Texas Longhorns Week 3 Preview: UTSA Roadrunners

Looking to move to 3-0, the No. 2 Texas Longhorns will host the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday

Dec 19, 2023; Frisco, TX, USA; UTSA Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown (13) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images / Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

Despite the only 79-mile difference between Austin and San Antonio, Texas and UTSA have only played each other once.

The Roadrunner football team is young compared to 1893-founded Texas football. In fact, UTSA didn't have its debut until 2011.

Following Texas' 41-20 win in 2022, the two UT system programs will face each other again on Saturday.

One year into being in charge of the Roadrunners, head coach Jeff Traylor led the team to its best start in program history, winning eleven consecutive games before dropping the last match of the season. UTSA finished the year as regular season conference champions with its 11-1 record and earned the tournament title with a 49-41 defeat over Western Kentucky.

Though he only played against Texas once, he is very familiar with how things work in the Forty Acres as he served as special teams and tight ends coordinator from 2015 to 2016.

His time at Texas might've been short, but the linebacker was there for all of spring training and is likely familiar with Sarkisian's game.

In the offseason, the Roadrunners lost a key player to the Longhorns.

Edge Trey Moore enrolled at UTSA in Fall 2021 and stayed with the program for two years. In December 2023, he joined the transfer portal, committing to Texas that same month. Moore has played in both games for the Longhorns and has recorded three tackles so far this season.

In his last year in San Antonio, Moore and the Roadrunners finished third in the American Athletic Conference and wrapped up the season with a 9-4 record. The 2024 season hasn't had its best start. Though UTSA defeated Kennesaw State 28-16 in their opener, the program fell to the Texas State Bobcats for the first time in history in the second game -- coming into Austin a week after the 49-10 loss.

UTSA Roadrunners

2024 Record: 1-1 in AAC

Head Coach: Jeff Traylor

Offensive Leaders

Passing: QB Owen McCown

2024 stats: completed 38 of 61 passes for 445 yards and three passing touchdowns (one rushing)

Rushing: RB Robert Henry Jr.

2024 stats: 15 attempts for 56 rushing yards and zero touchdowns

Receiving: WR Willie McCoy

2024 stats: 7 receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown.

Defensive Leaders:

Sacks: LB Jimmori Robinson - 2

Tackles: LB Ken Robinson - 12 solo, one assisted, 13 total

Interceptions: CB Zach Morris - 1