Dean
Honorable Mention
RB Kevorian Barnes
TE Oscar Cardenas
OL Ernesto Almaraz
OL Walker Baty
OL Terrell Haynes
DE Nick Booker-Brown
DT Joe Evans
LB Trey Moore
DB Nicktroy Fortune
KR Chris Carpenter
PR Joshua Cephus
Frank Harris Is the Catalyst For UTSA’s Offense
Luckily for the Roadrunners, they have the best AAC quarterback as they make their conference transition.
Frank Harris was the Conference USA MVP a year ago as he was second in the league with 4,063 passing yards while throwing for 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also tied for second in CUSA with nine rushing touchdowns as he gained 602 yards on the ground, which was 13th in the conference.
UTSA also has two of the best AAC wide receivers in Joshua Cephus and De’Corian Clark.
Cephus is a three-time All-CUSA selection. He was fourth in the league in 2022 with 985 yards while adding six touchdowns and 87 catches, which was third in the conference. In the past four years, he’s caught 224 passes for 2,504 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Despite being the third-leading receiver for the Roadrunners, Clark caught 51 passes for 755 yards and eight touchdowns en route to second-team All-Conference USA honors in 2022.
Clark has totaled at least 50 catches, 700 yards, and seven touchdowns in two separate seasons as he recorded 755 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 receptions in 2021.
Both Cephus and Clark might see more targets with Zakhari Franklin transferring. Oscar Cardenas, a HERO Sports G5 Preseason All-American, also added 438 yards and two touchdowns on 31 receptions last year. Wide receiver Tykee Ogle-Kellogg (13 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns last year) and tight end Dan Dishman (154 yards and one touchdown on 13 catches in 2022) are also back.
While UTSA lost Brenden Brady, Kevorian Barnes is one of the best AAC running backs who returns for the Roadrunners. As a redshirt freshman, he gained 845 yards rushing, which was fifth in CUSA, and scored six touchdowns on the ground while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He added 115 yards on 10 receptions. UTSA also picked up former Vanderbilt running back Rocko Griffin this offseason.
UTSA’s offensive line returns three all-conference honorable mention selections in Ernesto Almaraz, Walker Baty, and Terrell Haynes. The unit helped the Roadrunners rank fourth in CUSA in rushing offense (175.3 yards per game) but allowed the fifth-most sacks (26) in the league.
Brandon Brown Establishes The Tone Up Front For UTSA’s Defense
Several of UTSA’s standout defenders from last year are returning for a unit that was in the top four in CUSA in scoring defense (25.9 points per game allowed) and total defense (387.4 yards per game allowed).
Brandon Brown, a G5 preseason All-American, is one of the best defensive tackles in the AAC. The all-conference first-teamer tallied 21 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks last year.
Jamal Ligon was the team’s leading tackler last year with 90 and paced the squad with five interceptions. The second-team all-conference linebacker also added six tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles.
Trey Moore, an all-conference honorable mention selection last season, led the team with 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks. The linebacker chipped in 59 tackles, six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles in 2022.
Nick Booker-Brown was also disruptive for opposing offenses last year. The All-CUSA honorable mention defensive end chalked up 28 tackles, six TFLs, three sacks, and two pass breakups.
Joe Evans returns after being a problem for opponents as an all-conference honorable mention defensive tackle. He recorded 18 tackles, 3.5 for loss, two quarterback hurries, and 1.5 sacks a year ago.
At defensive back, Nicktroy Fortune made the all-conference honorable mention list. He broke up five passes and added 41 tackles and four TFLs. Former Sam Houston cornerback Kam Alexander was added to the team this offseason to help the secondary as well.
For more Group of Five coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
UTSA Football Season Prediction
UTSA won’t win the AAC but will win at least nine games.
The Roadrunners are loaded with talent and experience. That’s why I think winning more than eight games during the regular season is possible for them. But asking them to win the AAC in their first year is a tall order.
I think UTSA can win three of its four non-conference games, including its season opener at Houston. While the Roadrunners should also be capable of defeating Texas State and Army at home, I’m anticipating they’ll lose at Tennessee.
I also think UTSA will win six AAC matchups. Games against Temple, UAB, East Carolina, Rice, and South Florida should be wins for the Roadrunners.
UTSA’s contests at FAU, North Texas, and Tulane won’t be easy. However, I think the Roadrunners can win at least one of them, which would put them at nine wins.
And that many victories in its inaugural season in the AAC would be a good start for UTSA.
