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UTSA kicks off its 2024 four-game Owls gauntlet against Kennesaw State at 3:30 p.m. EST on Aug. 31 in San Antonio, Texas.
The Roadrunners enter their second year in the American Athletic Conference as one of the favorites to finish first and potentially secure a College Football Playoff bid. UTSA finished its inaugural AAC season with a 9-4 record, including the program's first-ever bowl victory.
What's at Stake?
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor must replace key talent lost from last year's team. This includes quarterback Frank Harris, wide receiver Joshua Cephus, cornerback Kam Alexander, safety Rashad Wisdom and linebacker Trey Moore. All five were first-team all-conference selections, with Moore earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year award. This is a must-win for the Roadrunners as the schedule intensifies with consecutive road games at Texas and Texas State.
Kennesaw State is playing its first game as an FBS team and a member of Conference USA. Head coach Brian Bohannon, who has led the program since its inception in 2013, boasts an overall record of 71-30. In 2019, Bohannon "guided the Owls to a self-proclaimed most successful start" for a brand new program in college football history. Kennesaw State is 48-15 overall. The Owls have two Big South Conference championships, three consecutive FCS Playoff appearances and four playoff victories. Kennesaw State enters this game with everything to gain and nothing to lose as oddsmakers predict a blowout.
Key Players: UTSA Roadrunners
Owen McCown or Eddie Lee Marburger, QB
Both quarterbacks are listed because UTSA likely won't announce QB1 until the offense takes the field on Saturday. The best guess is that the Roadrunners will go with McCown.
He is the more proven option based on his performances at Tennessee and in the bowl game against Marshall last season. UTSA's offense has ranked in the top 30 for points per game over the past three years (15th in 2021, 16th in 2022 and 27th in 2023). McCown or Marburger will need to produce and play turnover-free football to maintain that trend.
Martavius French, LB
French returned to practice this week after a multi-week suspension and is listed as the starting linebacker on the team's Week 1 depth chart. The UTSA defense will face a pistol offense run by the Owls, making disciplined and strong positional play crucial. The Roadrunners will be looking for a repeat of French’s performance against another option offense, Army, when he recorded 10 tackles last season.
Key Players: Kennesaw State Owls
Michael Benefield, RB
Benefield is the top returning rusher for the Owls, having run for 546 yards (6.3 per carry) and six TDs last season. The Owls will rely heavily on their rushing attack to control the clock, avoid third-and-long situations and keep the high-powered Roadrunners offense off the field. With the departure of quarterback Jonathan Murphy, Kennesaw State is inexperienced at the position, with sophomore Davis Bryson expected to start. Bryson has only thrown 11 passes in his college career, making it important for the Owls to avoid obvious passing situations.
Donovan Westmoreland, DL
Westmoreland, a former four-star recruit, committed to South Carolina as part of its 2022 recruiting class. He also received offers from other top SEC schools, including Georgia and Tennessee. Although Westmoreland saw limited action during his two years at South Carolina, he will start for the Owls' defense. He is the highest-ranked recruit in the program's history. Kennesaw State will need Westmoreland to show the potential that made him a top recruit and wreak havoc in the Roadrunners' backfield.
Broadcast Information
Date: Aug. 31
Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Where: Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
TV: ESPN+
Game Prediction
Expect this game to be close at halftime, with the Roadrunners' offense starting slow and the Owls finding some success moving the ball. UTSA will recover in the second half, pulling away for a decisive 42-20 victory to start the season at 1-0.
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