UTSA in Dire Straits: Roadrunners Need FAU Victory

Oct 17, 20243 min read

Omari Hayes | FAU WR — © Thomas Cordy/USA TODAY NETWORK

The UTSA Roadrunners (2-4, 0-2 American Athletic Conference) face the Florida Atlantic Owls (2-4, 0-2) at 3:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 19 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. UTSA looks to bounce back from a 29-27 loss at Rice (2-4, 1-2), while FAU aims to recover from a 41-37 home defeat to North Texas (5-1, 2-0). Which team will shake off last week’s heartbreak and secure the win? Can UTSA triumph in their homecoming game?

The Stakes

The wheels are coming off for Meep Meep Nation as coach Jeff Traylor and the staff struggle to uphold the standards of the "Triangle of Toughness." UTSA is tied for 131st out of 134 FBS teams in penalties per game (10.2), with that average rising after 16 penalties in the loss to Rice. Both Roadrunner victories this season have come at the Alamodome, and UTSA needs the Dome's support to secure another win.

Jeff Traylor | UTSA Roadrunners Coach — © Danny Wild-Imagn Images

FAU led North Texas 37-27 with 4:21 left before the Mean Green scored 14 unanswered points to steal the game. In his second season at FAU, coach Tom Herman sits at 2-4, putting a winning record in jeopardy after six seasons without a losing record at Houston and Texas. The Owls had their best offensive showing of the season against North Texas and will look to build on that against UTSA.

Tom Herman | FAU Coach — © Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Key Players: UTSA Roadrunners

Quarterback Owen McCown

McCown ranks fourth in the AAC in passing yards (1,308) and is tied for second in passing TDs (10). During his weekly press conference, coach Jeff Traylor highlighted the growth of his young quarterback.

McCown bounced back from a tough game at East Carolina (3-3, 1-1) by going 28-of-43 for 256 yards and 3 TDs against Rice. The UTSA offensive line must protect McCown, who has an elite 92.8 grade from Pro Football Focus on deep passes of 20 yards or more.

Linebacker Jimmori Robinson

With the Roadrunners' defense ranked last in the AAC in passing yards allowed per game (284.3), Robinson will be key in applying pressure on the quarterback. He’s tied for first in sacks (4) and ranks third in tackles for loss (7.5) in the conference. With top defensive lineman Joe Evans out for the season due to injury, UTSA will rely heavily on Robinson to protect the back end of the defense.

Key Players: FAU Owls

Wide Receiver Omari Hayes

Hayes has elevated his play in the last two games, recording six catches for 137 yards against Wagner (3-4, 1-1 FCS Northeast Conference) and 5 catches for 89 yards and a TD against North Texas. Currently ranked eighth in the AAC with 371 receiving yards, Hayes will look to exploit a UTSA defense that struggles to defend the pass.

Safety CJ Heard

Heard, nicknamed "Sea Snake," is tied for seventh in total tackles (42) and ranks second in the AAC with 2 fumble recoveries. Against a UTSA team struggling to establish the run (144.2 yards per game), Heard is expected to line up in the box more often, as he did against No. 23 Army (6-0, 5-0) and Connecticut (4-2), to force McCown into third-and-long situations.

CJ Heard | FAU Safety — © THOMAS CORDY/THE PALM BEACH POST/USA TODAY NETWORK

Trends to Watch

UTSA and Florida Atlantic will meet for the fifth time on Oct. 19 with the Owls leading the series 3-1. UTSA is riding a five-game Homecoming winning streak and holds a 9-4 record in those games.

Game Prediction

UTSA enters as a 3.5-point favorite (per Action Network), largely due to playing at the Alamodome. Expect a close game decided in the final minutes, with the Roadrunners committing another costly penalty that helps the Owls secure their third win of the season.

Prediction: FAU 31, UTSA 27.