After a few years of dominating Conference USA, UTSA moved to the AAC before last season. People wondered how well the Roadrunners could compete in their new league.
But they squashed those doubts pretty quickly. They were 8-4 in the regular season, despite star quarterback Frank Harris dealing with injury, and were 7-1 in conference play. They concluded the year with a victory over Marshall in the Frisco Bowl.
With Jeff Traylor back as head coach, UTSA looks to be an AAC Championship contender again this season.
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 +475, via BetMGM.
UTSA Football’s Betting Odds & 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 2024 Schedule
8/31 vs. Kennesaw State
9/7 @ Texas State
9/14 @ Texas
9/21 vs. Houston Christian
9/28 @ East Carolina
10/12 @ Rice
10/19 vs. FAU
10/26 @ Tulsa
11/2 vs. Memphis
11/15 vs. North Texas
11/22 vs. Temple
11/30 @ Army
Bold indicates AAC contests
Key UTSA Football Returners
2023 All-AAC 2nd Team
LB Donyai Taylor
K Chase Allen
3rd Team
TE Oscar Cardenas
DL Brandon Brown
DL Joe Evans
Honorable Mention
OL Cory Godinet
LB Jamal Ligon
UTSA Football Still Talented Despite Losses
UTSA was loaded last season. The Roadrunners were in the top five in the AAC in both scoring offense (31.9 points per game) and scoring defense (24.1 points per game allowed) last year.
They boasted 16 all-conference selections in 2023. But only seven of those players are back this year.
UTSA will need to find an answer at quarterback first and foremost. Harris was a multiple-year starter for the Roadrunners and made the All-AAC first team in 2023. His abilities as a passer and runner will be missed.
Owen McCown and Eddie Lee Marburger both saw playing time last year when Harris was hurt. McCown played in UTSA’s bowl game and completed 22 of 31 passes for 251 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions to go with 38 rushing yards. UTSA also added former Alabama State QB and three-star prospect Dematrius Davis through the transfer portal.
UTSA did lose some top-notch receiving talent like first-team all-conference wide receiver Joshua Cephus. However, former All-Conference USA wideout De’Corian Clark returns after missing most of 2023 due to injury. All-conference tight end Oscar Cardenas is also back.
UTSA had the fifth-best transfer class in the AAC this offseason, according to 247 Sports, with 12 three-star prospects and a four-star player, which is former LSU cornerback Denver Harris. UTSA’s secondary could certainly use the help after losing players like cornerback Kam Alexander and safety Rashad Wisdom, both first-team all-conference picks in 2023. However, the return of safety Ken Robinson, who led the team with 66 tackles last year, should help.
UTSA should be strong up front defensively, though. While they did lose AAC Defensive Player of the Year Trey Moore, who led the league with 14 sacks last year, the Roadrunners have two all-conference linebackers and two all-conference defensive linemen back.
Jamal Ligon was second on the team with 62 tackles in 2023, and Donyai Taylor was fifth with 46 tackles. Defensive linemen Brandon Brown and Joe Evans were disruptive and tough to block up front in 2023, and that shouldn’t change this year.
For more Group of Five coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
2024 UTSA Football Season Prediction
I predict UTSA will go Under 8.5 wins and won’t win the AAC Championship.
I’m anticipating the Roadrunners will seem like two different teams from the first half of the season compared to the second half. But I think that’ll be in part because of their schedule.
UTSA hosts FBS newcomer Kennesaw State to open the season, as well as Houston Christian of the FCS. I think that’ll be two UTSA wins. But the Roadrunners will also play at Texas State, which has emerged as a Sun Belt Championship contender, and at Texas.
Accounting for UTSA to start out 2-2 in its non-conference schedule, I also don’t see the team going 7-1 again in AAC play.
I think Memphis is better right now. Though UTSA avoids teams like Tulane and USF, I expect at least one letdown game against East Carolina, Rice, or Army – which are all road trips.
I could absolutely see UTSA going 8-4 like it did in 2023, but nine wins is too much to ask of this team in my opinion.
